Highlight Interview: Peter Magnin | RECOIL OFFGRID

Peter Magnin’s path to changing into a survival skilled reads like one thing out of an journey novel, mixing uncooked experiences in army service, immersive journeys into primitive abilities, and years spent guiding expeditions via a few of the world’s most difficult environments. From SERE coaching with particular operations personnel to brain-tanning moose hides and main survival programs within the Amazon rainforest, Magnin’s insights into survival, bushcraft, and mindset replicate hard-earned classes. On this interview, he shares his journey, the crucial variations between survival and bushcraft, and why a knife, a lighter, and situational consciousness can imply the distinction between life and dying.

Coaching within the U.S. Air Drive sparked an intense need to forge survival abilities in a mess of environments.

Interview With Peter Magnin

 How did you first get began in survival, and what sparked your curiosity?

Peter Magnin: It began after I was a child. My dad was from northern Wisconsin, a traditional woodsman. Each summer season, we’d spend weeks at a bit of cabin close to Mellon, Wisconsin, throughout peak mosquito season. He’d be on the market fishing, utterly unfazed by the bugs whereas my brothers and I had been depressing. I bear in mind watching exhibits like Survivorman with Les Stroud, and I’ll admit, even a bit of Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls. These early influences planted the seed, nevertheless it didn’t click on for me as an actual path till I joined the Air Drive. At my first obligation station, I met SERE instructors who had been educating survival abilities full-time, and that was it. I knew I needed to do this. I used to be fascinated by the concept of turning a childhood love of enjoying within the woods into one thing skilled and impactful.

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Are you able to describe your position within the Air Drive and the way it led you to survival coaching?

I joined the Air Drive in 2012 as an plane hydraulics specialist and later grew to become absolutely certified as a crew chief. My first project was at Mildenhall in England, engaged on MC-130s — plane made for high-intensity, particular operations missions. At 18, I used to be thrown right into a world the place all the things was excessive stakes, and it made me wish to push myself additional. There have been SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) instructors stationed at our base to coach flight crews and particular operations personnel. I didn’t even know SERE existed earlier than that, however seeing what they did instantly hooked me. I approached them, informed them I needed to coach with them, and so they made it occur. For the final six months of that project, I spent most of my time studying from these instructors. Discipline ops, navigation, and survival situations — it formed all the things that got here after.

You deployed to Africa, which was a pivotal level in your profession. What occurred?

That deployment was tough — small unit, poor circumstances. We had porta-potties, generally holes for loos, and perhaps one bathe per week. I labored 14- to 16-hour days for months, and ultimately, I developed pores and skin infections that become MRSA. The one medical care was a Navy nurse in a delivery crate handing me antibiotics — 20 or 30 tablets a day. It destroyed my intestine. Once I got here house, I began shedding weight, 50 kilos in just a few months. Ultimately I used to be recognized with a digestive challenge that received me medically retired. On the time, it was devastating. I’d been on observe to retrain as a everlasting SERE teacher, and immediately that door was closed. However, in a method, it pushed me down a special path.

How did you get well after the army, and what position did survival play?

Restoration was sluggish — months in mattress the place I couldn’t even mow the garden. I couldn’t do a lot bodily, so I began studying survival books and watching YouTube movies simply to remain engaged. It went from 5 books to 10 to 100. Ultimately, I made a decision to cease simply studying and begin doing. Once I was lastly wholesome sufficient, I started experimenting with abilities within the woods. I noticed fairly rapidly how exhausting survival was regardless of all the idea I’d discovered, and that’s when I discovered my first mentor, Terry Barney, via a bushcraft discussion board. He taught courses that gave me the hands-on instruction I wanted. Survival grew to become a lifeline for me; it gave me a way of objective and a method ahead.

Is there an vital distinction between survival and bushcraft?

Survival is about staying alive, getting seen, and getting assist — at any price. It’s sensible and fast. Bushcraft, alternatively, is about utilizing pure supplies to dwell comfortably within the wilderness. There’s overlap, as a result of in survival, you may want to make use of bushcraft strategies, like constructing a shelter out of logs. However survival has completely different priorities. Should you’re misplaced, it’s best to sign for assist earlier than losing time on a hearth or shelter. That’s the mindset distinction. Individuals blur the strains, and it could get harmful after they deal with bushcraft like survival.

You spent three months at Jack Mountain Bushcraft College. What was that like?

That have was life altering. You don’t actually perceive one thing like a primitive shelter till you sleep in it, tweak it, and dwell in it for weeks. At Jack Mountain, we spent day-after-day immersed in abilities: carving canoe paddles, brain-tanning moose hides, and cooking each meal over fireplace. The firewood administration alone provides you an entire new perspective. It’s grueling work, however that point is crucial. I accomplished the Journeyman Program, which was a large record of abilities and challenges — weeks in shelters, animal monitoring, plant ID, expedition planning. Just one individual had accomplished it earlier than me, Sam Larson from Alone. That program pushed me additional than something I’d achieved earlier than.

How did you go from that to getting concerned in guiding jungle expeditions?

I met Joe Flowers on the World Bushcraft Symposium in Canada. I’d already mastered boreal forest abilities and needed to problem myself with one thing new: jungle survival. Joe observed my expertise as a wilderness EMT and journey chief, so he invited me on certainly one of his Amazon expeditions. Throughout that journey, he saved giving me extra tasks, and by the top, he informed me, “You’re coming again subsequent yr, however you’re working for me.” Since then, I’ve guided journeys with him yearly and even led a few of my very own for media initiatives. Now it seems like my complete yr revolves round getting again to the jungle.

What’s essentially the most memorable expertise you’ve had within the jungle?

There are such a lot of, however one which stands out was my first time with the Matis tribe. They determined to catch an electrical eel — 7- or 8-feet lengthy — hiding in a muddy puddle the scale of a chair. They spent hours crushing vines to deoxygenate the water and scooping out mud till the eel lastly surfaced. After they speared it, I couldn’t imagine one thing that large had come from such a small puddle. Later, I attempted catching one bare-handed as a part of a Matis “ceremony of passage” prank. It shocked me so exhausting that my whole physique seized up, and I fell backward. It grew to become custom. On the finish of each journey, anybody who desires to attempt catching an eel can bounce in with me. Most individuals don’t final lengthy.

What crucial abilities do you depend on when guiding expeditions within the jungle?

The 2 most vital abilities are consciousness and managing group dynamics. Consciousness within the jungle is crucial as a result of the implications of small errors are amplified. I’ve pulled numerous thorns out of individuals’s legs and ft as a result of they weren’t being attentive to their environment. The Matis can run barefoot via dense jungle whereas trying up at monkeys within the timber. They’ve this unimaginable potential to course of delicate environmental clues, like how a tree fell or the way in which water ripples. Most individuals don’t have that consciousness. On prime of that, managing expedition habits is crucial. I always test in with individuals, look ahead to fatigue, and ensure nobody is pushing themselves to the purpose of damage. Whether or not it’s machete cuts or venomous bugs, it’s essential keep forward of issues earlier than they escalate.

What’s your must-have survival gear within the jungle?

If I needed to slender it down, my necessities are a knife, a lighter, a headlamp, and water. A whistle for signaling is crucial too. Through the years, I’ve refined my package to ensure I all the time have it on me, even when swimming. I designed a knife that clips onto swim trunks and doesn’t rust, and I exploit Exotac’s waterproof lighter holder to maintain my fireplace starter secure. The jungle will get pitch black at night time — no gentle will get via the cover — so a headlamp is non-negotiable. The appropriate gear can imply the distinction between being comfy and being depressing, and even between life and dying.

What mindset is most vital in a survival scenario?

The mindset that issues most is sustaining a constructive psychological perspective, however that’s not one thing you’ll be able to simply change on. It needs to be educated. You’ll want to put your self in robust conditions and apply staying constructive underneath strain. I like to make use of the analogy of an apple: You may undergo life pondering you’re an apple, however whenever you’re squeezed, orange juice comes out. Survival conditions reveal what you’re really made from, and the one approach to put together for that’s to check your self. Over time, these experiences provide you with a baseline to attract from, which might make all of the distinction when issues go fallacious.

How do you keep ready in excessive environments just like the jungle?

Preparation within the jungle comes right down to being attentive to the smallest particulars. One thing so simple as improperly organising a tarp can result in your sleeping bag and equipment getting soaked, and within the jungle, that’s a critical challenge. I’ve seen individuals lose machetes or have their packs invaded by ants as a result of they didn’t take precautions. It takes per week or two of being on the market to develop the best mindset — double-checking your package, maintaining issues off the bottom, and all the time pondering a step forward. Preparedness is a continuing effort, nevertheless it’s what retains you comfy and secure in excessive circumstances.

How do you put together your college students for survival situations?

I concentrate on breaking down ideas into the only steps and making them relatable. For instance, certainly one of my mentors, Andre-Francis Bourbeau, used situations to problem college students’ assumptions. He’d take individuals out on a snowmobile, strip them of important gear, and create conditions the place survival appeared unimaginable. The purpose was to point out that survival is in regards to the easiest options, like blowing a whistle for rescue as a substitute of overcomplicating issues. Once I train, I emphasize practicality. As an illustration, with fire-building, I’ll present college students begin a hearth with one match and kerosene, as a result of that’s what survival is about. Then, we work backward to tougher strategies, however I all the time prioritize what works in an actual emergency.

How do you differentiate your educating for various audiences?

The abilities themselves don’t change, however the way in which I train them does. I tailor my examples and tales to the viewers, whether or not it’s lovers, army personnel, or first responders. An enormous a part of being a great teacher is studying train. I’ve spent years not simply honing my survival abilities, but additionally finding out talk them successfully. You could be an skilled at one thing and nonetheless fail to show it in case you don’t know join with individuals. Each group is completely different, and understanding how they assume is essential to creating classes stick.

What’s the most typical mistake individuals make in survival conditions?

The most typical mistake I see is a ignorance. Shifting too rapidly and never being attentive to what’s occurring round them. Within the jungle, this usually results in stepping on black palm thorns or operating into ants and wasps. I’ve seen individuals get damage as a result of they missed delicate clues, like the way in which a tree fell or the presence of vines that point out hidden risks. Survival is about slowing down and observing your environment. Most errors occur as a result of persons are dashing or panicking, and the jungle punishes that habits harshly.

What attracts you to educating primitive abilities?

Primitive abilities are highly effective as a result of they strip all the things right down to the fundamentals. Whenever you study one thing like bow drill fireplace, you’re creating a component of life — fireplace — utilizing nothing however your physique’s power and the supplies round you. It’s humbling and empowering on the similar time. At Jack Mountain, we needed to log tons of of bow drills, monitoring climate, humidity, and wooden sorts. To make it even tougher, we had been inspired to burn our units after each fireplace, so we’d have to start out from scratch every time. These experiences taught me not simply the abilities, but additionally the persistence and dedication wanted to achieve difficult environments.

Do you’ve got any recommendation for rookies beginning survival coaching?

My largest recommendation is to take courses. Watching movies and studying books is okay, however there’s no substitute for hands-on studying with a vetted teacher. Survival abilities are tactile. You’ll want to really feel the bow drill, see the ember kind, and make errors with somebody guiding you. It’s additionally vital to start out with the fundamentals and construct from there. Don’t bounce into superior strategies till you’ve mastered the basics.

How do you vet survival instructors?

Vetting survival instructors could be tough, however the hot button is trying into their background and mentors. The most effective instructors are normally a part of a lineage. They’ve educated underneath somebody respected and may hint their data again to the greats. Fingers-on instruction is non-negotiable. I can inform inside 30 seconds of watching somebody on Instagram whether or not they discovered a talent from YouTube or an actual mentor. Should you’re critical about survival, do your homework on who you’re studying from.

Are there any assets you’ll advocate to these concerned with survival?

There are such a lot of nice assets, however one I all the time advocate is the Bushcraft USA discussion board. It’s been round for years and continues to be lively as we speak. It’s an important place to seek out data, join with skilled individuals, and study at your individual tempo. For books, I’ve learn tons of, however I’ll all the time recommend beginning with a handful of the classics:

• SAS Handbook by John “Lofty” Wiseman
• Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski
• Out of doors Survival Expertise by Dean Olsen

What’s subsequent in your survival journey?

Proper now, I’m cofounding a nonprofit known as Veterans within the Wild with a retired Navy chaplain. We’re operating wilderness journeys for veterans, and we’ve already received 10 journeys lined up this yr. It’s a giant enterprise, particularly with a toddler and a new child at house, nevertheless it’s a ardour undertaking I imagine in. Past that, I’m persevering with to enhance the jungle expeditions I lead yearly and taking up personal instruction and media initiatives via my LLC, Peter Magnin Survival. My aim is to maintain educating, studying, and sharing these abilities with as many individuals as I can.

About Peter Magnin

Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina

Schooling: Affiliate of Science, Fish and Wildlife Administration

Really helpful Survival Colleges:

• Boulder Out of doors Survival College
• California Survival College
• Jack Mountain Bushcraft
• Howl Bushcraft

Favourite Meals: Selfmade beef bulgogi

Favourite Film: O Brother, The place Artwork Thou?

Favourite Quote: “The extra , the much less it’s a must to carry. The much less , the extra it’s a must to carry.” -Mors Kochanski

Instagram: @petermagninsurvival

Net: petermagninsurvival.com

Jungle Journeys: bushcraftglobal.com

Veterans NonProfit: veteransinthewild.org

Peter Magnin’s On a regular basis Carry

Base Package:

• Glock 45 w/Trijicon RMR Kind 2 and Streamlight TLR1 HL
• Glock 26, or Ruger LCP II (if a smaller signature is required)
• Benchmade 940
• Streamlight
• Microstream
• WAZOO Cache Belt w/Journey Package and handcuff key
• Mission Dependent Add-ons:
• Garmin Fenix w/GPS Operate
• Tuff Possum Entry Package
• Notepad and Sharpie
• Corvus KT customized Puukko
• Bic Lighter in Exotac Firesleeve
• WAZOO Viking Spark Necklace
• WAZOO Hearth Card

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Editor’s Word: This text has been modified from its unique model for the online.

Written by Patrick Diedrich