I have been a "Be Prepared" type of fellow, but the scouts had nothing to do with that.

Being tossed out of a UH-60 Blackhawk (December 1989, look it up) into the wrong patch of Panama with only what was in my pockets and my combat harness / butt pack helped also.

My vehicle (with my ruck sack and all) was deposited in the proper LZ. About a week later, my spotter and I made it to our originally advertised destination on foot. We had each lost about 25 - 30 lbs and were a might dehydrated. I grew tired of bad water, bad substitute toilet paper, and bad folks who did not like my tourist plans.

I was later sent to SERE school, and it was a walk in the park by way of comparison.

I have since worked in environments that are distant from help, and obliged to make life difficult. I have yet to be as uncomfortable as I was in Panama, and I have no intention of being that poorly prepared again.

It was an effective weight loss program though....