When it comes to survival in the great outdoors, snipers know more than most of us. In this interview series, we therefore ask “Mattle”, sniper instructor with the high mountain fighter battalion 23 of the Austrian Armed Forcesfor tips for our readers. Part 1 is about the value of knowledge and experience in extreme situations.
“Mattle, what do you actually need to survive in a real emergency situation?
On the one hand, physical fitness is fundamental. No matter how much equipment I have, if my fitness doesn’t allow it, I won’t survive the emergency situation. On the other hand, I can only survive physically if my mind says: “Yes, I want to!” If I give up mentally, my body will give up. That’s why mental fitness is so important.
What philosophy of life drives you?
My mental resilience is so high because I have completely different priorities in life and define stress differently than many others. If something goes wrong, I don’t hang my head. I always know that there are others who have much bigger problems. This attitude helps me to see things through.
So a healthy mind in a healthy body is all it takes?
The best basis and ultimately my backup is knowledge and experience. Physical and mental fitness can partially compensate for a lack of knowledge. But I have to learn to use my equipment and what my surroundings offer me. Finding the right equipment is not that easy ...
Speaking from military practice: If I have the choice between a comfortable backpack and more ammunition, I choose the latter. After all, knowing that I can build a makeshift shelter allows me to maintain my physical and mental performance – that’s what matters when making a choice. The ammunition, on the other hand, gives me a good night’s sleep. (laughs)
What advice would you give to nature enthusiasts who don’t know where to start when it comes to survival in nature?
In the beginning, I would go on simple hikes to learn about the plant world, preferably with an appropriate identification book in hand. Identifying plants and knowing their usefulness as a source of food and for healing is very useful. This teaches you to appreciate nature because you realize how much it actually offers us and that it is guaranteed not to let us down in an emergency.
Here for more 5-questions-to-interviews and here to further army news.
