The ABCDEF of EDC: Establishing a baseline for your Every Day Carry

EDC. Every Day Carry. An acronym that elicits Manichean passions and the grinding of teeth. Everyday people, CCLs, Specops soldiers, EMTs, LEOs, knife aficionados, adventure lovers, and internet commandos, everyone and their grandma has THE BEST EDC ADVICE EVARR™.

Reality is, as usual, the monstrous elephant in the room with a giant “it depends” tattoo. A simple way to determine EDC requirements is to remember the MEC acronym: Mission, Environment, and Context. A suburban dad going to buy some milk for his toddler, a police officer starting a shift in a crummy neighborhood, a clandestine operator in a High Risk Environment (HRE), a best man going to a wedding, a mother buying groceries while accompanied by her teenage daughters, each has a different MEC, that limits his/her dress code, carry abilities, capacities, and other variables.

We at Salvos Modum have been using the ABCDEF mnemonic as a quick checklist for an adaptable EDC depending on your MEC. We will outline it then go into specifics for each letter. In the end of the article, we will have a couple of EDC examples, one for a permissive and one for a less permissive environment:

(A)lternatives to Unarmed Combat.

(B)ackup money, ID, and ammo.

(C)omms and consistency.

(D)aily and discreetly.

(E)verywhere.

(F)lashlight, firearm, and first aid.

A) is for Alternatives to Unarmed Combat:

Humans have been using tools for fighting since prehistoric times. Why fight fair when you can end it faster, quicker, and with less risk to your structural and mental integrity? For example, an Edge and Point tool (Knife/shank/pen etc.) stuck in a juicy artery or organ will have effect on target and increase your survival odds.

B) is for Backups, namely in terms of money, identification, and ammo:

• Backup money: One of the most embarrassing thing to happen to you is to come up short on cash at the restaurant, when it’s time to pay the check. Even worse is to have your plastic cards rejected for some reason. Cash is king, and you should carry at least enough money to get you back home in a jiffy. A $100 should do the trick, broken down in one $50, two $20, and one $10 bills (Replace dollars with your local currency)
• Backup ID: Should your proof of identity be lost, you will be glad you have a photo or photocopy of your identification, be it passport, driver license, or national ID, tucked away with your backup money or saved in your phone SD Card (Not in the phone itself) or in a micro USB
• Backup ammo: An even more embarrassing (And potentially lethal) situation is to have more “guests” that you can service with your carry gun, be it a 5 shot J-frame or a 17 rounds WunderGlock. Even a measly speed-loader can make a huge difference. So carry a reload.

C) is for Communications and Consistency in carry:

• Comms: Having means of establishing contact with the (outside) world is crucial nowadays, so a cellphone is a must. Whether you use an old brick of a “dumb” phone or a more modern incarnation, make sure it 1) holds a charge and 2) is fully charged when you leave the house/office/car. Do not let it fall less than 25% of its power by playing around with it. Once it reaches that mark, swift it to power saving mode and put it away. You never know when you might need that urgent phone call… if you are in a third world country, invest in a “dumb” phone and carry that around, to minimize social media distractions. If legal and affordable, a Sat phone is optimal; some models are “sleeve phones” that allow you to insert your smartphone into
• Consistency in carry: It is good practice to distribute your EDC items in very specific ways on your person, to ensure that your access is almost always the same, whether you are in shorts, jeans, or tuxedos. Your essential items should be in your front pockets, and less essential ones in the rear pockets. (More about that in the end of the article)

D) is for Daily and Discreetly/Deniably:

Yes, an EDC is to be carried even on Sundays, on holidays, in Church, when you don’t feel like it, when injured, and especially if you are just going to your building’s underground parking lot to get something from your car and you got steel doors and 24 pin locks and a platoon of SEALs guarding you. Only YOU are responsible for your security. You may level down or level up the tools carried but you still carry. (An example will be provided near the end of the post.). It is crucial to keep your tools concealed NOT covered, the environment you’re in will determine your level of concealment.

E) is for Everywhere:

Without exceptions. Once you leave your SECURED home, you will take your EDC for a ride. DISCLAIMER! We believe that all gun laws are immoral, and to disarm people is almost impossible as crafty individuals will always find ways to improvise or smuggle equalizers. If your survival is at risk, we choose to ignore the gun-free zones signs. HOWEVER, if you are forced to go through government buildings or airports and other places where the risk of being caught with a firearm or E&P tool is a felony and means being sent to prison, don’t go full retard. Find dual purpose tools that can be improvised or acquire weapons of opportunity. Most importantly, don’t linger in those areas. Get in, do your business, get out. Have a trusted family member or friend waiting for you outside with proper armament. REMEMBER: THAT IS OUR OPINION AND WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR BREAKING THE LAW!

F) is for Flashlight, Firearm, and First Aid (If possible):

• Carry a good quality flashlight, preferably in the mid to high lumens range
• Pack a reliable firearm, no less than .38 special for revolvers or 9×18 Makarov for semi-autos
• Have first aid equipment that allow you to stop hemorrhaging and if you can, tension pneumothorax (Chest seals and tourniquets from respected manufacturers). 

Here is an example of a baseline EDC:

• Right front pocket: A wallet containing all necessary IDs, lockpick tools (If legal), firearms concealed carry license, backup money and Identification, and a small fixed or folding / OTF knife
• Right rear pocket: Small box containing extra AAA battery for the flashlight, bic lighter, and foam earplugs) and keys
• AIWB holster and gun is at the 1 o’clock
• Left front pocket: Contains a cellphone and magazine(s) or speedloader(s). When talking about reloads, the SEAL adage “Two is one, one is none” should echo in your ears. The ESP tactical pen is HIGHLY recommended
• Rear left pocket: It has a flashlight and spare cash in the smallest bill currency used in the country. The contents of this pocket can be used as a decoy if you are being mugged, buying you time and distraction to escape or escalate violence. 

The only difference between permissive and Non Permissive Environments (NPE) load-outs will vary due to the legality / ability / concealability of armament. You may leave the Glock 19 at home and go for a shorter or slimmer handgun (Glock 26 / 43 or Makarov PM), backed up by a small generic kitchen knife in a home-made sheath. NPEs requiring a firearm might have you go with a J-frame sans speedloader (A speedstrip could be stashed though), a Makarov or a small DA / SA. 22LR (Better than harsh language don’t you think?) and a regular Bic pen that could be improvised as a stabbing element. If you REALLY are lazy and need to run down to your building’s basement in flip flops and underwear, and you REALLY REALLY don’t want to EDC, tough luck, you still gonna have to carry at least a knife, cellphone, and beef up that Situational Awareness. Again, it all depends on the Mission, the Environment, and the Context.

Would you like to know how to Carry the Fire and stay a predator to Evil? Contact us NOW!