Who to have in your post-apocalyptic crew...And who to avoid

The Zombie Apocalypse Keepers...

1) The Leader:   This may or may not be you. Either way, it’s incredibly important to have a chain of authority. So obviously, there should be a second in command and so forth. Despite what some may think, there must be one leader. Decisions that affect the crew should be discussed, but ultimately, the leader makes the final decision. Having one commander makes things easier when there are split opinions within the crew.

2) The Muscle:   A few well-conditioned guys or gals are necessary for some of the heavy lifting and to serve as solid defenders in the event of an attack. 
 
3) The Medic:   A medic or at the very least someone with medical skills. In the zombie apocalypse, life will be a battle for survival and there will be injuries and illnesses. You’ll find that someone with these skills will be very much needed in your crew.

 4) The  Hot Shot:   Guns will be necessary, but they have their drawbacks. Sound and ammo supply will be the biggest drawbacks when relying on this type of weaponry. While it’s an excellent idea to have everyone in your crew trained to make head shots, having one or even a few crew members that really excel in this area, can be a lifesaver. If you can get your hands on a sniper rifle, the hot shot can take a high perch to get a birds-eye view of a new location and take out zombies before they are able to get near the team.

5) The Security:   This could be just one person or a whole task force. If you have a semi-permanent or permanent base camp, they could oversee guard duty and set up perimeter traps and alarms. An alarm system could be as simple as cans attached to a fence or wire. There should be rotating watch duties and readily made perimeter checks.

 6) The Brains:   It is important to have someone in your crew that can think outside basic survival instincts and come up with new ideas to format vehicles, security systems and plan for supply runs. An analytical mind is needed to try to understand every scenario before action is taken.

 7) The Mechanic/Engineer:   With all the ideas that the brains are thinking up, you need someone who can actually implement them. Having someone that can rock out your vehicles into virtual tanks with little tools and scrap metals is an invaluable asset to your crew.

 8) The Scouts:   The scouts in your crew should be fast and fairly low profile. Having somewhat quiet, swift vehicles with ease of maneuverability will aid in their scouting. A motorcycle or even a dirt bike would allow them to travel ahead of your crew to scout for potential hazards, scavenge sites, or check out a possible base camp location. If you are lacking in wheels, then they would have to be a speedy runner with plenty of endurance, and have the ability to keep their eyes peeled. Even a bicycle would be quicker than scouting on foot and require much less energy from scouts. If this is the case, always be on the lookout for a motorbike to get them mobile. 
 
9) The  Newbies:   Stay on the lookout for new possible crew members to join your group. There is always some work to be done and an extra pair of hands can lighten the load for everyone. Plus, you never know what their skill set may be... If you stumble upon… a veterinarian say, they could join your medic staff  or even serve as the closest thing to a doctor in your group. It's a clever idea to have probation period for new members once you have some solid numbers in your group. (See infiltrators, below)

10) The Nurturer:   While this person may not seem like a must have in your crew, you might be
  surprised. If you’re traveling with children, the nurturer could come in handy. This person could be looked upon in times of grief, offering some guidance and a kind ear. Even though the world may not be what it once was, from time to time, we all need a little nurturing.

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Who to steer clear of…

While most of us would like to think that in a Zombie Apocalypse humanity would band together and help one another- it’s simply not likely to happen. That being said, there are a few characters that you may want to steer clear of or at the very least, use caution.

The Raiders:   Raiders, Rioters, Looters call them what you will, but these people are in it for themselves. They will likely band up into small to medium size groups and stay on the move. These baddies are looking to stock up on food, meds, gas or anything else that we’ll all need during the Zombie Apocalypse. The major difference between the Raiders and the rest of us -is that they will use any means necessary to take your goods from you. It is imperative that safeguard your crew and base camp from Raiders and avoid contact at all costs.

The Infiltrators:   These individuals might be scouts for other crews or for the Raiders. They will likely wander upon your group ‘by accident’ and either be alone or in pairs. The goal of an infiltrator is to join your crew and find out as much information as possible, then sneak back to their real crew and pass along vital information. While there is really no real way to tell if a newbie to your group is just an innocent looking for a place to survive or an infiltrator, it would be a smart idea to keep them away from the security, engineering, medical and tactical areas. Assigning them to a benign area like cooking or sanitation for a few weeks might be a fine option as a probationary period. Most infiltrators will likely want to learn all the details quickly, so they may be reluctant to stay long. Equally important- is to make sure that everyone in your crew knows not to reveal vital information to newbies until they have surpassed a probationary period. If a newbie vanishes, be sure to investigate their conversations with other members of your crew and be on the lookout, in case the return with a crew of their own.

The Zombies:   Obviously you want to stay away from these guys. If on the move or scavenging, having scouts survey the area ahead- can help your crew avoid an attack. At base camp or a permanent location, preventative security and maintenance of security systems is essential. Make sure that you have an emergency plan in place in the event that a horde makes their way to your
location. Lastly, know that no place is entirely permanent; make sure that you have an evacuation plan in place for each crew member in the event that you must flee.

Best of luck and stay human! Jeannie Rae out.