In light of what the VA HTF is doing, and being part of it myself, working in VA, I'm in the Shenandoah BB group. They're using the Signal app which is supposed to be end-to-end encrypted, both as one on one and group chats.

I think we should stand up local groups as well here in Ohio, as everyone else should. I'd also like to schedule a meet and greet, probably somewhere between dayton and troy for the miami valley group.

Divide it into localities such as the Miami valley, etc.

Noting one issue Shenandoah had, was the mixing of clean, no BS messages and BS-offtopic-nonCOC chat. They declined to stand up an offtopic, but implied regular arfcom COC for their chat.

Anyone else want to partake?

PM me your info (name, number, and location) if you'd like to be included. Unless we've met, our you can have someone vouch for you, I'm not keen on having new guys (join date, post count, EE feedback) jump in with access to our info. Nothing personal. Due to how my signal interfaces, it takes about 8-12 hours to sync with my contacts to add a new member to the chat, so bear with me. I will make contact with you via regular text message when I see your PM.

I'm in for info.

I'm in Columbus proper, but I'm down....

Columbus here. Intriguing

We'll have to get an email chain or PM me phone numbers to set it up.

Lemme know I'll send whatever... I'd definitely be down for some rucks... Shawnee, Zaleski and a few other places are pretty doable...

What's all this talk of Virginia all the sudden?

Liberal infestation from nova and richmond has come to a head. State went blue because of a very tiny landmass, population density... dirty commies want to completely fuck the place into some sjw nanny state.

They're probably going to kick off the next civil war (boogaloo) within a year when governor coonman decides to send NG troops to arrest sheriffs for not obeying his unconstitutional, bat shit crazy ramblings.

No idea how many of the LEOs will actually make good on their promises, nor how many NG will desert when faced with such orders. IMO, the LEOs are, as a group, lying for the votes to bide time. The guardsmen, as a group, should be half drunk and trying to get pussy so not paying attention to politics and will think it's cool to go arrest a sheriff.

Ideally, many commies will get tar and feathered.

That's just my 2 cents.

I live near Granville, interested.

Huh...?

I'm in, though I live in the extreme NW corner, and may actually be closer to IN or MI people.

Northern Virginia (NOVA) - the bedroom community of the wretched hive of scum and villainy known as Washington D.C. - has become populated densely enough to affect statewide elections (like Chicago/Illinois).

Governor went Dem.  State Senate went Dem, State House of Reps went Dem.

They are going from 0-60 in .5 seconds introducing sweeping, very restrictive gun legislation.  VA is might go from one of the best states for gun rights to one of the worst in a month.

Lots of shit going down with citizens actively resisting, counties are revolting and declaring themselves 2nd Amendment sanctuaries, a couple counties have looked at or started forming county militias (many backed by county board and county sheriffs).  VA Governor has threatened to send in the National Guard, to take control of local law enforcement, fire all police, etc.

It's getting quite steamy down in VA.

I'm in for some info.

Alright, to make it easy I'll settle on the Signal app (google playstore or app store, free).

I'll set up the group, but I will have to have you guys PM me your cell numbers and emails. If you'd like, include your real name for reference but understood if you don't want to (the government already has your name anyway).

I'll make up a phone roster to distribute between us all via email or PM so names/numbers can all be added to your phone contacts (for app to function properly). Then set up two chats, one for business with COC and one where anything goes.

I'm interested, but I'm around the Cedar Point area.

South Dayton area here.

Sandusky is a bit of a distance. If more respond from your area turn it into a north zone group!

South dayton is of course near me.

Download signal and get it going! I only suggest it as it makes group chats easier and is *supposed* (I'm not qualified to determine this) to be secure. Figure it's easier now to set something up than after it's needed. VA got together pretty quickly, but would be much easier if they had already done so. Did a meet and greet with Shenandoah valley the other day. Always cool to meet the guys we talk to all the time online, even better to know people in random places. I know Ohio HTF can pull some strings when houses get blown down, legs are inoperable but you need firewood (sorry I couldn't make it, Kevin!)... or there's a machinegun shoot.

I started up a group, only one other member so far, he's up in the far NW.

ETA: shoot me a PM with your number.

I’m Medina Ohio i prefer this area as well as Ashland ohio.

Do it up. Let's make it a whopping four members!

IM sent- guys, this is an important thing to have in our back pocket (literally). Its difficult to organize overnight, the VA bros got caught with their pants down.

IM sent

Central Ohio or Eastern Ohio region.

Hit me with any pertinent info, please.  I'm in the Akron/Canton area.

Bumping this up.  OP, if you're still entertaining this idea, let me know and I'll forward you my pertinent info.

Everyone else, if you haven't seen what the VBB did in VA yesterday, look into it.  They made a big impact on a lot of people.  I'll be the first to admit that even though I have a safe full of guns and a bunch of gear, it's of little use without like-minded individuals that you can network together with.

This thread has over 800 views.  Come on, folks.  Lets get involved and get organized.  An series of Ohio Battle Buddies groups can only help us to improve ourselves!

Messaged OP earlier today for any pertinent info. Definitely interested to see where this goes. Located about 30mins NE of Columbus outskirts.

Messaged OP from the NW corner.

@Norxseman_Odin

I'd be interested in seeing where this goes as well. 30 minutes north of Columbus.

I’m in. Akron/Canton/Youngstown area. I’ll be happy to forward any pertinent details to get on a roster and into a group. Thanks.

Forgot about this thread.  I’m northeast of Dayton.

I’m pretty damn busy with four school age kids all in multiple activities, but I’ll do what I can.

IM inbound.

Ashland ohio here, I'm not a vet, I thought this is a veteran thing, but in if I can.

I may know of 2  others here also that may join if asked.

I’m right on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh but I’m originally from Ohio.  I don’t see finding many WV people.

I’m down to drive a few hours to most places in Ohio.  A central location might work to make it possible for a large number of guys to show up.

Have you guys got any type of group comms up?

Hope you don’t mind me jumping in here.

Toledo area here.  I know there are a couple more as well (never met them though)

Tagging to see where this goes.

Just as an FYI, I'm just north of Troy.

I can't speak for the OP, but I'm thinking this is entirely in its infancy here in Ohio.  He DID mention using the Signal app to make a group for a possible organization.

@FritzTKatt  - I'm not trying to take the wheel or anything, but if you want to get me added into the Signal group I'm more than happy to help out by taking some PMs and getting this ball rolling!

There are quite a few of us in the upper Miami Valley-ish area.  Darke, Miami, Shelby, Champaign, Clark, Montgomery counties.

Hopefully you guys are cool with me coming from WV.  I can see OH doing really well with this.

I'd sure think the more, the merrier at this point!

I'd be in. I'm in the Columbus area. Hit me up.

Kind of let this roll for a bit, I got some of you added.

Just PM me and I'll add you to the group.

PM sent, I need to check the Ohio section more often.

One helpful piece of advice gentlemen.

Nuke the signal group, nuke the email list, nuke the phone number list.

Anybody can just ask to be added and might be there to just data mine. Whether it's lefties or the government. Keep communication to arfcom threads and PMs

One of the BB groups in Southern Virginia had a guy interested, he got all the information, then ghosted. They are still working on who he is and why he wanted the information.

AFTER you've been on several hikes with someone, THEN swap information. Keep that information only to guys that have actually showed up and rucked. Is it possible ANTIFA or the FBI could just go on four 6 mile hikes and then get your info? Yeah, but it's much less likely.

If you have a signal group or phone or email list you're just aggregating information for guys you don't know, with unknown intentions.

You'll find much more guys express interest in going then guys who ACTUALLY show up and ruck.  Less still that will be constantly showing.

Protect your information. I know we're just hiking and exercise isn't illegal, but still. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions about anything

We'll have to get together eventually, and some way to get there.

Not worried about it for now.

It's still unknown if kendall had ill intentions.

I'm down for the hikes and I have 2 or 3 sons that would be interested.

I'd rather meet people and connect then get comms together.

I'm in Southwestern Ohio area, Butler county specifically

I don’t deserve a voice here, but wanted to make an introduction and provide some observations that will hopefully be helpful to some with backgrounds like mine in the future. If this isn’t helpful, I’m happy to take it down.

I agree with Whiskers here, and will further that to say that the importance of trust and face-to-face networking goes both ways.

TLDR: I realized the importance of personal and organizational/network preparation, and how lacking I was. I’m hoping there are some like minded BB’s in the Cinci area.

Long story:
I have a confession to make (which is also what drew me to this thread). I took off work, rented a car, said “goodbye” to my wife and kids, and drove to Richmond (8 hours) by Sunday afternoon. I met up with some folks from out of state - after only an hour of discussion, I don’t know that I’ve ever met finer men. I was even more uncomfortable than I’d expected with the feeling in the city (and from further evidence presented in their interactions with police and others). I’m ashamed to admit that I turned tail and drove home that afternoon/night. I’ve never been more relieved to be so wrong.

Driving home and in the time since, I’ve considered my cowardly response and how I need to improve in many areas. Much of my issue was lack of both long term and short term prep, both personal and gear/training-related. I’m a life-long desk driver in a technical field, and people give me a hard time for having a laid-back and somewhat apathetic personality. I was completely unfamiliar with being in a situation with such a high ambient level of FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) in all involved, and with potential significant legal/financial and physical risks. While I’d “academically” understood those risks, the emotional component was not something I’d ever experienced. I had about as close as I’ve come to a mental breakdown, and made a hasty decision that I needed to get out of the situation. (For the record, I don’t think I’m the person Whiskers is referring to above). I have an enormous amount of respect for those who have faced those same fears and conquered them. I just hope I didn’t discourage anyone else I met.

Another key point I realized is that I needed to network ahead of this type of high-tension event. I’ve spent thousands of hours lurking GD, but the only time I’d met anyone from here was for a few of FTF deals. I need to spend time with and meet folks before-hand before I can be confident in them and the group (which is what brought me here to OH HTF).

I think we also need to be clear in our public messaging to avoid any implication of willingness for violence or illegal activity, especially specific to an event. There were a LOT of people posting prior to Lobby Day that were not attending, but saying what the attendees “should” be doing - how there was no point in going if there wasn’t a willingness to tear down the fences or storm the capitol. They did nothing but contribute to the FUD (again, for both sides), and those kinds of comments could have been used by the other side as justification for the fences and aggressive tone of LE in the days prior.

Privately I think we also need to be reserved in what is said. I found myself being much more open on Signal (a good thing) just because I didn’t have to worry about it being archived online or indexed by Google, but I still wasn’t about to suggest any illegal activity. If there is ever a time for that, it needs to be decided individually and in grave off-line discussions. PERSEC will be critical there.

I’ll end it there, but I hope we can assemble a group of half a dozen or a dozen in the SW OH/NKY area. There are a number of parks in the area with opportunities for hiking in the 2-8 mile range. These would be great for trying out various equipment and building both fitness and community. I can help with radio comms gear.

I’m thankful that we aren’t facing the same immediate of threat that VA is, but as everyone I met in my brief time in VA said, “they’re coming for us (their own home states) next.” Sadly, it looks like some of our state republicans are willing to lead that charge.

(I tend to write book-length posts, I apologize... just be glad my post count is so low!)

I'll take thoughtful conservatism over rash thinking.

I also thought that men and women with families were preferred for any group of like minded guys.

I'm down for a meet and greet and go from there.

My gut instinct says to heed the advice of @whiskersthecat on this matter, but if FritzTKatt wants to roll with the signal group for now, I'll follow his lead on this since he's the one that took the initiative to get the ball rolling.

I realize that the signal app gets our phone numbers out there, but I suppose we could always make a second group later on for people that are vetted in one way or another?

@FritzTKatt, if you'd prefer to set up an email chain for this stuff, I'd be more than happy to help with that.  I'm parked in front of a computer for a minimum of 50 hours a week anyway.

Let me know how I can be of assistance!

I appreciate the input of kxjs, well said.

I'm not a public person, but I'm sure my information is already out there. I get letters all the time how my identity was stolen thanks to the nerds at OPM not doing their job.

At some point you have to leave the basement and take a risk meeting some strangers. I've met quite a few arfcommers in the last couple years, marched with some on the state house right here in the buckeye state, drank beer with a penguin, shot machineguns with a guy short a leg, and assisted with the march on Richmond with the Virginians.

"Fuck it, we're doing it live!

Do I need to send you my phone number?

If you're skilled in telepathy, then it'll come to me

A PM would probably be more user-friendly.

Toledo

I might be interested in hearing more about this if we can get a group relatively near my AO.  Northeast corner.