Skills Inventory Mapping for Your MAG

Why Mapping Matters

A MAG without a skills inventory is guessing. You might have three people who can treat wounds and nobody who can purify water, or three ham radio operators and nobody who knows basic farming. You won't know until you need to know — which is the worst possible moment.

The skills inventory turns your group from a collection of individuals into a coherent team. It reveals where you're strong (and can contribute to others), where you're weak (and need training or additional members), and who to call when a specific problem arises.

The Assessment Framework

Skills for emergency preparedness fall into ten categories. Rate each skill area on a five-point scale:

1 = No knowledge or capability 2 = Basic awareness, could follow instructions 3 = Functional — can handle common situations 4 = Proficient — can handle most situations, train others in basics 5 = Expert — can handle complex situations, train others thoroughly

The Ten Categories

1. Medical and Health

• Trauma management (bleeding control, wound closure, fracture splinting)
• CPR and airway management
• Illness assessment and management
• Childbirth assistance
• Dental emergency management
• Pharmaceutical knowledge
• Mental health first aid

2. Food Production

• Gardening (scale and crops grown)
• Seed saving and variety maintenance
• Livestock husbandry (which animals, scale of experience)
• Hunting and trapping
• Fishing
• Foraging (plant identification, regional knowledge)
• Fermentation and food preservation

3. Water

• Water sourcing (wells, springs, collection)
• Hand pump operation and maintenance
• Water purification (filtering, chemical, UV, boiling)
• Water testing (basic contamination identification)

4. Communications

• Amateur (ham) radio (license level: Technician, General, Extra)
• Radio operation without amateur license (GMRS, MURS, CB)
• Antenna construction and repair
• SIGINT awareness (understanding radio security)
• Alternate communication methods (visual signals, runners)

5. Security

• Unarmed threat assessment and de-escalation
• Firearms proficiency (handgun, rifle, shotgun)
• Patrol and surveillance techniques
• Access control and perimeter management
• Physical security (locks, barriers, lighting)
• Negotiation and conflict resolution with external parties

6. Mechanical and Technical

• Gasoline engine repair (automotive, small engine)
• Diesel engine repair
• Electrical systems (12V, 120V, generator systems)
• Solar and battery system installation and maintenance
• Welding
• Plumbing
• HVAC systems

7. Construction and Shelter

• Carpentry and general construction
• Roofing
• Foundation and drainage
• Insulation and energy efficiency
• Log or timber construction
• Improvised shelter construction

8. Navigation and Transportation

• Land navigation (map and compass)
• GPS operation
• Vehicle operation (standard, off-road, heavy vehicles)
• Animal-powered transportation (horses, mules, draft animals)
• Boat and watercraft operation

9. Financial and Legal

• Barter and trade
• Precious metals assessment and exchange
• Legal document knowledge (property, contracts, wills)
• Financial resilience planning

10. Education and Training

• Teaching and instructional skills
• Children's education (homeschool capability)
• First responder training or certification
• Specific professional certifications (nurse, paramedic, engineer, lawyer)

The Inventory Process

Step 1: Individual Self-Assessment

Each member completes the skills inventory privately. Honest self-rating matters more than impressive numbers. A person who rates themselves a 3 when they're a 2 creates planning assumptions that fail at the worst time.

For each skill: rate yourself, then note your specific experience (years, professional training, practical applications, any gaps in knowledge).

Step 2: Group Discussion

Bring the assessments together in a group meeting. Each person shares their self-assessment. The group:

• Validates or adjusts ratings (gently — "I've seen you do X, you might be a 4" or "Have you tried Y? That might affect your rating")
• Identifies areas where someone's assessment doesn't match what the group has observed
• Begins to see the overall picture

Step 3: Gap Analysis

Map the group's combined inventory. Identify:

Coverage gaps: Areas where nobody in the group has functional capability (2 or above). These are urgent training priorities.

Depth gaps: Areas where only one person has significant capability. Single-point-of-failure problems. What happens if your only nurse gets injured?

Breadth gaps: Areas where everyone has basic capability but nobody is proficient. Good for redundancy, but no expert to train from.

Overage: Areas where multiple people are expert. These members can train others and the group has depth.

Step 4: Training Priority Matrix

From the gap analysis, build a training priority list:

| Priority | Gap Type | Response | |----------|----------|----------| | 1 — Urgent | Coverage gap in critical category | All members receive basic training; recruit for expertise | | 2 — High | Depth gap (only one person) | Cross-train at least one backup | | 3 — Medium | Breadth gap | Designated individual deepens to proficient | | 4 — Ongoing | All members | Maintain and develop across all areas |

Sample Group Skills Card

A simplified reference version each member can carry:

[Group Name] Skills Quick Reference

MEDICAL
  Trauma: [Member A] — Level 4 (EMT)
  General illness: [Member B] — Level 3 (nurse)
  Backup trauma: [Member C] — Level 2

COMMUNICATIONS
  Ham radio: [Member D] — Level 5 (Extra, licensed)
  GMRS: All members — Level 2

FOOD PRODUCTION
  Gardening: [Member E] — Level 4 (1 acre garden, 5 yrs)
  Livestock: [Member F] — Level 4 (chickens, pigs)
  Hunting: [Members C, G] — Level 3

[Continue for each category]

GAPS TO ADDRESS:
  - Dental: No coverage — priority
  - Water sourcing: Only [Member H], needs backup
  - Welding: No coverage — recruit or train

Keeping It Current

Skills inventories become outdated. Update annually and after significant changes:

• New training completed by any member
• New members joining (add their assessment)
• Members leaving (identify gaps reopened)
• Major skill development (member achieves certification)

The inventory is a living planning document, not a one-time exercise.

Handling Skill Gaps: Options

When the inventory reveals significant gaps, the responses in order of practicality:

Training existing members. The first-aid course, the ham radio license exam, the permaculture design course — much critical knowledge is accessible through affordable training. Budget time and modest resources for annual training.

Recruiting for gaps. If you have zero medical depth and know a nurse or paramedic who might be a good fit, that gap informs recruitment priority.

Relationship building with external specialists. A doctor, veterinarian, or dentist who lives near your area, even outside your core MAG, may be willing to consult in an emergency. These relationships are worth building.

Acknowledging limitations. Some gaps can't be closed. Knowing them lets you plan around them rather than assuming a capability you don't have.