NOVA Dynamic Training Group’s Home Defense & Preparation (“Bug-In”) course equips individuals and families with the mindset, knowledge, skills, and practical tools needed to safely shelter in place (SIP) during emergencies and extended disruptions. Whether caused by severe weather, infrastructure failure, prolonged power or utility outages, civil unrest, public-health emergencies, or other crisis events, there are circumstances in which remaining at home may be safer and more practical than evacuating.

Rooted in reality-based preparedness, this course teaches participants how to assess their household, identify likely threats, establish appropriate levels of readiness, and develop the resources and capabilities necessary to sustain themselves when normal services and systems are unavailable.

Participants learn to approach home preparedness through five fundamental questions: Who are you preparing for? What are you preparing for? When—and for how long—must you be prepared? Where will you store supplies and shelter within your home? Why is each piece of equipment or resource necessary?

Our trainers emphasize that preparedness is not about fear or simply accumulating gear. It is about sustaining and protecting life, promoting options, leveraging time, and preserving dignity while developing the knowledge and practical skills necessary to use your resources effectively.

 

Key Topics Covered:

• Preparedness Mindset & Household Risk Assessment

• Shelter-in-Place (SIP) Planning & Decision-Making

• The Five Preparedness Questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

• Identifying Household-Specific Needs, Including Children, Elderly Persons, Limited Mobility & Medical Considerations

• Water Storage, Treatment & Utility Water Planning

• Emergency Food Selection, Storage & Rotation

• Alternative Cooking Methods & Food Preparation

• Emergency Power, Battery Management & Backup Energy

• Emergency Lighting

• Emergency Communications, Weather Monitoring & Alerts

• Medical Preparedness, Prescription Medications & First-Aid Resources

• Hygiene, Sanitation & Waste Management

• Critical Documents, Emergency Cash & Information Management

• Household Tools & Essential Equipment

• Personal Security & Home Defense Considerations

• Morale, Mental Resilience & Family Readiness

• Emergency GO & GOODIE Bag Integration

• Household Emergency Planning & Family Coordination

• Practical Equipment Selection, Use & Evaluation

 

Recommended Gear

Participants are encouraged to bring examples of emergency equipment or supplies they currently own and would like evaluated or incorporated into their preparedness plan.

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Suggested items include:

• Individual GOODIE Bag or emergency kit*

• Individual GO Bag*

• Flashlight or headlamp

• Portable power bank

• Emergency/weather radio

• Personal First Aid Kit or IFAK*

• Notebook

• 2 writing pens

 

*Participants who do not currently own emergency kits or equipment are not required to purchase gear before attending the course. One of the objectives of Home Defense | “Bug-In” is helping students understand what they actually need before spending money on equipment.

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+ Medical Preparedness Option (Add-On Module)

Students may add a hands-on medical preparedness module providing instruction in essential emergency medical skills applicable when professional medical services may be delayed or unavailable.

Instruction may include:

• Basic First Aid & CPR – Aligned with American Red Cross and American Heart Association guidelines

• Major Bleeding Control / “Stop the Bleed” concepts – Emergency hemorrhage-control techniques and casualty-care fundamentals

• Building and maintaining a household medical kit

• Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) familiarization

• Prescription and over-the-counter medication planning

• Medical considerations during extended shelter-in-place events

 

This module helps participants develop the practical capability to address common injuries and potentially life-threatening medical emergencies while awaiting professional assistance.

Required Equipment:
Participants taking the hands-on medical module must bring or purchase an Individual First Aid (IFAK) Trainer Kit. Trainer Kits may be sourced independently or added during registration. Participants sourcing their own kit should contact NOVA in advance to confirm that it contains the necessary training components.

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NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

There are no prerequisites for Home Defense | “Bug-In.” The course is designed for individuals, couples, families, caregivers, and community members at all levels of preparedness—from someone building their first emergency kit to experienced participants looking to refine an existing household preparedness plan.

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Students interested in expanding the personal-security and defensive components of their preparedness are also encouraged to consider NOVA’s Personal Defense I and Baseline Pistol courses.

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Home Defense | “Bug-In” and Urban Survival | “Bug-Out” are designed as complementary courses: one prepares you to remain safely in place when staying home is the better option; the other prepares you to move when remaining there is no longer safe or sustainable.

The objective is not simply to own more gear. It is to build capability—and preserve your options when normal life is disrupted.