"Preparedness" Versus Proficiency

People often mistake having a stockpile of emergency gear for being prepared, yet have no idea how to actually use that stuff. It's a topic I keep circling back to, as I see and hear frequent examples, even among the "prepper" and first responder communities. By all means assemble emergency kits and have useful and high-quality gear on hand, but please invest the time to become proficient in its use! It is time well spent, both for yourself and for those who may be counting on you in an emergency. Make a realistic assessment of your emergency kit, bug out bag, or whatever stuff you have, and ask yourself which items you are truly proficient using and which you need to practice.
Here is the original article about this topic that I wrote nearly six years ago: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/preparedness-vs-proficiency-jim-milner/