Operatives don’t have the luxury of being able to return to base to stock up on food or
ammunition, so their effectiveness as free-range agents is built around preparation—and
preparation means always being prepared for the worst. When an operative is conducting a
mission abroad, one of the first orders of business upon being called into action is building
a bolt bag. In the case of emergency, this bag (also known as a “bug-out kit”) becomes an
essential life-support system. It contains everything needed to keep the operative alive,
should he have to “go black,” hiding out of sight until he can either resume his mission or
make arrangements to safely exit the area of operation.
A bolt bag typically consists of a day or two of life support—water, food, cash,
emergency medical supplies, navigation aids, and a “black” or covert phone similar to the
type known in the criminal world as a “burner.” The bag should be stashed in the
operational vehicle, concealed in a spot that is easily accessible from the driver’s seat, such
as the center console compartment (between the seats) or under the seat. (Should the
operative find himself upside down as the result of a collision with aggressors, the kit
should be within arm’s reach.) As its name implies, the bolt bag needs to be light enough
to be carried—canned foods and other heavy supplies do not lend themselves to ease of
transport.
