The Greatest Guerrilla Fighters of Southwest America

The Apache Indians were raised from early childhood in a warrior type culture. This life style would be used to produce the greatest guerrilla warriors of all time. They would use this culture to fight off three invading countries for a period of over 300 years.

Long before the Spanish military arrived in the 1700's, the Apache were known among Native Americans as being ruthless fighters. Many times they were looked down on because of their style of combat. If the motto of "take no prisoners" existed back then, it would definitely apply to the Apache nation. When the boys reached age 10 to 11, they were taught the way a warrior would have been. This was because of the frequency of warfare. For boys, learning to hunt was only part of their training. the other was that of participating in war games. Discipline was very much a part of learning. If a boy would do something wrong, he would be ordered to run to the top of a nearby hill. This would only help increase his endurance as well.

If a young boy didn't participate in an actual battle, he would be taken to the ruins after the battle to view what had happened. Many times an individual would explain what had happened at the battle and how it went down. A young boy would be taught to travel at night and sleep in the shade during the day. He would be turned lose in the wilderness without water, food, or weapons. He would swim in the coldest water and cross the dessert with a small pebble in his mouth, so that his mouth would stay moist.

Girls, although looked down on would be taught how to kill prisoners. Prisoners would be bound and the girls would be turned lose with axes and knives on them. They would be told that this prisoner had killed one of their own.

If Apaches would return home from a battle without a loss of life, great euphoric celebrations would take place. There would be dancing and singing and feasting.

In the 1700's the Spanish military had campaigns to try and crush the Apache nation. The Apaches, who knew the territory much better, then started to raid the Spanish military without waiting for their arrival.