Desmond was born and raised in southern Arizona, where his passion for the outdoors began. As a teenager, he would often go fishing with his brother, Deon, and cousin, Marcus, for hours at the lake, where he first learned about different types of fish and bait. As a Boy Scout, he was introduced to different environments and learned about animals, plants, safety, and basic survival methods. Desmond joined the U.S. Army with his cousin, Mike, and dedicated eight years to protecting and serving his country. During his enlistment, he traveled the world and fine-tuned his survival skills. Although each place was different, the survival skills he was taught in the military helped him make it through various harsh environments.

Here are the ten items Desmond selected to bring on his survival journey to Vancouver Island: