|
|
|
(FM 21-76)
May 2002
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:
Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies and their
contractors only to protect technical or operational information from
automatic dissemination under the International Exchange Program or by
other means. This determination was made on 5 December 2003. Other
requests for this document must be referred to Commander, United
States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School,
ATTN: AOJK-DT-SF, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28310-5000.
DESTRUCTION NOTICE:
Destroy by any method that must prevent disclosure of contents or
reconstruction of the document.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
*FM 3-05.70
Field Manual
Headquarters
No. 3-05.70
Department of the Army
Washington, DC, 17 May 2002
SURVIVAL
Contents
Page
PREFACE
vii
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1-1
Survival Actions
1-1
Pattern for Survival
1-5
Chapter 2
PSYCHOLOGY OF SURVIVAL
2-1
A Look at Stress
2-2
Natural Reactions
2-6
Preparing Yourself
2-9
Chapter 3
SURVIVAL PLANNING AND SURVIVAL KITS
3-1
Importance of Planning
3-2
Survival Kits
3-3
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government
agencies and their contractors only to protect technical or operational
information from automatic dissemination under the International Exchange
Program or by other means. This determination was made on 5 December 2003.
Other requests for this document must be referred to Commander, United States
Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, ATTN: AOJK-DT-
SF, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28310-5000.
DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that must prevent disclosure
of contents or reconstruction of the document.
______________
* This publication supersedes FM 21-76, June 1992.
i
Page
Chapter 4
BASIC SURVIVAL MEDICINE
4-1
Requirements for Maintenance of Health
4-1
Medical Emergencies
4-8
Lifesaving Steps
4-9
Bone and Joint Injury
4-18
Bites and Stings
4-21
Wounds
4-27
Environmental Injuries
4-32
Herbal Medicines
4-35
Chapter 5
SHELTERS
5-1
Primary Shelter—Uniform
5-1
Shelter Site Selection
5-1
Types of Shelters
5-3
Chapter 6
WATER PROCUREMENT
6-1
Water Sources
6-1
Still Construction
6-8
Water Purification
6-13
Water Filtration Devices
6-15
Chapter 7
FIRECRAFT
7-1
Basic Fire Principles
7-1
Site Selection and Preparation
7-2
Fire Material Selection
7-5
How to Build a Fire
7-6
How to Light a Fire
7-8
Chapter 8
FOOD PROCUREMENT
8-1
Animals for Food
8-1
Traps and Snares
8-11
Killing Devices
8-25
ii
Page
Fishing Devices
8-27
Cooking and Storage of Fish and Game
8-35
Chapter 9
SURVIVAL USE OF PLANTS
9-1
Edibility of Plants
9-1
Plants for Medicine
9-12
Miscellaneous Uses of Plants
9-16
Chapter 10
POISONOUS PLANTS
10-1
How Plants Poison
10-1
All About Plants
10-2
Rules for Avoiding Poisonous Plants
10-2
Contact Dermatitis
10-3
Ingestion Poisoning
10-4
Chapter 11
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
11-1
Insects and Arachnids
11-2
Leeches
11-4
Bats
11-5
Venomous Snakes
11-5
Snake-Free Areas
11-6
Dangerous Lizards
11-7
Dangers in Rivers
11-8
Dangers in Bays and Estuaries
11-9
Saltwater Dangers
11-9
Other Dangerous Sea Creatures
11-12
Chapter 12
FIELD-EXPEDIENT WEAPONS, TOOLS, AND
EQUIPMENT
12-1
Staffs
12-1
Clubs
12-2
Edged Weapons
12-4
iii
Page
Other Expedient Weapons
12-8
Cordage and Lashing
12-10
Rucksack Construction
12-12
Clothing and Insulation
12-13
Cooking and Eating Utensils
12-14
Chapter 13
DESERT SURVIVAL
13-1
Terrain
13-1
Environmental Factors
13-3
Need for Water
13-7
Heat Casualties
13-10
Precautions
13-11
Desert Hazards
13-12
Chapter 14
TROPICAL SURVIVAL
14-1
Tropical Weather
14-1
Jungle Types
14-2
Travel Through Jungle Areas
14-6
Immediate Considerations
14-7
Water Procurement
14-7
Food
14-9
Poisonous Plants
14-10
Chapter 15
COLD WEATHER SURVIVAL
15-1
Cold Regions and Locations
15-1
Windchill
15-2
Basic Principles of Cold Weather Survival
15-4
Hygiene
15-6
Medical Aspects
15-7
Cold Injuries
15-7
Shelters
15-13
iv
Page
Fire
15-17
Water
15-20
Food
15-22
Travel
15-25
Weather Signs
15-26
Chapter 16
SEA SURVIVAL
16-1
The Open Sea
16-1
Seashores
16-35
Chapter 17
EXPEDIENT WATER CROSSINGS
17-1
Rivers and Streams
17-1
Rapids
17-2
Rafts
17-5
Flotation Devices
17-10
Other Water Obstacles
17-12
Vegetation Obstacles
17-12
Chapter 18
FIELD-EXPEDIENT DIRECTION FINDING
18-1
Using the Sun and Shadows
18-1
Using the Moon
18-5
Using the Stars
18-5
Making Improvised Compasses
18-8
Other Means of Determining Direction
18-8
Chapter 19
SIGNALING TECHNIQUES
19-1
Application
19-1
Means for Signaling
19-2
Codes and Signals
19-12
Aircraft Vectoring Procedures
19-16
v
Page
Chapter 20
SURVIVAL MOVEMENT IN HOSTILE AREAS
20-1
Phases of Planning
20-1
Execution
20-4
Return to Friendly Control
20-9
Chapter 21
CAMOUFLAGE
21-1
Personal Camouflage
21-1
Methods of Stalking
21-5
Chapter 22
CONTACT WITH PEOPLE
22-1
Contact With Local People
22-1
Survival Behavior
22-2
Changes to Political Allegiance
22-3
Chapter 23
SURVIVAL IN MAN-MADE HAZARDS
23-1
The Nuclear Environment
23-1
Biological Environments
23-17
Chemical Environments
23-22
Appendix A
SURVIVAL KITS
A-1
Appendix B
EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS
B-1
Appendix C
POISONOUS PLANTS
C-1
Appendix D
DANGEROUS INSECTS AND ARACHNIDS
D-1
Appendix E
VENOMOUS SNAKES AND LIZARDS
E-1
Appendix F
DANGEROUS FISH AND MOLLUSKS
F-1
Appendix G
ROPES AND KNOTS
G-1
Appendix H
CLOUDS: FORETELLERS OF WEATHER
H-1
Appendix I
EVASION PLAN OF ACTION FORMAT
I-1
GLOSSARY
Glossary-1
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliography-1
INDEX
Index-1
vi
Preface
As a soldier, you can be sent to any area of the world.
It may be in a temperate, tropical, arctic, or subarctic
region. You expect to have all your personal
equipment and your unit members with you wherever
you go. However, there is no guarantee it will be so.
You could find yourself alone in a remote area—
possibly enemy territory—with little or no personal
gear. This manual provides information and describes
basic techniques that will enable you to survive and
return alive should you find yourself in such a
situation.
If you are a trainer, use this information as a base on
which to build survival training. You know the areas
to which your unit is likely to deploy, the means by
which it will travel, and the territory through which it
will travel. Read what this manual says about
survival in those particular areas and find out all you
can about those areas. Read other books on survival.
Develop a survival-training program that will enable
your unit members to meet any survival situation
they may face. It can make the difference between life
and death.
The proponent of this publication is the United States
Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and
School
(USAJFKSWCS). Submit comments and
recommended changes to Commander, USAJFKSWCS,
ATTN: AOJK-DT-SF, Fort Bragg, NC 28310-5000.
Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine
nouns and pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.
vii
Chapter 1
Introduction
This manual is based entirely on the keyword
SURVIVAL. The letters in this word can help
guide your actions in any survival situation.
Learn what each letter represents and practice
applying these guidelines when conducting
survival training. Remember the word
SURVIVAL.
SURVIVAL ACTIONS
1-1. The following paragraphs expand on the meaning of each
letter of the word survival. Study and remember what each letter
signifies because some day you may have to make the word work
for you.
S—SIZE UP THE SITUATION
1-2. If you are in a combat situation, find a place where you can
conceal yourself from the enemy. Remember, security takes
priority. Use your senses of hearing, smell, and sight to get a feel
for the battlespace. Determine if the enemy is attacking,
defending, or withdrawing. You will have to consider what is
developing on the battlespace when you make your survival plan.
Surroundings
1-3. Determine the pattern of the area. Get a feel for what is
going on around you. Every environment, whether forest, jungle,
or desert, has a rhythm or pattern. This tempo includes animal
and bird noises and movements and insect sounds. It may also
include enemy traffic and civilian movements.
Physical Condition
1-4. The pressure of the battle you were in or the trauma of
being in a survival situation may have caused you to overlook
wounds you received. Check your wounds and give yourself first
aid. Take care to prevent further bodily harm. For instance, in
any climate, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. If you
1-1
are in a cold or wet climate, put on additional clothing to prevent
hypothermia.
Equipment
1-5. Perhaps in the heat of battle, you lost or damaged some of
your equipment. Check to see what equipment you have and what
condition it is in.
1-6. Now that you have sized up your situation, surroundings,
physical condition, and equipment, you are ready to make your
survival plan. In doing so, keep in mind your basic physical
needs—water, food, and shelter.
U—USE ALL YOUR SENSES, UNDUE HASTE MAKES WASTE
1-7. You may make a wrong move when you react quickly without
thinking or planning. That move may result in your capture or
death. Don’t move just for the sake of taking action. Consider all
aspects of your situation before you make a decision and a move. If
you act in haste, you may forget or lose some of your equipment. In
your haste you may also become disoriented so that you don’t know
which way to go. Plan your moves. Be ready to move out quickly
without endangering yourself if the enemy is near you. Use all your
senses to evaluate the situation. Note sounds and smells. Be
sensitive to temperature changes. Always be observant.
R—REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE
1-8. Spot your location on your map and relate it to the
surrounding terrain. This basic principle is one that you must
always follow. If there are other persons with you, make sure
they also know their location. Always know who in your group,
vehicle, or aircraft has a map and compass. If that person is
killed, you will have to get the map and compass from him. Pay
close attention to where you are and where you are going. Do not
rely on others in the group to keep track of the route. Constantly
orient yourself. Always try to determine, as a minimum, how
your location relates to the location of—
• Enemy units and controlled areas.
• Friendly units and controlled areas.
• Local water sources (especially important in the desert).
• Areas that will provide good cover and concealment.
1-2
1-9. This information will allow you to make intelligent
decisions when you are in a survival and evasion situation.
V—VANQUISH FEAR AND PANIC
1-10. The greatest enemies in a combat survival and evasion
situation are fear and panic. If uncontrolled, they can destroy
your ability to make an intelligent decision. They may cause you
to react to your feelings and imagination rather than to your
situation. These emotions can drain your energy and thereby
cause other negative emotions. Previous survival and evasion
training and self-confidence will enable you to vanquish fear and
panic.
I—IMPROVISE
1-11. In the United States (U.S.), we have items available for all
our needs. Many of these items are cheap to replace when
damaged. Our easy-come, easy-go, easy-to-replace culture makes
it unnecessary for us to improvise. This inexperience in “making
do” can be an enemy in a survival situation. Learn to improvise.
Take a tool designed for a specific purpose and see how many
other uses you can make of it.
1-12. Learn to use natural objects around you for different needs.
An example is using a rock for a hammer. No matter how
complete a survival kit you have with you, it will run out or wear
out after a while. Your imagination must take over when your kit
wears out.
V—VALUE LIVING
1-13. All of us were born kicking and fighting to live, but we have
become used to the soft life. We have become creatures of comfort.
We dislike inconveniences and discomforts. What happens when
we are faced with a survival situation with its stresses,
inconveniences, and discomforts? This is when the will to live—
placing a high value on living—is vital. The experience and
knowledge you have gained through life and your Army training
will have a bearing on your will to live. Stubbornness, a refusal to
give in to problems and obstacles that face you, will give you the
mental and physical strength to endure.
1-3
A—ACT LIKE THE NATIVES
1-14. The natives and animals of a region have adapted to their
environment. To get a feel of the area, watch how the people go
about their daily routine. When and what do they eat? When,
where, and how do they get their food? When and where do they
go for water? What time do they usually go to bed and get up?
These actions are important to you when you are trying to avoid
capture.
1-15. Animal life in the area can also give you clues on how to
survive. Animals also require food, water, and shelter. By
watching them, you can find sources of water and food.
WARNING
Animals cannot serve as an absolute guide to what you
can eat and drink. Many animals eat plants that are toxic
to humans.
1-16. Keep in mind that the reaction of animals can reveal your
presence to the enemy.
1-17. If in a friendly area, one way you can gain rapport with the
natives is to show interest in their tools and how they get food
and water. By studying the people, you learn to respect them, you
often make valuable friends, and, most important, you learn how
to adapt to their environment and increase your chances of
survival.
L—LIVE BY YOUR WITS, BUT FOR NOW, LEARN BASIC
SKILLS
1-18. Without training in basic skills for surviving and evading
on the battlespace, your chances of living through a combat
survival and evasion situation are slight.
1-19. Learn these basic skills now—not when you are headed for
or are in the battle. How you decide to equip yourself before
deployment will affect whether or not you survive. You need to
know about the environment to which you are going, and you must
practice basic skills geared to that environment. For instance, if
you are going to a desert, you need to know how to get water.
1-4
1-20. Practice basic survival skills during all training programs
and exercises. Survival training reduces fear of the unknown and
gives you self-confidence. It teaches you to live by your wits.
PATTERN FOR SURVIVAL
1-21. Develop a survival pattern that lets you beat the enemies of
survival. This survival pattern must include food, water, shelter,
fire, first aid, and signals placed in order of importance. For
example, in a cold environment, you would need a fire to get
warm; a shelter to protect you from the cold, wind, and rain or
snow; traps or snares to get food; a means to signal friendly
aircraft; and first aid to maintain health. If you are injured, first
aid has top priority no matter what climate you are in.
1-22. Change your survival pattern to meet your immediate
physical needs as the environment changes. As you read the rest
of this manual, keep in mind the keyword SURVIVAL, what each
letter signifies (Figure 1-1), and the need for a survival pattern.
Figure 1-1. Guidelines for Survival
1-5
Chapter 2
Psychology of Survival
It takes much more than the knowledge and
skills to build shelters, get food, make fires, and
travel without the aid of standard navigational
devices to live successfully through a survival
situation. Some people with little or no survival
training have managed to survive life-
threatening circumstances. Some people with
survival training have not used their skills and
died. A key ingredient in any survival situation
is the mental attitude of the individual involved.
Having survival skills is important; having the
will to survive is essential. Without a desire to
survive, acquired skills serve little purpose and
invaluable knowledge goes to waste.
There is a psychology to survival. You will face
many stressors in a survival environment that
ultimately will affect your mind. These stressors
can produce thoughts and emotions that, if
poorly understood, can transform a confident,
well-trained person into an indecisive, ineffective
individual with questionable ability to survive.
Thus, you must be aware of and be able to
recognize those stressors commonly associated
with survival. It is also imperative that you be
aware of your reactions to the wide variety of
stressors associated with survival. This chapter
identifies and explains the nature of stress, the
stressors of survival, and those internal reactions
that you will naturally experience when faced
with the stressors of a real-world survival
situation. The knowledge you gain from this
chapter and the remainder of this manual, will
prepare you to come through the toughest times
alive.
2-1
A LOOK AT STRESS
2-1. Before we can understand our psychological reactions in a
survival setting, it is helpful to first know a little bit about stress
and its effects. Stress is not a disease that you cure and eliminate.
Instead, it is a condition we all experience. Stress can be
described as our reaction to pressure. It is the name given to the
experience we have as we physically, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually respond to life’s tensions.
NEED FOR STRESS
2-2. We need stress because it has many positive benefits. Stress
provides us with challenges; it gives us chances to learn about our
values and strengths. Stress can show our ability to handle
pressure without breaking. It tests our adaptability and
flexibility, and can stimulate us to do our best. Because we
usually do not consider unimportant events stressful, stress can
also be an excellent indicator of the significance we attach to an
event—in other words, it highlights what is important to us.
2-3. We need to have some stress in our lives, but too much of
anything can be bad. The goal is to have stress, but not an excess
of it. Too much stress can take its toll on people and
organizations. Too much stress leads to distress. Distress causes
an uncomfortable tension that we try to escape or, preferably,
avoid. Listed below are a few of the common signs of distress that
you may encounter when faced with too much stress:
• Difficulty making decisions.
• Angry outbursts.
• Forgetfulness.
• Low energy level.
• Constant worrying.
• Propensity for mistakes.
• Thoughts about death or suicide.
• Trouble getting along with others.
• Withdrawing from others.
• Hiding from responsibilities.
• Carelessness.
2-2
2-4. As you can see, stress can be constructive or destructive. It
can encourage or discourage, move us along or stop us dead in our
tracks, and make life meaningful or seemingly meaningless.
Stress can inspire you to operate successfully and perform at your
maximum efficiency in a survival situation. It can also cause you
to panic and forget all your training. Your key to survival is your
ability to manage the inevitable stresses you will encounter. The
person that survives is one who works with his stresses instead of
letting his stresses work on him.
SURVIVAL STRESSORS
2-5. Any event can lead to stress and, as everyone has
experienced, events don’t always come one at a time. Often,
stressful events occur simultaneously. These events are not
stress, but they produce it and are called “stressors.” Stressors
are the obvious cause while stress is the response. Once the body
recognizes the presence of a stressor, it then begins to act to
protect itself.
2-6. In response to a stressor, the body prepares either to “fight
or flee.” This preparation involves an internal SOS sent
throughout the body. As the body responds to this SOS, the
following actions take place:
• The body releases stored fuels (sugar and fats) to provide
quick energy.
• Breathing rate increases to supply more oxygen to the
blood.
• Muscle tension increases to prepare for action.
• Blood clotting mechanisms are activated to reduce bleeding
from cuts.
• Senses become more acute
(hearing becomes more
sensitive, pupils dilate, smell becomes sharper) so that you
are more aware of your surroundings.
• Heart rate and blood pressure rise to provide more blood to
the muscles.
This protective posture lets you cope with potential dangers.
However, you cannot maintain this level of alertness indefinitely.
2-7. Stressors are not courteous; one stressor does not leave
because another one arrives. Stressors add up. The cumulative
2-3
effect of minor stressors can be a major distress if they all happen
too close together. As the body’s resistance to stress wears down
and the sources of stress continue (or increase), eventually a state
of exhaustion arrives. At this point, the ability to resist stress or
use it in a positive way gives out and signs of distress appear.
Anticipating stressors and developing strategies to cope with
them are two ingredients in the effective management of stress.
Therefore, it is essential that you be aware of the types of
stressors that you will encounter. The following paragraphs
explain a few of these.
Injury, Illness, or Death
2-8. Injury, illness, and death are real possibilities that you
have to face. Perhaps nothing is more stressful than being alone
in an unfamiliar environment where you could die from hostile
action, an accident, or from eating something lethal. Illness and
injury can also add to stress by limiting your ability to maneuver,
get food and drink, find shelter, and defend yourself. Even if
illness and injury don’t lead to death, they add to stress through
the pain and discomfort they generate. It is only by controlling
the stress associated with the vulnerability to injury, illness, and
death that you can have the courage to take the risks associated
with survival tasks.
Uncertainty and Lack of Control
2-9. Some people have trouble operating in settings where
everything is not clear-cut. The only guarantee in a survival
situation is that nothing is guaranteed. It can be extremely
stressful operating on limited information in a setting where you
have limited control of your surroundings. This uncertainty and
lack of control also add to the stress of being ill, injured, or killed.
Environment
2-10. Even under the most ideal circumstances, nature is quite
formidable. In survival, you will have to contend with the
stressors of weather, terrain, and the variety of creatures
inhabiting an area. Heat, cold, rain, winds, mountains, swamps,
deserts, insects, dangerous reptiles, and other animals are just a
few of the challenges that you will encounter while working to
survive. Depending on how you handle the stress of your
environment, your surroundings can be either a source of food
2-4
and protection or can be a cause of extreme discomfort leading to
injury, illness, or death.
Hunger and Thirst
2-11. Without food and water you will weaken and eventually die.
Thus, getting and preserving food and water takes on increasing
importance as the length of time in a survival setting increases.
Foraging can also be a big source of stress since you are used to
having your provisions issued.
Fatigue
2-12. Forcing yourself to continue surviving is not easy as you
grow more tired. It is possible to become so fatigued that the act
of just staying awake is stressful in itself.
Isolation
2-13. There are some advantages to facing adversity with others.
As a soldier you learn individual skills, but you train to function
as part of a team. Although we complain about higher
headquarters, we become used to the information and guidance it
provides, especially during times of confusion. Being in contact
with others also provides a greater sense of security and a feeling
someone is available to help if problems occur. A significant
stressor in survival situations is that often you have to rely solely
on your own resources.
2-14. The survival stressors mentioned in this section are by no
means the only ones you may face. Remember, what is stressful
to one person may not be stressful to another. Your experiences,
training, personal outlook on life, physical and mental
conditioning, and level of self-confidence contribute to what you
will find stressful in a survival environment. The object is not to
avoid stress, but rather to manage the stressors of survival and
make them work for you.
2-15. We now have a general knowledge of stress and the
stressors common to survival. The next step is to examine your
reactions to the stressors you may face.
2-5
NATURAL REACTIONS
2-16. Man has been able to survive many shifts in his
environment throughout the centuries. His ability to adapt
physically and mentally to a changing world kept him alive while
other species around him gradually died off. The same survival
mechanisms that kept our forefathers alive can help keep you
alive as well! However, the survival mechanisms that can help
you can also work against you if you do not understand and
anticipate their presence.
2-17. It is not surprising that the average person will have some
psychological reactions in a survival situation. The following
paragraphs explain some of the major internal reactions that you
or anyone with you might experience with the previously stated
survival stressors.
FEAR
2-18. Fear is our emotional response to dangerous circumstances
that we believe have the potential to cause death, injury, or
illness. This harm is not just limited to physical damage; the
threat to your emotional and mental well-being can generate fear
as well. If you are trying to survive, fear can have a positive
function if it encourages you to be cautious in situations where
recklessness could result in injury. Unfortunately, fear can also
immobilize you. It can cause you to become so frightened that you
fail to perform activities essential for survival. Most people will
have some degree of fear when placed in unfamiliar surroundings
under adverse conditions. There is no shame in this! You must
train yourself not to be overcome by your fears. Ideally, through
realistic training, you can acquire the knowledge and skills
needed to increase your confidence and thereby manage your
fears.
ANXIETY
2-19. Associated with fear is anxiety. Because it is natural for you
to be afraid, it is also natural for you to experience anxiety.
Anxiety can be an uneasy, apprehensive feeling you get when
faced with dangerous situations
(physical, mental, and
emotional). When used in a healthy way, anxiety can urge you to
act to end, or at least master, the dangers that threaten your
2-6
existence. If you were never anxious, there would be little
motivation to make changes in your life. In a survival setting you
can reduce your anxiety by performing those tasks that will
ensure you come through the ordeal alive. As you reduce your
anxiety, you also bring under control the source of that anxiety—
your fears. In this form, anxiety is good; however, anxiety can
also have a devastating impact. Anxiety can overwhelm you to the
point where you become easily confused and have difficulty
thinking. Once this happens, it will become increasingly difficult
for you to make good judgments and sound decisions. To survive,
you must learn techniques to calm your anxieties and keep them
in the range where they help, not hurt.
ANGER AND FRUSTRATION
2-20. Frustration arises when you are continually thwarted in
your attempts to reach a goal. The goal of survival is to stay alive
until you can reach help or until help can reach you. To achieve
this goal, you must complete some tasks with minimal resources.
It is inevitable, in trying to do these tasks, that something will go
wrong; that something will happen beyond your control; and that
with your life at stake, every mistake is magnified in terms of its
importance. Thus, eventually, you will have to cope with
frustration when a few of your plans run into trouble. One
outgrowth of this frustration is anger. There are many events in a
survival situation that can frustrate or anger you. Getting lost,
damaged or forgotten equipment, the weather, inhospitable
terrain, enemy patrols, and physical limitations are just a few
sources of frustration and anger. Frustration and anger generate
impulsive reactions, irrational behavior, poorly thought-out
decisions, and, in some instances, an “I quit” attitude (people
sometimes avoid doing something they can’t master). If you can
harness and properly channel the emotional intensity associated
with anger and frustration, you can productively act as you
answer the challenges of survival. If you do not properly focus
your angry feelings, you can waste much energy in activities that
do little to further either your chances of survival or the chances
of those around you.
DEPRESSION
2-21. You would be a rare person indeed if you did not get sad, at
least momentarily, when faced with the hardships of survival. As
2-7
this sadness deepens, it becomes
“depression.” Depression is
closely linked with frustration and anger. Frustration will cause
you to become increasingly angry as you fail to reach your goals.
If the anger does not help you succeed, then the frustration level
goes even higher. A destructive cycle between anger and
frustration will continue until you become worn down—
physically, emotionally, and mentally. When you reach this point,
you start to give up, and your focus shifts from “What can I do” to
“There is nothing I can do.” Depression is an expression of this
hopeless, helpless feeling. There is nothing wrong with being sad
as you temporarily think about your loved ones and remember
what life is like back in
“civilization” or
“the world.” Such
thoughts, in fact, can give you the desire to try harder and live
one more day. On the other hand, if you allow yourself to sink
into a depressed state, then it can sap all your energy and, more
important, your will to survive. It is imperative that you resist
succumbing to depression.
LONELINESS AND BOREDOM
2-22. Man is a social animal. Human beings enjoy the company of
others. Very few people want to be alone all the time! There is a
distinct chance of isolation in a survival setting. Isolation is not
bad. Loneliness and boredom can bring to the surface qualities
you thought only others had. The extent of your imagination and
creativity may surprise you. When required to do so, you may
discover some hidden talents and abilities. Most of all, you may
tap into a reservoir of inner strength and fortitude you never
knew you had. Conversely, loneliness and boredom can be
another source of depression. If you are surviving alone, or with
others, you must find ways to keep your mind productively
occupied. Additionally, you must develop a degree of self-
sufficiency. You must have faith in your capability to “go it alone.”
GUILT
2-23. The circumstances leading to your being in a survival
setting are sometimes dramatic and tragic. It may be the result of
an accident or military mission where there was a loss of life.
Perhaps you were the only survivor or one of a few survivors.
While naturally relieved to be alive, you simultaneously may be
mourning the deaths of others who were less fortunate. It is not
uncommon for survivors to feel guilty about being spared from
2-8
death while others were not. This feeling, when used in a positive
way, has encouraged people to try harder to survive with the
belief they were allowed to live for some greater purpose in life.
Sometimes, survivors tried to stay alive so that they could carry
on the work of those killed. Whatever reason you give yourself, do
not let guilt feelings prevent you from living. The living who
abandon their chance to survive accomplish nothing. Such an act
would be the greatest tragedy.
PREPARING YOURSELF
2-24. Your mission in a survival situation is to stay alive. The
assortment of thoughts and emotions you will experience in a
survival situation can work for you, or they can work to your
downfall. Fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, guilt, depression, and
loneliness are all possible reactions to the many stressors
common to survival. These reactions, when controlled in a
healthy way, help to increase your likelihood of surviving. They
prompt you to pay more attention in training, to fight back when
scared, to take actions that ensure sustenance and security, to
keep faith with your fellow team members, and to strive against
large odds. When you cannot control these reactions in a healthy
way, they can bring you to a standstill. Instead of rallying your
internal resources, you listen to your internal fears. These fears
will cause you to experience psychological defeat long before you
physically succumb. Remember, survival is natural to everyone;
being unexpectedly thrust into the life-or-death struggle of
survival is not. Do not be afraid of your “natural reactions to this
unnatural situation.” Prepare yourself to rule over these reactions
so they serve your ultimate interest—staying alive with honor
and dignity.
2-25. Being prepared involves knowing that your reactions in a
survival setting are productive, not destructive. The challenge of
survival has produced countless examples of heroism, courage,
and self-sacrifice. These are the qualities a survival situation can
bring out in you if you have prepared yourself. Below are a few
tips to help prepare yourself psychologically for survival. Through
studying this manual and attending survival training you can
develop the “survival attitude.”
2-9
KNOW YOURSELF
2-26. You should take the time through training, family, and
friends to discover who you are on the inside. Strengthen your
stronger qualities and develop the areas that you know are
necessary to survive.
ANTICIPATE FEARS
2-27. Don’t pretend that you will have no fears. Begin thinking
about what would frighten you the most if forced to survive alone.
Train in those areas of concern to you. The goal is not to eliminate
the fear, but to build confidence in your ability to function despite
your fears.
BE REALISTIC
2-28. Don’t be afraid to make an honest appraisal of situations.
See circumstances as they are, not as you want them to be. Keep
your hopes and expectations within the estimate of the situation.
When you go into a survival setting with unrealistic expectations,
you may be laying the groundwork for bitter disappointment.
Follow the adage, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” It is
much easier to adjust to pleasant surprises about your
unexpected good fortunes than to be upset by your unexpected
harsh circumstances.
ADOPT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
2-29. Learn to see the potential good in everything. Looking for
the good not only boosts morale, it also is excellent for exercising
your imagination and creativity.
REMIND YOURSELF WHAT IS AT STAKE
2-30. Failure to prepare yourself psychologically to cope with
survival leads to reactions such as depression, carelessness,
inattention, loss of confidence, poor decision making, and giving
up before the body gives in. Remember that your life and the lives
of others who depend on you are at stake.
TRAIN
2-31. Through military training and life experiences, begin today
to prepare yourself to cope with the rigors of survival.
Demonstrating your skills in training will give you the confidence
2-10
to call upon them should the need arise. Remember, the more
realistic the training, the less overwhelming an actual survival
setting will be.
LEARN STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
2-32. People under stress have a potential to panic if they are not
well-trained and not prepared psychologically to face whatever
the circumstances may be. While you often cannot control the
survival circumstances in which you find yourself, it is within
your ability to control your response to those circumstances.
Learning stress management techniques can significantly
enhance your capability to remain calm and focused as you work
to keep yourself and others alive. A few good techniques to
develop include relaxation skills, time management skills,
assertiveness skills, and cognitive restructuring skills (the ability
to control how you view a situation). Remember, “the will to
survive” can also be considered “the refusal to give up.”
2-11
Chapter 3
Survival Planning and Survival Kits
A survival plan is dependent on three separate
but intertwined parts to be successful: planning,
preparation, and practice.
Survival planning is nothing more than realizing
something could happen that would put you in a
survival situation and, with that in mind, taking
steps to increase your chances of survival. It can
happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, so
remember: failure to plan is a plan to fail.
Plans are based on evasion and recovery (E&R)
considerations and the availability of resupply or
emergency bundles. You must take into
consideration the mission duration and the
distance to friendly lines; the environment, to
include the terrain and weather and possible
changes in the weather during a protracted
mission; and the platform you will be operating
with, such as an aircraft, a multipurpose vehicle,
or perhaps just a rucksack. Planning also entails
looking at those E&R routes and knowing by
memory the major geographical features in case
your map and compass are lost. You can use
classified and unclassified sources such as the
Internet,
encyclopedias,
and geographic
magazines to assist you in planning.
Preparation means preparing yourself and your
survival kit for those contingencies that you have
in your plan. A plan without any preparation is
just a piece of paper. It will not keep you alive.
Prepare yourself by making sure your
immunizations and dental work are up-to-date.
Prepare your uniform by having the newest
uniform for emergencies. It will have the most
3-1
infrared-defeating capabilities possible. You can
have signal devices and snare wire sewn into it
ahead of time. Break in your boots and make
sure that the boots have good soles and water-
repellent properties. Study the area, climate,
terrain, and indigenous methods of food and
water procurement. You should continuously
assess data, even after the plan is made, to
update the plan as necessary and give you the
greatest possible chance of survival. Another
example of preparation is finding the emergency
exits on an aircraft when you board it for a flight.
Practice those things that you have planned with
the items in your survival kit. Checking ensures
that items work and that you know how to use
them. Build a fire in the rain so you know that
when it is critical to get warm, you can do it.
Review the medical items in your kit and have
instructions printed on their use so that even in
times of stress, you will not make life-
threatening errors.
IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING
3-1. Detailed prior planning is essential in potential survival
situations. Including survival considerations in mission planning
will enhance your chances of survival if an emergency occurs. For
example, if your job requires that you work in a small, enclosed
area that limits what you can carry on your person, plan where
you can put your rucksack or your load-bearing equipment (LBE).
Put it where it will not prevent you from getting out of the area
quickly, yet where it is readily accessible.
3-2. One important aspect of prior planning is preventive
medicine. Ensuring that you have no dental problems and that
your immunizations are current will help you avoid potential
dental or health problems. Some dental problems can progress to
the point that you may not be able to eat enough to survive.
Failure to keep your shots current may mean your body is not
immune to diseases that are prevalent in the area.
3-2
3-3. Preparing and carrying a survival kit is as important as the
considerations mentioned above. All Army aircraft have survival
kits on board for the type of area over which they will fly. There
are kits for over-water, hot climate, and cold climate survival.
Each crewmember will also be wearing an aviator survival vest
(Appendix A describes these survival kits). Know the location of
these kits on the aircraft and what they contain in case of crash
or ditching. There are also soldier kits for tropical and temperate
survival. These kits are expensive and not always available to
every soldier. However, if you know what these kits contain, and
on what basis they are built, you will be able to plan and to
prepare your own survival kit that may be better suited to you
than an off-the-shelf one.
3-4. Even the smallest survival kit, if properly prepared, is
invaluable when faced with a survival problem. However, before
making your survival kit, consider your unit’s mission, the
operational environment, and the equipment and vehicles
assigned to your unit.
SURVIVAL KITS
3-5. The environment is the key to the types of items you will
need in your survival kit. How much equipment you put in your
kit depends on how you will carry the kit. A kit carried on your
body will have to be smaller than one carried in a vehicle. Always
layer your survival kit—body, load-bearing vest or equipment,
and platform
(rucksack, vehicle, or aircraft). Keep the most
important items on your body. For example, your map and
compass should always be on your body, as should your basic life-
sustaining items (knife, lighter). Carry less important items on
your LBE. Place bulky items in the rucksack.
3-6. In preparing your survival kit, select items that are
multipurpose, compact, lightweight, durable, and most
importantly, functional. An item is not good if it looks great but
doesn’t do what it was designed for. Items should complement
each other from layer to layer. A signal mirror in your pocket can
be backed up by pen flares in your LBE and a signal panel in your
rucksack. A lighter in your uniform can be augmented by a
magnesium bar in your LBE and additional dry tinder in your
rucksack.
3-3
3-7. Your survival kit need not be elaborate. You need only
functional items that will meet your needs and a case to hold the
items. For the case, you might want to use a bandage box, soap
dish, tobacco tin, first-aid case, ammunition pouch, or another
suitable case. This case should be—
• Water-repellent or waterproof.
• Easy to carry or attach to your body.
• Suitable to accept various-sized components.
• Durable.
3-8. Your survival kit should be broken down into the following
categories:
• Water.
• Fire.
• Shelter.
• Food.
• Medical.
• Signal.
• Miscellaneous.
3-9. Each category should contain items that allow you to
sustain your basic needs. For example, water—you should have
items that allow you to scoop up, draw up, soak up, or suck up
water; something to gather rainwater, condensation, or
perspiration; something to transport water; and something to
purify or filter water. Some examples of each category are as
follows:
• Water—purification tablets, non-lubricated condoms for
carrying water, bleach, povidone-iodine drops, cravats,
sponges, small plastic or rubber tubing, collapsible
canteens or water bags.
• Fire—lighter, metal match, waterproof matches,
magnesium bar, candle, magnifying lens.
• Shelter—550 parachute cord, large knife, machete or
hatchet, poncho, space blanket, hammock, mosquito net,
wire saw.
3-4
///////////////////////////////////////
|
|