 |
| “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” carriers, concept one, from “AD 401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare”, which can be found HERE. |
So,
did you ever wonder what survival supplies were issued to the Special Forces
during the Vietnam War? Did you ever
wonder what these soldiers thought of the survival supplies that Uncle Sam
issued?
No? Well maybe you are wondering about it now
that I have mentioned it. And anyways,
more to the point what is in your survival kit today and how does it compare to
what these soldiers carried during the 1960s and 70s.
 |
| “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” carriers, concept two, from “AD 401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare”. |
Discussion
and development of a “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” for the Special
Forces and other special warfare soldiers began in 1963. The goal of the kit, in the words of the
designers, was “...to provide minimum essential self-aid and survival
articles for a period of ten days, when supplemented with foraged foods”1.
The
designers felt that the kits “...must be small enough to encourage its
constant wear in order to insure its ready availability in time of emergency”
and “...if possible, volume should not exceed 44 cubic inches (721 cubic
centimeters), and additionally, that they should “...have a medical, utility
and operational”2 function.
To do this the kit would have to be built in two sections, or as the
report calls them, “components”. Each of
these two sections were to be put inside a durable water-proof liner bag,
inside a rugged container. The
“Individual Aid Kit”, or operational portion, was to be issued empty, so that it
could be customized by the user to suit local needs and it was intended to provide
two to five days of support and supplies.
The “Survival Kit”, which included medical supplies, survival tools and
a survival booklet, was sealed to “...discourage premature consumption”3
of its contents and to protect it from weather, before being put inside its water-proof
liner and outer container. The entire “Individual
Aid and Survival Kit”, less any items intended for the “operational” portion of
the kit, was to have weighed no more 24 ounces (680 grams).
The
designers also felt that it was important that the two components of the “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” should be able to be
attached to a belt and worn either at the small of the back, across the chest,
or slung from the shoulder.
Alternatively, they should be able to be detached from the belt, separated,
and attached to pack straps or carried elsewhere on the soldier’s body.
Additionally,
the durable water-proof liner bag was intended to be
used as an emergency water carrier.
The
designers also had the following advice to potential manufactures of the “Individual
Aid and Survival Kit”:
“Matches,
irrespective of type, are not desired. A
small, simple, all-weather fire-making device is desired.”
“Space
provisions must be made in the kit for a durable map, approximately 28” x 21”, (folded
size approximately 2½” x 4” x ¼”)”, in metric measurements this would be about
71 cm x 53 cm and when folded it would be approximately 6 cm x 10 cm x .6 cm.
“A
durable survival pamphlet must be included in the kit.”
 |
| “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” carriers, concept four, the medical and survival container, including a list of components, from “AD 401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare”. |
 |
| The list of components from “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” carriers, concept four, the medical and survival container, from “AD 401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare” |
“The
medical component should include as a minimum:”
“A chemical means of water
purification in sufficient quantity to provide the user potable drinking water
for a ten day period, assuming an average consumption of two quarts (1.9
liters) per day.”
“Analgesics for relief of minor
aches, pains, and fevers.”
“A capability for the treatment of
minor cuts, abrasions, burns, and blisters.”
“Remedies and/or suppressants for
major prevalent diseases endemic to areas outside of CONUS (Continental
United States—Author’s Note).”
 |
| “Individual Aid and Survival Kit” carriers, concept four, the operational container, from “AD 401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare”. |
“The
utility component should include as a minimum:
“A capability for the user to kill,
snare, or other-wise catch small game and fish.”
“A tool for cutting vines, palm
fronds, or foliage for construction of a shelter.”
“A small compass for land navigation.”
“A simple sewing kit.”
“Signalling devices to attract
attention of rescue aircraft or parties.
Consideration should be given to a simple reflecting surface for
daylight signalling.”
“A small, sharp, cutting blade.”
“An insect repellent for user needs
for a ten day period.”
 |
| A period hemostat, surgical scalpels and safety pins from a 1960s era surgical kit, also fishing hooks, snare wire and an antique US Military canteen and cup and Marine Corp knife, all from the author’s collection, photograph by the author. |
So,
what did the Special Forces soldiers think of the military “Individual Aid and
Survival Kit”, after it was delivered to them for field testing? Major Charlie W. Brewington, Commander of Detachment
B-22, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces,
wrote an evaluation of this kit, in Annex H of “374659, Employment Of A Special
Forces Group (U)”, found HERE. During the evaluation of this kit, the 5th
SFG also evaluated the survival kit issued to Army Aviation personnel in
Vietnam and the prototype kit that they created and recommended was made up of
the best parts of the two kits. It was
concluded that “...personnel in a survival situation will have a canteen and
a cup and a sheath knife” and therefore these items do not need to be included
in a survival kit. Additionally, since soldiers
in such a situation will be expected to live off the land, the inclusion of
rations in the survival kit was not necessary.
The
survival kit that the 5th SFG evaluated, as shown in Concept Number
4, as part of its medical component, was to include 25 Tetracycline or
Oxytetracycline tablets, both of which are antibiotics used to treat malaria,
anthrax and various infections caused by microorganisms, such as gram positive
and negative bacteria, chlamydiae, mycoplasmata, protozoans and
rickettsiae. The 25 Spensin tablets were
anti-diarrheal medicine, like modern loperamide tablets. The kit was designed to include APC (aspirin,
phenacetin, and caffeine) plus codeine phosphate as a painkiller, the kit that the
5th SFG evaluated contained 10 tablets of 65 mg Darvon to treat mild
to moderate pain. The kit also included 10
Dexedrine tablets (dextroamphetamine sulfate) which during special warfare military
operations have practical applications, but during civilian emergencies in the
wilderness are not necessary.
The
conclusions of the 5th Special Forces Group was that the kit, with
its two packets, was too bulky to be easily carried day in and day out and that
it needed to be tailored more to the hot-wet environment in which the soldiers
were operating. They felt that the outer
nylon carrier and inner durable water-proof liner bag worked, however they felt
that all of the pills should be packaged in plastic vials and the salves and
ointments should be packaged in plastic squeeze bottles to eliminate the
possibility of breakage. Apparently, just
like with many of the medicines packaged in the 1960s and 70s, the bottles were
glass and the tubes were aluminum foil.
The
5th Special Forces Group recommended the addition of the following
items to the survival kit:
One 4-inch (10 cm) hacksaw blade to replace
the chain saw that the designers suggested, as it was not of sufficient “...strength
to withstand prolonged use.”5
One bottle of Benzalkonium Chloride
tincture as a topical, anti-microbial wound wash (for information on Benzalkonium
Chloride, read “Alcohol Prep Pads...BZK Towelettes…Hand Wipes…Wound
Wipes...What?! ©”, HERE),
in addition to the 1½ ounce bottle of Betadine solution.
One vial of eight Chloroquine Phosphate
tablets to prevent and treat malaria.
One vial of twelve, 10-grain (648 milligrams)
salt tablets which can be used to replace salt lost due to sweating.6
One 1½ ounce plastic squeeze bottle of a
fungicidal ointment.
Additionally, they increased the number
of bouillon cubes from three to four.
The
5th Special Forces Group also recommended that the bug repellent
include in the kit (which was probably a DEET product) be replaced with a less
pungent one, as the smell could lead to eventual capture. They did suggest the inclusion of a mosquito
head net. And since they didn’t mention
the hemostat, it is possible that that item was eliminated, but maybe not.
So, what is in your personal individual aid
and survival kit? How does it compare to
the ones that the 5th SFG evaluated?
 |
| The author’s “Individual Aid and Survival Kit”, photograph by the author. |
Personally,
my “survival kit”, which I carry whenever I am in the wilderness, has always been
in two parts, and has been since long before I read the “AD 401819, Department
of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual Aid and Survival
Kit for Special Warfare”. My “operational
kit” which contains my headlamp, a BIC ® Lighter
wrapped in duct tape, bug repellent, toilet paper and sun protection lip balm, is
kept in two quart-sized Ziploc® style freezer bags, one inside the other. My operational kit also includes my personal
day-to-day first aid kit, which contains band-aids, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl®,
and triple antibiotic ointment pouches, among other things. All this weighs only 8 ounces (227
grams). My survival kit, which is only
opened in emergencies, contains the standard survival supplies, three ways to
make a fire and tinder, a fishing and sewing kit, snare wire, aluminum foil, a
backup flashlight, one large Reynolds® Kitchen Oven Bag, razor blades, and etc. My survival kit also only weighs 8 ounces
(227 grams), so that if you add the operational kit and my compass, which
weighs in at 2 ounces (57 grams), my entire individual aid and survival kit
weighs a total of 18 ounces (510 grams) and is a little less than the maximum
recommended weight of 24 ounces (680 grams).
I
do not carry a hemostat or as many medicines in my survival kit as was in the
kit that the 5th SFG reviewed, however soldiers in the middle of a
war might have been severely wounded before becoming separated from their
units. Also, I do not carry Dexedrine
since I do not have to worry about falling asleep and being surprised by the enemy
if I become lost.
Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on
how to build, and stock a new Individual Aid and Survival Kit or how to rebuild
your current kit.
I
hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me
on YouTube at Bandanaman Productions for other related videos, HERE.
Don’t forget to follow me on both The
Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE,
and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free
to leave a comment on either site. I
announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at
bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.
That
is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!
Notes
1 “AD
401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for Individual
Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare”, page 1
2
Ibid. page 1-2
3
Ibid. page 1
4 “374659,
Employment Of A Special Forces Group (U)”, page H-6
5 Ibid.,
page H-5
6 Two
10-grain salt tablets, equal ¼ teaspoon (1.25 grams) of salt, which when
combined with a quart of water (.95 liter) creates a 0.1% salt solution, which
is the ideal concentration for rehydrating.
The salt tablets should be crushed before mixing them with water and
should not be eaten by themselves as they can irritate the stomach and cause
vomiting.
Eric
A Weiss, MD, A Comprehensive Guide To Wilderness & Travel Medicine,
3rd Edition
Sources
“AD
401819, Department of Army Approved Small Development Requirement for
Individual Aid and Survival Kit for Special Warfare”, [Reproduced
by Defense Documentation Center for Scientific and Technical Information,
Cameron Station, Alexandria, Virginia, Originally by the Headquarters United
States Army Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, April 17,
1963], https://ia902804.us.archive.org/19/items/DTIC_AD0401819/DTIC_AD0401819.pdf,
accessed September 14, 2018
“374659,
Employment Of A Special Forces Group (U)”, [Army Concept
Team In Vietnam, April 20, 1966], https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/374659.pdf,
accessed May 20 2020, page H-4 to H-6
United
States Army, ST 31-91B, US Army Special Forces Medical Handbook, [Paladin
Press, Boulder, Colorado, March 1, 1982], pages 11-1 to 11-2
Weiss,
Eric A, MD, A Comprehensive Guide To Wilderness & Travel Medicine, 3rd
Edition [Adventure Medical Kits, Oakland, CA, 2005], page 150-151
No comments:
Post a Comment