One SF Soliders' Survival Kit

This survival kit is the product of many years spent in third world countries as both a soldier and contractor. I have carried, and used more then once, this kit in Central and South America, Africa, and Afghanistan. It fits nicely in a small pouch on my vest.

 

Step 1: Fire

You should always carry at least three (3) ways to start a fire. I carry storm matches in an old travel size Tylenol bottle that I super glued the striker to and covered in duct tape. a mini Bic lighter, and a magnesium block with flint. I have "fire sticks" that I got at Wal-Mart years ago and tinder balls I made by soaking cotton balls in vasiline petrolium jelly. 

Comments

[edvannatta]

Like this information on this! How send information ! It help me out!
Thank you!

[bob the HUNTER]

I like it

[eyesee]

very good

[Lord_Dark]

Great kitt, i don't miss a thing, it just has to much for such a small package.
I would substitute the self made knife by my opinel.
great work on the instructable, thanks for sharing !

[the_eradicator]

Great Kit and for the record I do NOT miss the bug and rat diet....well the grubs are ok if cooked...lol

[jamob]

Very very nice survival kit. I would also add a caribener some more paracord, some type of water storage container maybe possibly a guide to plants, tweezers, water purifiers, and something to repel mosquitos. as the most common two ways to get diseased is mosquitos and water. But your kit is great

[bpfh]

If you need long lasting candles and cannot commercially source any, go to your local church, pay up whatever is the recommended donation amount into the collection box per candle and offer up a prayer of thanks if you are that way inclined.

These sort of candles seem to last for hours, and I have some at home in case of power cuts. They may not light as well as supermarket stuff, but if you need hours of light, these are what you need.

[HollyMann]

awesome! And thank you for serving our great country for so many years. I appreciate it. I was an Army soldier and contractor for a while as well..just not as long as you. I love your survival kit and instructables.

[panzerfaust379]

Nice kit..Spent my time in AF survival rescue ops.

[dennison-m]

thats an unbelievable amount of support hidden away in such a tiny space :o

[Mr.1911]

I enjoy seeing your kit, as I think it is very well made. I also like that you made it from experience.5*

[Grimmy Grim]

Good stuff! For a bit of variety, I also include some of the three in one coffee drinks, green tea bags (in Mylar) and Miso soup from the Asian stores.

[kz1]

Nicely put together and based on experience. The only thing I might add would be a simple slingshot.

[thewanger]

Super survival pack. I would add money. Some cash in small bills and some silver dollars and a flask of high proof alcohol for wounds, drinking or trading. Also a pack of smokes for trading. Survival doesn't always mean you'll be alone.

[tomsweet65]

I used to carry a couple gold coins (Uncle Sam provided those) when I was in the military on operational deployments and I had a couple of my own while I was working as a contractor but never carried them in the kit itself. They were sewn into the hem of my pants and the hem of my shirt. If the kit was lost, taken, etc. I would still have the coins to use. Unless capture and strip searches were involved and then it was just a matter of staying alive long enough to either escape or be rescued.

I have a flask that my buddy Jack is kept in that goes in my pack, same with smokes but only because I smoke...

Thanks for your comment!

[thematthatter]

cash doesnt work in the woods.

[Udon]

Who says people don't live in the woods?
Or who says you're in the woods?
Even a few bucks could turn out to be very useful. Or you might not need it at that time. But that goes for everything in the kit, doesn't it?

Then again, you could wipe your bum with it. Very good for morale.

[murak]

Love the kit. Been looking for a nice compact survival kit to put together as a gift for inlaws that are about to 4wd caravan around the country. Was thinking about putting it in a case like this one: http://www.adafruit.com/products/341

I would love to see some follow up instructable son this, namely how to use the snare wire, how you made the knife, etc. Keep up the good work.

[tomsweet65]

That is about the size case I originally carried the kit in.

The Instructable on the knife was posted yesterday, I have Instructables on making and setting snares in the works, as well as fire starting, shelter making and water filtration/purification, among others.

Thank you for your comments!

[thirtytwoutside]

This is excellent; I would imagine it'd translate well into a kit for backcountry skiing (in addition to all of the regular items like a bivvy and shovel which I'd carry anyway)... for those "just in case I'm spending the night out in the middle of nowhere" days.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

What country did you get you're duck tape in, its a different color from mine. Or is it just some specialty duck tape

[Th33w0krap15t]

You can get different colored duck tape at most home improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowe's Menards etc). Places near me(Wisconsin) carry everything from typical silver to animal print.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

K just wondering if it was extra strong or something, mine's bright orange.

[lfilip1]

first aid kit is separate? Could you make instructable about first aid kit containing just (exactly) what you might need?

[tomsweet65]

Already made one.. It is under IFAK... I think...lol

[michaelgohjs]

very nice, looks like you got everything figured out... so we dont have to >.<

[tomsweet65]

Thank you!

[thematthatter]

no VS-17 panel?
No smoke?
No laminated Code of conduct card?
No SERE certificate of completion?

[tomsweet65]

Nope, No VS-17, Code of conduct, or SERE completion certificate...lol... Smoke on the other hand is carried in a seperate pouchs on the vest, right next to the 12 AR magizines....

[caitlinsdad]

badges, we don't need no badges...

[onemoroni1]

I take it this is the kind of kit you would need if you got kicked off the bus in the middle of the jungle in a third world country. I take it you would find water real fast as there is none in the kit. I am not being critical, but trying to appreciate the application of such a kit. I am in the mindset of urban survival of major disaster. I have a 72 hour set up in backpack and day pack (husband and wife) to survive complete loss of all infrastructure and services providing food, water, and shelter. I like the multipurpose tool having the vice grip. Nice instructable and I appreciate the result of your life experience.

[tomsweet65]

The kit is actually pretty generic. I had it when we lived in the city, I have carried it when I got "thrown off the bus in the middle of the jungle in a thrid world country", I carried as a contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan, and nowcarry it in the deepest, darkest woods of Colorado. As for water I carry a total of 172 oz when ever I head out into the wild. I have two 1qt GI canteens witha good ol' canteen cup and a 108oz hydration bladder so H2O on the run is not a big issue to start with for me.

As for the urban environment you would be suprised how many of the ponds in parks are stocked with fish. And if you are planing on bugging out should TSHTF in your city eventually you will come across a lake, river, or stream you can fish from for food.

Thannks for the comment!

[Chris Logan]

Water bags are a heavy waste of space... Especially in an urban disaster environment.

Any disaster that knocks out a city's water supply still leaves potable water in every toilet tank and sprinkler head. A hundred gallons in every house to be drained out of hot water heater tanks. Another 25 gallons in the very pipes. Enough to last a wife and husband a month of rationing, or enough to fill bottles a hundred times on your hike into the hills.

So ditch your heavy packs... Packs that I would guess that you keep at home. Packs that you have a 60% chance of not even having access to in a disaster.

Put a serious kit into your daily drivers. And take a course.

[onemoroni1]

Hi Chris, thank you for your comment. My original comment was somewhat incomplete. My 72 hour kit has three days of water in long term storage 8oz boxes. Within 72 hours one can find alternative resources as you described very well. however, my planning is set up for worst case situation of grab and run in an urban situation. My backpack weighs 35 lbs and my wife's day pack is lighter. We could beat this to death about what is frivolous and essential, but the original consideration is the application. Case in point, I will not need fishing equipment in an urban disaster. My point of having water is the human body can get along without food and shelter for a couple days or more in most situations, but in all situations water is essential and death comes fast when you are dehydrated. I don't want to continue the discussion as I am sure there are many bones to pick in my remarks above, but let's respect each others application, that's all my original comment ment, what situation does it fulfill. Peace

[Bravery]

I think another Instructable you could do is to show us how you made your knife. That would be great!!

I really LOVE your kit. There are just two things that I wanted your thoughts on... First, I know there is always something you could add to your kit... "now if I could just fit this x-ray machine in there I could be set just in case". However one thing I was thinking would be potentially useful would be a CD so you could signal to someone far away for help.

I have heard and even seen on one of the "Survival programs" on TV where the wire saw was complete junk (It broke right away). Have you used yours? I was thinking of putting it in the kit (it's small and lightweight).

Again, thanks for taking the time to show us your kit!

[tomsweet65]

Just posted an Instructable on the knife....

[tomsweet65]

As barista said making a bow for the wire saw is the best way to make it work and not destroy itself. I have used the wire saw without making a bow and it can be used this way and last IF you don't try to cut anything bigger then 2"-3" in dia, keep the wire as straight as you can, and don't try to just blast through the branch you are trying to cut. Take your time and let the wire "rest" some... Again thanks barista for your comment!

Thanks for the CD suggestion! I think I am going to go break a couple of CD now to see what I can come up with that will be small yet still get the job done!

I see another Instructable once I work the bugs out...LOL

[Bravery]

With the size of your pouch you might think about getting a "business card CD" they are smaller than the regular CDs and they still have the nice hole in the middle which would aid in aiming it at your target. I have one that someone gave me, but if I didn't I would call a couple of companies and ask for a sample of one.

The weak point on the wire saw (from what I saw on the program) was the where the wire fastened to the ring. I'm glad that you and Barista told me the right way to use it. I'm hopeful that the bow method will prevent it breaking.

[tomsweet65]

Thanks for the CD idea! I am having a hell of a time cutting a full sized one down to something useful :)

[barista]

Wire saws work best if you make a bow saw:
• Break off a sapling/small branch and trim it to about 1½ to 2 times the length of the wire.
• Notch the ends for the rings.
• Curve your sapling/branch and stretch the wire between the notches, making the bow.
• Don't put too much tension in it - just enough to keep the wire taut.

This way you can use the entire length of the wire to cut fairly large branches, for your shelter/firewood, with long, slow strokes.
A common mistake is to put your fingers through the end loops and wrap the wire around the branch to be cut.
This risks the wire getting trapped or overheating which WILL destroy it.

Making the bow is a much more efficient use of the wire's cutting ability and your (possibly reduced) energy. It also allows you to use one hand on the bow and the other to stabilise the wood, if necessary.

REMEMBER always test your gear before you have to entrust your survival to it.
Check it regularly and replace anything that's not up to the job.