Every Tool An Air Force Survival Specialist Takes Into The Wilderness | Loadout

Key Concepts

• SEIR (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape): A military training program focused on equipping individuals with the skills to survive in hostile environments, evade capture, resist interrogation, and escape if captured.
• Field Training Exercise (FTX): A practical, hands-on training scenario designed to simulate real-world operational conditions.
• Chest Rig: A tactical vest worn on the chest, designed for quick access to essential gear.
• Fixed Blade Knife: A knife with a blade that is permanently attached to the handle, generally stronger and more durable than folding knives.
• Ferro Rod (Ferrocerium Rod): A fire-starting tool that produces sparks when struck with a striker.
• Paracord (550 Cord): A lightweight nylon kernmantle rope, originally used in parachute suspension lines, known for its strength and versatility.
• Ruck (Rucksack): A backpack designed for carrying military gear.
• Gore (Parachute): A segment of a parachute canopy.
• MUP (Multi-Use Pad): A waterproof pad with various applications.
• Gore-Tex: A waterproof, breathable fabric membrane.
• Grail Water Bottle: A water bottle with an integrated purification filter.
• Jet Boil: A compact, portable camping stove.
• Under Quilt: An insulated layer hung beneath a hammock to provide warmth.

SEIR Specialist Field Training Exercise Gear

This summary details the equipment Airman Firstclass Dennon, a SEIR specialist and survival instructor, utilizes during a field training exercise (FTX). The focus is on practical application and preparedness for various survival scenarios.

Chest Rig Loadout

The chest rig is designed for immediate access to critical items:

• Quick Grab Med Kit: Contains essential medical supplies.
• Tourniquet: Carried on the front for rapid deployment in case of severe bleeding.
• Sharpening Utensils: For maintaining knife edges.
• Small Pocket Knife: A folding knife with a small blade suitable for various tasks including animal processing, firewood preparation, equipment maintenance, and cutting cordage.
• Fixed Blade Knife: Carried on the back, this knife is intended for larger tasks such as firecraft, breaking down trees for firewood, and general heavy-duty work.
• GPS: For navigation, though the compass is highlighted as the primary directional tool.
• Compass: The main instrument for navigation and determining direction.
• Headlamp: Essential for visibility in dark and potentially disorienting conditions.
• Signal Mirror: Used for signaling and personal grooming.
• Ferro Rod (Ferrocerium Rod): A reliable tool for striking sparks to start fires, with a striker on the side.
• Drop Pouch: Attached to the bottom of the rig, this pouch typically holds fire-starting materials.
  • Fire Items: Includes matches and strikers.
  • Tinder: Both natural and man-made options are carried, such as cotton swabs soaked in WD40, which can also be used for equipment maintenance.
• Radio Pouch: Contains a radio for maintaining communication with other team members, crucial for coordinating training and addressing any issues.

Rucksack (75 Liter Pack)

The primary pack is a 75-liter rucksack, with a 30-liter pack available for shorter trips or different seasons.

• "Brain" Compartment (Top): Provides quick access to frequently needed items.
  • Hat: For eye protection and comfort, replacing the beret during field operations.
  • Gloves: To protect hands from injury while using tools or handling rough materials.
• Pack Cover: A waterproof layer to protect the rucksack and its contents from rain and moisture.
• Binoculars: Compact and packable, offering good zoom for observing distant objects.
• Pack Hanger (DIY): A homemade device made from braided 550 paracord. It can be attached to a tree or branch to suspend the pack, keeping it off the ground and protected from dirt and mud. The braid design, including a "fish style" braid for the hooks, enhances strength.
• Multiple Lines (550 Paracord):
  • 10ft and 5ft lengths: Provide versatility for tying down shelters, creating tension, and connecting to other lines.
  • Applications: Used for shelter construction, ensuring tight pitch for weather protection, and building encampment structures like benches.
• Saw: A quick, packable saw for cutting branches and small trees, offering an alternative to an axe for lighter tasks.
• Battery Bank: Water, shock, heat, and cold resistant, used for charging essential electronics.

Front Pouch Contents

• Net: A small net that can be draped over the body for protection from insects (mosquitoes, bees) during sleep or movement, enhancing comfort. It is camouflage to blend in.
• MUP (Multi-Use Pad): A handmade, waterproof pad with a nylon exterior and PVC backing. It serves multiple purposes:
  • Placing equipment on.
  • Standing on for changing clothes or keeping feet out of the dirt.
  • General protection.
• Gaiters: Worn on the legs to keep them and boots dry when walking through wet tall grass or in rainy conditions.
• Gore-Tex Top and Bottom: Waterproof and breathable clothing for personal protection against the elements.
• Ponchos (x2): Carried in the bottom section for quick access.
  • Uses: Shelter construction, ground cover for equipment, and general protection from weather.

Side Compartments

• Axe: Used for felling trees, processing larger firewood, and clearing hazards.
• Water Bottle (Grail Water Bottle): Features a built-in purification filter, eliminating the need for separate disinfection. Water is drawn into the main canister after filtering.
• Bear Spray: Carried for easy access in areas with bear activity.
• Slingshot: For hunting small game like grouse or rabbits, providing an additional food source. Ammunition can include shot or rocks.

Main Rucksack Pouch Contents

• Eight-Gore Parachute Material: A large section of parachute fabric.
  • Uses: Can be rigged high between trees for shade or rain protection, creating a large dry area. It's placed at the top of the ruck due to its weight.
• Single Gore Parachute Material:
  • Uses: Wrapping materials, improvising a bear cache for food, or as a secondary improvised tourniquet.
  • Daisy Chain: The material is braided into a "daisy chain" for organized storage, allowing for easy unbraiding and deployment.
• Dry Sack with Extra Clothes: Contains approximately three sets of undergarments, shirts, and socks to maintain hygiene and health by allowing for changes when wet or dirty.
• Hygiene Kit:
  • Micro Toothbrushes: For dental hygiene.
  • Foot Powder: To keep feet dry.
  • Pack Towel: For drying off after washing.
  • Deodorant: To maintain personal freshness.
  • Wipes: For personal cleanliness when restroom facilities are unavailable.
• Food (Rec Packs): 700-calorie packs that require adding water. Alternatives like Mountain House or Peak meals are also mentioned. Foraging and hunting are also considered food sources.
• Jet Boil: A compact stove for cooking or heating.
• Sleep System:
  • Sleep Mat: Inflatable for comfort and insulation from the ground.
  • Sleeping Bag (32°F rated): For general use.
  • Supplemental Insert: Increases the sleeping bag's warmth in colder conditions. Can be used alone in hot weather for cooler sleep.
  • Pack Pillow: Inflatable for enhanced sleeping comfort.
• Large Tarp: Serves as the primary shelter, providing a dry and protected sleeping area. It can be pitched tightly to create a "mini house."
• Hammock (Packable): An alternative to the sleep mat, used when ground conditions are unsuitable or for elevation off the ground.
  • Under Quilt: An insulated layer for the hammock to provide warmth.
• Large Braided Rope: For high-tension applications, creating makeshift hammocks, or as a structural element in improvised shelters.
• Ultra Lightweight Tent: A very compact tent that can be packed with poles inside the ruck for additional shelter options.
• Maps: Essential for navigation, understanding terrain, and planning routes.

Conclusion

Airman Firstclass Dennon's gear selection for a SEIR FTX demonstrates a comprehensive approach to survival, emphasizing versatility, redundancy, and preparedness for a wide range of environmental challenges. The equipment ranges from essential survival tools like knives and fire starters to comfort items like a pillow and specialized gear for shelter and water purification. The emphasis on DIY items like the pack hanger and MUP highlights resourcefulness. The logical organization of gear within the chest rig and rucksack ensures quick access to critical items when needed.