Survival, Evasion, and Fieldcraft

Evasion - Successfully evading capture by hostile forces depends upon personal preparation, planning for the contingency, and to some degree, fortunate circumstances or luck. Attention to detail when preparing an emergency action plan, complete familiarity with communications devices and emergency procedures, and knowledge of personal survival kit items, indigenous personnel, and regional knowledge (flora, fauna, topography, climate, etc.) will aid in successful evasion. Isolated persons should carefully consider contact with indigenous people. Many countries have citizens overseas in areas where there is strong potential for mixed attitudes towards foreigners. There may be a high-risk of indigenous persons responding negatively or even violently, and your presence may result in personal danger to them regardless of their sympathies. Areas controlled by insurgents and illegally armed groups or criminals, locations of mob activity, roads, railroads, trails, rivers, border crossings, and heavily populated areas are normally considered high-threat evasion environments. Individuals must take great care to prevent exposure or capture. As a first move, isolated persons should attempt to establish contact with friendly forces, break visual contact with hostile elements, and move to a secure hiding site. If in a damaged vehicle, move away for as long and as far as possible. If forced to abandon the vehicle, the isolated person should move fast and change directions frequently. When possible, the isolated person should evaluate the immediate situation and again establish communication with friendly forces. Only after careful consideration of their situation should they attempt to evade to an area to initiate recovery. Isolated persons should treat all travel as evasion.

How to Prepare for Evasion:

• Follow all local force protection guidance to avoid hazardous situations.
• Develop a plan to communicate, flee, and fight, if necessary. Holding out for a short span of time may make the difference in being taken prisoner or not.
• Develop a plan of action with several backup plans before departing a secure area.
• Be familiar with your route and map --study it in detail.
• Ensure vehicles are reliable and have all necessary emergency equipment.
• Study the local norms and be alert to situations and changes in behaviors of the locals that may signal that something bad is about to happen --clear the area.
• Have a "grab and go" kit. It should include a communications device (cell phone or radio), water, basic first aid kit, etc. Consider including local clothing to assist in any necessary improvised disguise. A weapon with extra ammunition may be appropriate if local conditions permit lawful possession.
• Have personal affairs in order, and prepare family members for the potential of isolation.
• Develop the will to survive and resist. Mental preparation is invaluable, and demonstrating a strong will can help overcome seemingly overwhelming obstacles.

When you become isolated or separated in a hostile area, either as an individual or as a group, your evasion and survival skills will determine whether or not you return to friendly lines.

• When unable to continue the mission or unable to rejoin your unit, leave the immediate area, and move to your last rally point.
• Observe activity in the area and form a plan.
• Traveling alone offers the least possibility of detection, but traveling in groups of two to three is more desirable.
• Plan a primary and alternate route. Consider distance, cover, food, and water. The easiest and shortest route may not be the best.
• Food and water are daily requirements. You can do without food for several days; water, however, is essential.
• Move at night. Use the daylight to observe, plan, and rest in a hide site.

 

Hide Site. Should be an isolated, covered and concealed site selected during evasion. In the hide site, you should take inventory of your situation and accomplish tasks such as camouflage, resting, and planning the next movement. It is seldom used or occupied for more than 24 hrs.

 

When selecting a site consider the following:

• Distance from natural lines of drift (water, roads and trails, ridges, and key terrain)
• Vegetation-thick?
• Concealed from all directions?
• Away from populated or built up areas
• Escape route
• Location where humans do not normally habitat

 

Hole Up Area. This is an isolated area selected during movement. Use it when your physical condition requires that you stop for food, water, equipment maintenance, and rest. Generally, avoid occupying such a position for more than 72 hrs. When selecting a hole up area, consider-

• Abundance of food and water
• Isolated
• Low population density
• Security at all times
• Movement in or around hole up area is still kept to a minimum
• Decentralize-separate rest, food procurement, food preparation and so on.

Survival - With training, equipment, and the will to survive, you can overcome any obstacle you may face. You will survive. Understand the emotional states associated with survival. "Knowing thyself" is extremely important in a survival situation. It bears directly on how well you cope with serious stresses, anxiety, pain, injury, illness; cold, heat, thirst, hunger, fatigue, sleep deprivation, boredom, loneliness and isolation. You can overcome and reduce the shock of being isolated behind enemy lines if you keep the key word S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L foremost in your mind. Its letters can help guide you in your actions.

S - Size up the situation, the surroundings, your physical condition, and your equipment.
U - Undue haste makes waste; don’t be too eager to move. Plan your moves.
R - Remember where you are relative to friendly and enemy units and controlled areas; water sources (most important in the desert); and good cover and concealment. This information will help you make intelligent decisions.
V - Vanquish fear and panic.
I - Improvise/Imagine. You can improve your situation. Learn to adapt what is available for different uses. Use your imagination.
V - Value living. Remember your goal to get out alive. Remain stubborn. Refuse to give in to problems and obstacles. This will give you the mental and physical strength to endure.
A - Act like the natives; watch their daily routines and determine when, where, and how they get their food and water.
L - Live by your wits. Learn basic skills.

Camouflage. While evading, you may need to use field-expedient means to camouflage yourself, your equipment, and your site. Mud, charcoal, berries, vegetation, ash and blood can all be used to camouflage exposed skin and equipment. Natural vegetation can be fixed to clothing and equipment by using vines to secure it or cutting small holes in the rip stop uniform material and feeding vegetation into it. Whenever a site is constructed and camouflaged keep the following memory aid in mind. B L I S S

Blends In

Low Silhouette

Irregular Shape

Small Size

Secluded