Survival Kit (US Army) : What’s Inside

The US Army does not just have one survival kit but instead several; these of which being primarily issued to aviators. It has different kits for different kinds of climates/scenarios: hot climates, cold climates and overwater. But don’t forget you also have one more, that being the individual survival kit, outfitted with a general packet and medical packet.

Today, we are going to dive into the contents of these survival kits.

What’s inside each survival kit?

A (US ARMY) Cold Climate Kit contains:

•  A smoke illumination signal.
• A waterproof matchbox.
• A saw or knife blade.
• Wood matches.
• A first aid kit.
• An MC-1 magnetic compass.
• A pocket knife.
• A saw/knife/shovel handle.
• A frying pan.
• Illuminating candles.
• Compressed trioxane fuel.
• A signaling mirror.
• A fishing survival kit.
• A plastic spoon.
• A survival manual.
• A poncho.
• An insect head net.
• An ejector snap.
• An attaching strap.
• Outer case kit.
• Inner case kit.
• A shovel.
• A water bag.
• Packing list kit.
• A sleeping bag.

A (US ARMY) Hot Climate Kit contains:

• Canned drinking water.
• A waterproof matchbox.
• A plastic whistle.
• Smoke, illumination signals.
• A pocket knife.
• A signaling mirror.
• A plastic water bag.
• A first aid kit.
• Sunburn-prevention cream.
• A plastic spoon.
• Food packets.
• Compression trioxane fuel.
• A fishing tackle kit.
• An MC-1 magnetic compass.
• A snare wire.
• A frying pan.
• Wood matches.
• An insect head net.
• A reversible sun hat.
• A toolkit.
• Packing list kit.
• Tarpaulin.
• A survival manual.
• Inner case kit.
• Outer case kit.
• An attaching strap.
• An ejector strap.

A (US ARMY) Overwater Kit contains:

• Packing list kit.
• A raft boat paddle.
• A survival manual.
• An insect head net.
• A reversible sunhat.
• A water storage bag.
• An MC-1 magnetic compass.
• A boat bailer.
• A sponge.
• A sunburn-prevention cream.
• Wood matches.
• A first aid kit.
• A plastic spoon.
• A pocket knife.
• A food packet.
• A fluorescent sea marker.
• A frying pan.
• A seawater desalter kit.
• Compressed trioxane fuel.
• Smoke, illumination signals.
• A signaling mirror.
• A fishing tackle kit.
• A waterproof matchbox.
• A raft repair kit.

A (US ARMY) Individual Survival Kit contains:

• A survival vest (large, small).
• A hunting knife.
• A pocket knife.
• An underarm life preserver. 
• A distress marker light.
• A mirror, emergency signaling.
• A personnel distress signal kit.
• A general packet.
• A medical packet.
• An adhesive tape, surgical.
• Aspirin Tablets, USP.
• A bandage (adhesive).
• A bandage (gauze, elastic).
• Diphenoxylate Hydrochloride and atropine sulfate tablets.
• Sulfacetamide sodium ophthalmic ointment, USP.
• A water purification tablet, Iodine.
• A whistle ball.
• A tourniquet.

A (US ARMY) SRU-21P Aviator’s Survival Kit contains:

• A survival vest.
• A tourniquet.
• An AN/PRC-90 survival radio.
• .38 caliber tracer ammunition.
• .38 caliber ball ammunition.
• A .38 caliber Revolver.
• A butane lighter.
• A signaling mirror.
• An individual/tropical survival kit.
• A foliage penetrating signal kit.
• A light, distress marker (SDU-5/E).
• A bag (storage, drinking water).
• A pocket knife.
• A gill fishing net.
• A magnetic compass.

If you’re planning to make a survival kit of your own, you can use these kits as a basis from where to start. You don’t have to copy and get each item listed here to have a kit just as good; customize as much to your liking.

So since you now know all of this,  how about knowing “What’s inside a first aid kit”.