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THE U.S. NAVY SEAL SURVIVALHANDBOOKLEARN THE SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES ANDSTRATEGIES OF AMERICA’SELITE WARRIORSDon Mann and Ralph PezzulloSkyhorse Publishing2

Copyright 2012 by Don Mann and Ralph PezzulloAll Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproducedin any manner without the express written consent of thepublisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in criticalreviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed toSkyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, NewYork, NY 10018.All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed arethose of the author and do not reflect the official positions orviews of the U.S. Government. Nothing in the contents shouldbe construed as asserting or implying U.S. Governmentauthentication of information or endorsement of the author’sview. This material has been reviewed by the U.S.Government and the U.S. Military to prevent the disclosure ofclassified information.Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk atspecial discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts,fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions canalso be created to specifications. For details, contact theSpecial Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 orinfo@skyhorsepublishing.com.3

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registeredtrademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. , a Delawarecorporation.Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data isavailable on file.ISBN: esources.comW.HokansonofPrinted in China“Never Get Lost AGAIN! As a former Navy SEAL, not onlydid I enjoy Don Mann’s U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook,4

but learned several things as well. This book is written by acareer Navy SEAL combat medic and life long adventureracer. He knows more about surviving in potentiallydangerous situations/nature than anyone I personally know. Ilook forward to keeping this book readily available—just incase!”—by Stew Smith, Navy SEAL Fitness Author“Don has certainly walked the walk in his years serving in theSEAL teams. Having gone through military survival training(land/water survival, SAR, SERE, etc.) and non-military(winter mountaineering) I can appreciate the depth ofknowledge within each section. Surviving life threateningsituations requires something unique for each individual. Donarticulates a holistic view to help educate and prepare thereader for various scenarios. This publication is a must readfor anyone looking to hone their survival skills.”—by Brian Dickinson, ex-USN CSAR Swimmer, EverestSummiteer/Survivor“The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook is a comprehensiveguide from an expert with the experience to back it up! TheNavy Seal Survival Handbook is a terrific, one stop source foryour survival needs.”—by Randy Spivey, CEO and Founder, Center forPersonal Protection and Safety“I’ve been on multiple operational deployments with Don andtaken a few recreational adventure trips with him. I assureyou that Don knows about what he has written in The Navy5

SEAL Survival Handbook. I don’t mean theory or practicingsurvival techniques in protected environment where atime-out can be called and someone will come and provide alittle assistance. Don has applied most of the things hedescribes in the real-world and in risky situations. Heck, he’sprobably done all of this stuff but couldn’t share it because ofthe sensitive nature of his missions! While Don describesskills that are critical to survival, what you really gain fromreading this handbook is a sense of the attitude required to besuccessful in the harsh environments in which America’ssecret warriors thrive.”—by John Wright, US Air Force and DoD SERE Trainer,Multiple Deployments in Support of the Global War onTerror“The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook is essential reading forany adventure racer, climber, explorer, military personnel oroutdoors person; ensure you have a copy of this in yourkit-bag! Everything from what to include and how to prepareyour emergency kit to living off the land, from essentialshelter building to personal administration and from theeffects of weather to celestial and obscure navigation can befound in this hand-book.I know this is one manual I will be using for the HellweekPT Baalsrud Trail Challenge to the Arctic in 2013.”—by (Naval) Lt. Seán Ó Cearrúlláin (Rtd.), HellweekPT Founder“The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook has all the lessons,reasons why and also the why not’s, of how to survive when6

“it” hits the fan. Everyone from Back Country to the Urbanfolks can benefit from all the information. You just neverknow and like it has been said “knowledge is power”. Thelessons in this book can mean the difference betweensurviving and being home with those you love or not. Willyou be part of the solution or live a life time of regret? Istarted reading it, but wound up studying it!”—by Jim Kelleher, Survivalist“The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook brought back somereally wild and vivid memories of courses I’d been through inthe military. It really captured what it was like to be there andhow each evolution unfolded. Special Operation Forces(SOF) guys are pretty special just as the studies show. ThisSurvival Handbook tells the public exactly how they are ableto do survive in the wilderness.”—by LTC Blain Reeves, US Army“Having been trained by some of the most highly regardedsurvival experts in the US, I can say definitively that no onehas more experience or knowledge on the topic of mountain,jungle, desert, sea or urban survival than Don Mann. Don’ssurvival techniques along with his philosophy on combatmindset have served me well in real world survival situationsand life in general. The Navy SEAL Survival Handbookshould be mandatory reading for anyone who spends time inthe wilderness.”—by Dr. Stephen M. Erle, Director SEAL TrainingAdventures7

“A veritable how-to guide, The Navy Seal Survival Handbookis an absolute must have for every outdoor enthusiast,adventurer or Armed Forces member. This book is packedwith a ton of useful information on wilderness survivaltechniques. A retired member of the elite U.S. Navy SEALs,Don Mann shares his acumen and experiences as an expert inthe field.”—by Rick Sheremeta, Outdoor Photographer and Author“Navy SEAL, Don Mann, comes through again with anotherinsightful and inspiring book. His knowledge of survival isapparent from the get go in The Navy SEAL SurvivalHandbook. The psychological angle intrigued me the mostand was an amazing view of what SEALs sacrifice INTRAINING, let alone what happens in combat situations. Igained a great deal of insight into the world of survival aswell as deepened my respect for the Navy SEALs. Frankly if Iwas in a survival situation, I would want Don Mann therewith me. After reading his book I at least feel like I am muchbetter prepared. If you are a fan of survival, get this book. Ifyou are intrigued by the Navy SEALs, get this book. JustGET THIS BOOK!”—by Matthew Fox, Expedition competitor“I found the chapters on Survival Mindset and Basic SurvivalTips to be especially beneficial. These two chapters alone area vital read for all outdoors recreationalists. I highly endorsethis book as the definitive guide on wilderness survival andrecommend it strongly as essential reading for military,civilian, and search and rescue specialists.”8

—by Jim C. Blount, retired CIA Senior Instructor and theauthor of Stay Alert, Stay Alive, A Guide toCounterterrorism for Everyday Life“The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook is much more than abasic “Survival 101” handbook. Having retired from theArmy, after a twenty-four year career, I read from aperspective of does this handbook have applicability in mylife today, as a business executive? Answer: YES! It raisesthe business leader’s awareness that we travel in a dangerousworld, that knowledge, skill and proper preparation isrequired to successfully meet our daily challenges, a “can do”attitude positively affects those around us and mentaltoughness is a required trait for success. This is a great read,for the special ops soldier, survivalist, adventurist, andbusiness executive!”—by Terry L. Carrico, VP, Corporate Security,McKesson Corp. Colonel (R), U.S. Army, Military PoliceCorps9

CONTENTSIntroductionChapter One—SEAL/SERE TrainingChapter Two—The Elements of SurvivalChapter Three—Jungle SurvivalChapter Four—Mountain and Arctic SurvivalChapter Five—Desert SurvivalChapter Six—Survival at SeaChapter Seven—Basic Survival TipsChapter Eight—WaterChapter Nine—Shelter and FireChapter Ten—Food and HuntingChapter Eleven—WeatherChapter Twelve—NavigationChapter Thirteen—Survival MedicineChapter Fourteen—Survival KitsChapter Fifteen—The Mystery of Survival10

AcknowledgmentsPhoto Credits11

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor themostintelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”—Charles Darwin12

U.S. service members participating in a Survival, Evasion,Resistance and Escape (SERE) course march to their firstfield training evolution at a training site in WarnerSprings, Calif. Personnel attending the SERE course aretrained in evading capture, survival skills and the militaryCode of Conduct.13

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Rangely, Maine—A student at the Navy Survival,Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school crosses afrozen creek.Life can change in an instant. One moment you’re trekkingalong a mountain ridge, and then you’re suddenly struck by arattlesnake. One minute you’re skiing down a mountain, thenext you’re facing an oncoming avalanche.As Navy SEALS, we are trained to face dangerous situationsall over the world—at sea, in the air, and on land. Weunderstand that every time we launch a mission, unforeseencircumstances—flash floods, aircraft crashes, poisonousinsect, animal or marine life bites—can cause us to be trappedin an unfriendly environment, cut off from communication tooutside support. With every tick of the clock, our situationcan become more desperate. We are trained to deal with theseemergencies. We learn how to survive in the harshest ofenvironments without food and water.But what if, God forbid, something like that happens to you?Will you know how to treat yourself if you’re bitten by apoisonous snake? Will you know what plants you can extractwater from if trapped in the desert? Or how to protectyourself and your teammates from freezing to death in themountains? The answer to all these questions should be “yes.”This handbook is all about developing the SEAL survivalmind-set, and arming yourself with the appropriate survivaltechniques for numerous potentially fatal scenarios.We live in a dangerous world. It’s your responsibility to beprepared.15

—Don MannU.S. sailors undergoing the third and final phase of BasicUnderwater Demolition/SEAL training use a rope toguide themselves down the side of a cliff and into theocean during a field training exercise at San ClementeIsland, Calif. The third phase of the training provides thestudents with skills in small arms weapons, demolitions,and tactics, which culminate in the planning andexecution of various missions as an independent platoon.16

INTRODUCTION17