Survival Kits for Operations in Afghanistan

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Belisarius

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Nov 4, 2000
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For those who are familiar with this area of the world or have worked in similar environments, perhaps it would be helpful if you could provide your comments regarding LBE buttpack/BDU pocket sized survival kits (and components, obviously) that would be useful for operators tasked with conducting direct action and special reconnaissance missions in this region.
 
So I've been told; usual stuff but you could probably bin your fishing kit. It gets b cold at night even if it is hot during the day. Water cannot be found just anywhere and is not that awe inspiring. Medical supplies are vertually non existant so take your own. Two footed transport is the norm so get used to walking miles. You couldn't ask for a more hospitable people, its just that if you're on the wrong side they'll slit your throat - they have been fighting for a long time. There is a lot of fear, power struggles, saving face and some serious religeon that people like me can barely understand and when we think we do, we have probably got it wrong.

Afganistan. The Russians didn't actually loose battles, they just couldn't justify the continued loses through attrition. Conscript troops, poor logistics and indiferent leadership was I believe the main failing. A huge united effort such as in the Gulf could work, but casualties would be much higher. Financially it would be extremely expensive and the war would run a full term. However, I think this whole line is missing the real target.
 
As a student who has studied the Russian language, I'd suggest the Pocket Oxford Russian Dictionary, it is about 4" x 3" x 1" small to pack vinal covers, so fairly weather resistant, and well put together.

Arabic is a very difficult language, I haven't studied it, but I know of few phrasebooks that are said to be useful.

The Oxford Pocket Russian, has both Russian-English and English-Russian, as well as phonetic pronunciation of words in the cyrillic alphabet.

I have no idea about the political situation but for the pack weight, you have a good chance of being understood by someone, due to the russian occupation, if there is noone who speaks english. Before I spoke russian well I used my copy well in russia. This was in the early '90's where not many spoke english.

For anyone going there, goodluck and godspeed.


Edgedance (todd)
 
Well Afghanistan consists of two things desert and mountains so first find a desert survival kit you fell comfortable with, hey survival kit is something personal so get all the equipment that you as a person fell will com useful for you and not someone else. Second do the same fore a mountain survival kit then you got the two kits combined ad a small survival manual hey we all fogged things even I carry one and I use to be a survival instructor. Personally I carry the "SAS survival guide" by John Wiseman (the pocket sized version) I photocopied some jokes and glued them in to that book so now my survival guide has a humour section to cheer me up in hard times.

Some extra items that are not essential for survival but might come useful:

-knee and elbow pads the ground is covered in rocks so pads or padding will help avoid injury and damage to cloving.

-some form of landmine recognition a manual that has pictures of Soviet landmines used in Afghanistan as well as mention how to administer first aid to mine victims and any additional information that might come useful.

-cigarettes even if you don’t smock, most Arabs do so if you want to bribe some one cigarettes will com useful.

-rifle scope if you are there as a solder the desert environment offers flat open spaces with plenty of opportunity fore long range shooting personally I prefer a 3x-9x-45mm scope but it's a meter of personal choice.

-proper cloving in summer it might be +35C but in winter it might be -20C also the temperature between night and day can very by 30 degrees Celsius you get the picture.

Training that midget be appropriate

-language Not Russian but a local dialect (most population can't speck Russian)

-mountain climbing hey the country is covered by mountains.

-sniper / anti-sniper same reason you need the rifle scope.

-cultural and traditions hey unless you want the locals to hate you.

P.S. not all Afghanis are against you some clans are against Taleeban so know the local politics. Apart from surviving in one of the most hostile environments you will have to survive a completely different coulter.
 
Just wanted to make it clear that I was not asking this question for me, but for others who have more, shall we say, "pressing" needs for this kind of information.
 
1) These people are not Arabs.
2) Your main survival item....less of everything that you don't need every day.
3) Extra water, extra oxygen, breathing will be tough for any lowlanders.
4) If you feel that you must take something extra...The heavyduty Space blanket, Gortex booties and a SAK.
5) Say lots and lots of prayers that you don't find yourself there at all!
Dan K
 
And exactly how do you train that "midget?"

Supply lines....the one thing that felled all those that would have controlled Afganistan in the past...

And that means airfields...and air drops, and a base camp, and a defensive perimeter...anyone remember Khe Sahn?

Helicopters...more helicopters, and more helicopters...AWAC's will do almost no good here, and Jets will be of very limited value...expensive to boot.

Airborne, with helo extract is gonna be the way...my read.

Survival? Help from indigenous "northerners", former Soviets, "Friendlies" from the region, small groups of heavily armed, fast moving "operators"...water, water, and more water...and MRE's.

It's gonna be tough...but it can be done...if everyone stays in como and keeps moving...

Chenowiths...lol
 
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