US Army Survival Manual
US Army Survival Manual
This is FM 21-76, the U.S. Army's field manual on wilderness and combat survival. First published in 1957 and revised repeatedly since (including major updates in 1968 and 1970), it was written to prepare soldiers, downed aircrews, and anyone operating far from support to stay alive with nothing but field-expedient knowledge. It's since become one of the most widely reprinted military manuals in existence, read as much by outdoorsmen and preppers as by service members.
This illustrated softcover edition runs 285 pages and covers the full range of what the original doctrine was built to teach: the psychology of survival, water procurement and purification, identifying edible versus poisonous plants, trapping and preparing food, shelter building, firecraft, and navigation without modern tools.
It also breaks down survival in specific environments, desert, tropical, arctic, and at sea, each with its own hazards and techniques.
The audience for this one is broad by design. Preppers and bushcraft enthusiasts use it as a working reference. Hunters and backpackers keep a copy in a pack for the same reason soldiers were issued one: it's genuinely useful information organized for someone under stress.
Military history readers and writers use it to understand how the Army actually trained for survival. One AP customer's review sums up the split personality of the book well: it's got plenty of straightforward, still-useful skills alongside a few dated or eyebrow-raising ones (readers seem to particularly enjoy the shark identification pages), and somehow all of it stays entertaining.
The Short & Sweet:
- Field Manual 21-76, U.S. Army doctrine on survival
- First published 1957, revised multiple times through 1970 and after
- Illustrated softcover, 285 pages
- Covers water, food, shelter, firecraft, and navigation
- Includes desert, tropical, arctic, and sea survival chapters
- Widely used by military, preppers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike
Original: $12.99
-65%$12.99
$4.55
Description
US Army Survival Manual
This is FM 21-76, the U.S. Army's field manual on wilderness and combat survival. First published in 1957 and revised repeatedly since (including major updates in 1968 and 1970), it was written to prepare soldiers, downed aircrews, and anyone operating far from support to stay alive with nothing but field-expedient knowledge. It's since become one of the most widely reprinted military manuals in existence, read as much by outdoorsmen and preppers as by service members.
This illustrated softcover edition runs 285 pages and covers the full range of what the original doctrine was built to teach: the psychology of survival, water procurement and purification, identifying edible versus poisonous plants, trapping and preparing food, shelter building, firecraft, and navigation without modern tools.
It also breaks down survival in specific environments, desert, tropical, arctic, and at sea, each with its own hazards and techniques.
The audience for this one is broad by design. Preppers and bushcraft enthusiasts use it as a working reference. Hunters and backpackers keep a copy in a pack for the same reason soldiers were issued one: it's genuinely useful information organized for someone under stress.
Military history readers and writers use it to understand how the Army actually trained for survival. One AP customer's review sums up the split personality of the book well: it's got plenty of straightforward, still-useful skills alongside a few dated or eyebrow-raising ones (readers seem to particularly enjoy the shark identification pages), and somehow all of it stays entertaining.
The Short & Sweet:
- Field Manual 21-76, U.S. Army doctrine on survival
- First published 1957, revised multiple times through 1970 and after
- Illustrated softcover, 285 pages
- Covers water, food, shelter, firecraft, and navigation
- Includes desert, tropical, arctic, and sea survival chapters
- Widely used by military, preppers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike
