USMC Survival Kits. via Don Rearic.

The USMC was doing daily carry before daily carry was cool.

via Don Rearic.

While searching through various NSNs (National Stock Numbers), I came upon a PDF Document from The Department of The Navy. The document is dated 9 July 91.
From the document:
“The SK consists of two sealed pouches that are issued as a single Kit and can be separated after issue. The NSN’s of the components which make up the SK are as follows:
Side A: Shelter and Food Gathering Side:
Fishing Kit, Emergency 4220-00-244-0764
Saw, Finger Ring 5110-00-70-6896

Survival Blanket 7210-00-935-6666

Plastic Bag, Zip-Lock 8105-00-837-7755

Candle, Votive 9925-00-202-4417

Snare Wire 9525-00-59-63498
Side B: Escape and Evasion (E & E) Side:
Fire Starter, Magnesium 4240-01-160-5618

Knife, Pocket 5110-00-162-2205

Signalling Mirror 6350-00-105-1252

Compass, Smoke Chaser 6605-00-553-87-95
Plastic Bag, Zip-Lock 8105-00-837-7756
Whistle, Extreme Cold 8465-01-278-6982
Water Bag, Drinking 8466-00-634-4499
Matches, Waterproof 9920-01-191-3434”
I am lifting excerpts as I go along, bear with me…
It continues…under “Operational characteristics…”
The SK is designed for use by individuals serving as members of the Ground Combat Element (GCE). This SK prevents Marines from having to purchase or requisition their own survival items. This SK enables a Marine to perform the basic survival tasks of making shelter, gathering food and water and signaling. The SK is a general purpose kit, but it was developed for use in desert; mountain; arctic; and temperate water survival during small boat operations. The intent of the SK is to have Marines carry it when there is a possibility that they will be placed in a rescue or survival situation. Formal school or unit training should allow an individual to learn the specific application of the SK and its individual components. The SK is sealed so that it can be quickly and visually inspected to determine if it is complete. The seal should only be opened when a Marine is confronted with a survival situation. The SK is packaged in a sand colored, abrasion resistant, waterproof outer bag that is heat sealed around the perimeter and center to form two separate sides. Both sides have inner bags that are transparent, waterproof, vaporproof, and greaseproof. The inner bags are vacuum heat sealed. The two-sided design allows a Marine to carry the SK as a single item in a rucksack, butt pack or folded and placed in a trouser cargo pocket. A Marine can also tear the SK’s outer bag in half along the center heat seal and still maintain its storage integrity features. Each half can be carried in the lower pockets of the utility jacket or the Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) jacket pockets. The components of each side of the SK have been packaged to better accommodate a survival situation. Side A contains those components needed for shelter and food gathering. Side B contains those items a Marine may need to immediately start their escape/evasion and rescue. The overall purpose of the SK is to enhance a Marine’s chances of survival and rescue for 24 hours and beyond.
The document continues on with Marine Corps information, something interesting stated later on…
“The edges of the outer bag can be resealed with a hot clothing iron.”
Pretty neat, huh!
Earlier in the document, the size was listed:
Length: 13 inches
Width: 6 inches
Height: 2 inches
Weight: 1.75 pounds
So, as you can imagine, I was very interested in obtaining one of these complete survival kits. There have been quite a few of them sold on the Internet. I assume that they have been sold in surplus military auctions (or whatever other “channels” exist, I don’t know…) like just about everything else that is not a “restricted item” in the military inventory. For example, there are a plethora of Military-Issue lensatic compasses and strobe lights as well as other survival kits, primarily United States Air Force Survival Kits, complete and sealed, rations, survival vests, you name it and it is out there…

Of course this was from a time when Marine Infantry was considered elite and Force Recon was a supporting, not a supported unit.

Nevertheless the contents are interesting.