Fixed Blade Knife:

A full tang survival or combat knife serves as a final line of defense in case of close contact with the enemy, and facilitates various survival tasks such as processing wood and cordage or striking a ferro rod. No one knife will be designed to excel at all of these tasks, but a knife with a full tang, plain spine, high carbon steel content, and shallow, simple and non-serrated grind should be fine in most circumstances.

550 Cord:

A hank or prepared guy lines of 550 cord will allow the user to quickly construct expedient shelters and lash together gear, among many other survival tasks. In combination with the Poncho, a prepared 25’ ridgeline and several 3-5’ with knots pre-tied will allow the user to construct an emergency shelter in a matter of minutes.

Hydration Carrier:

Staying hydrated is extremely important during high stress, high exertion combat and survival scenarios. A one-quart canteen or hydration bladder carried on the L.B.E. should be considered a critical piece of equipment.

Water Purifier:

Another piece of basic survival equipment that is duplicated in each line of equipment. One can survive for extended periods of time without food, but without a clean source of water, chances of survival drop drastically and quickly. Iodine tablets should be carried as an emergency measure, and water filters should be carried for more permanent use.

Flashlight:

A flashlight facilitates navigation, gear handling and target identification in low-light situations in circumstances where light discipline is unnecessary.

Lensatic Compass:

As with all other basic survival items, this is duplicated in more than one line of equipment in order to create redundancy. A military style lensatic compass allows the user to shoot an azimuth to known landmarks for purposes of navigation and orientation.

Fire Starter:

A fire starter is basic survival equipment, and one should be carried in each line of equipment to create redundancy in case of loss. A ferro rod with striker should be carried as a first option, and lighters and matches can be carried as backups.

Poncho:

A military Poncho is a lightweight, multipurpose piece of gear. It can be used as a poncho in order to keep one’s person and equipment dry in case of rain, and it can be used as a tarp to create field expedient shelters.

Poncho Liner:

The Poncho Liner, or ‘woobie’, maintains survivability and comfort when sleeping in the field in lieu of a full sleep system.

Emergency Ration:

This is just a small amount of calories to keep on hand in case one is caught without the rest of their gear. Military forces often carry a ‘field stripped’ MRE; that is, and MRE that has been taken out of its bulky wrapping and stripped down to the most calorie dense components, then taped together into a more convenient package to carry.

Line 3 (Sustainment Load) Equipment List:

Ruck
Sleep System
Cookset
Stove
Entrenching Tool
First Aid Kit
Hygiene Kit
Extra Shirts
Extra Socks
Extra Uniform
Thermal Layers
Wet Weather Top & Bottom
Cotton Bandana/Shemagh
Waterproof Pack Liner
Cordage
Water Container
Fire Starter
Water Filter
Maintenance Kit
Rations

Ruck:

The Rucksack is used to carry the sustainment load for extended time in the field, and is usually left behind at a secure location, rally point or patrol base during operations. The ruck must be durable and designed to carry a significant amount of weight comfortably. The ruck should feature an internal or external frame and waist belt. Military surplus rucksacks are among the best options because of their toughness and cost. The Medium Alice pack with frame is an older, less sophisticated and less comfortable piece of equipment, but it is highly adaptable and rugged. The MOLLE II rucksack is much larger and features a plastic frame. The U.S. Marine Corps has developed the FILBE and ILBE pack series, which are designed to carry extremely large and heavy loads.

Most civilian hiking packs are not constructed to meet the durability requirements of heavy field use, so they are not optimal choices. However, exceptions would include packs designed for hunting or third-party tactical markets.

Sleep System

The sleep system should include the following items:

Sleeping Bag, synthetic fill
Sleeping Pad, insulated, foam or inflatable
Sleeping Bag Cover (bivy sack)
Carrier (stuff sack or external carrier)

A sleeping bag should be rated for the lowest expected temperature, but the temperature range can be extended through the use of clothing. Down sleeping bags are lighter, but down loses its loft when wet, and is not recommended.

A sleeping pad is necessary to insulate the user’s body from the ground, especially in cold climates.

A bivy sack is a waterproof emergency shelter into which the bag and pad are placed. In combination with a Poncho shelter, a bivy sack will keep the user warm and dry through almost any weather conditions. The U.S.G.I. Goretex bivy sack is one of the best pieces of gear money can buy, and is very cheap compared to equivalent civilian models.

Depending on the rucksack, the sleep system can be carried inside the ruck or lashed to the outside using an external carrier.

Cookset and Stove:

This will include instruments for heating and eating food and boiling water. If a 1 quart canteen is being used, a steel canteen cup makes an excellent, space saving option for a small pot. There are many different types of stoves available, but a solid fuel or alcohol burning stove will take up the least space and weight when compared to a gas stove. An additional benefit to solid fuel stoves such as Esbit stoves is that they can employ small sticks as fuel, meaning that fuel shortage will rarely be an issue.

Entrenching Tool:

Modern entrenching tools are folding shovels that can be employed in several configurations for a wide variety of tasks. They can be used as a shovel, pick, root saw, chopping instrument, seat, and if worse comes to worse, a weapon.

First Aid Kit:

In contrast with the IFAK, which is meant to provide immediate, temporary treatment to life-threatening injuries, a general first aid kit should include items used to treat minor cuts, stings and burns. A minor cut may not seem like a big deal, but if left untreated it can become infected.

Items for treating foot-related ailments should not be overlooked. Foot powder or baby powder can be used to keep feet dry and healthy. Moleskin can be used to isolate blisters and prevent them from becoming worse. Waterlogged or blistered feet can make an already stressful experience soul-crushing.

Hygiene Kit:
Any items necessary for personal grooming and maintenance shall be included here. It is important to maintain good hygiene during extended time in the field. Baby wipes can be used in lieu of running water for a field expedient bath. Additionally, sunscreen and bug spray are important outdoor items.

Extra Clothing:

Extra clothing, in particular extra socks, should be kept dry inside the pack. At the very least, it is vitally important that a dry set of clothing be kept to change into at night when the temperature drops. It may not be fun to wake up and change back into a wet set of clothes, but it’s better than hypothermia.

Thermal Layers:

A thermal base layer (top & bottom), fleece jacket liner and fleece or wool watch cap will help maintain body temperature at night, and can extend the working range of a sleeping bag considerably.

Wet Weather Top & Bottom:

Rain gear should always be available in case of adverse weather. Military issue Goretex jackets and pants are well worth their cost.

Bandana/Shemagh:

Basically the only piece of cotton advisable in the field, a cotton bandana has a litany of survival uses. It can be used to filter large particulates out of water. When combined with ground up charcoal from a camp fire, it can even be used as an emergency water filter. It can be used as a bandage, splint, container, and of course a face covering.

Water Proof Pack Liner:

A waterproof bag of some type should be used to line the ruck in order to protect the items inside. Given an airtight seal, it will make the pack buoyant. At the very least, a couple of large trash bags should be used for this purpose.

Cordage:

An additional hank of 550 cord, or even a length of rope, should be stored in the ruck.

Water carrier:

And additional two quart canteen or water bladder should be carried in the ruck, expanding water capacity of the full kit to at least three liters. Water should be kept topped off as much as possible, particularly if using canteens or water bottles; sloshing water is noisy.

Maintenance Kit:

Weapons and equipment maintenance is a critical task. As such, a weapons cleaning kit, sewing kit, and small selection of basic tools should be carried in the ruck.

Additional Equipment Considerations:

The above constitutes a basic light infantry loadout that will be useful in a wide variety of situations, but it is by no means all-inclusive. Gear requirements will vary depending on area of operations, mission critical tasks, season etc.

Additional expendable items such as plastic freezer bags, batteries, personal comfort items and the like should not be overlooked. However, it should be remembered that everything is carried. One would be surprised at how little equipment is necessary to survive for weeks in the wilderness. As such, It is recommended that unnecessary items be kept to a minimum.

Body Armor:

Body armor sold in the U.S. is rated according to the NIJ certification standards listed above. Note that level III armor is rated to defeat 7.62x51 M80 ball ammunition and M855 “Penetrator” steel-tip 5.56. However, regular 5.56 ball ammunition traveling above 2800-3000 fps will punch straight through level III steel plates, making them nearly worthless for defeating rifle threats in the U.S.

For this reason, manufacturers have begun producing “level III+” plates. The standards for testing III+ armor vary according to manufacturer, because no such NIJ certification exists. It is important to review the manufacturer’s lab results before buying any armor, but for all intents and purposes, level III+ plates are the only steel plates worth buying.

The use of body armor should be dependent on the mission and the expected threat. Guerrilla forces rarely engage in close combat with the enemy, preferring to stick to hit and run tactics, though different missions have different requirements.

Training Program

This training program is intended to teach someone with no knowledge or experience basic infantry skills. It will be presented in weekly intervals containing blocks of instruction, skill-building drills, and self-administered critical skill assessments. For those without a current physical fitness routine, a workout plan will also be provided.

The program will initially cover three phases: individual, buddy, and team.

The individual phase will teach individual soldier skills such as marksmanship, land navigation, and basic wilderness survival.

Once the individual phase has been completed, the trainee will be expected to locate a suitable buddy, and if necessary, train them on the individual soldier skills learned in phase one. Then, as a buddy pair, they will train in basic tactical movement and communication, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, and more advanced marksmanship techniques.

After completing the buddy phase, the buddy team will once again locate and train one to two more buddy teams. The group will then train as a fire team in basic small unit tactics, patrolling, and field operations.

It is, essentially, a simplified and self-administered basic training course, designed to be completed in a fair amount of spare time and with limited resources.

Extensive use will be made of dry-fire training and exercises to account for the cost of ammunition and availability of suitable training areas. However, a minimum amount of live-fire training and exercises will be expected, and recommended. If the trainee has access to large quantities of ammunition and suitable facilities, they will benefit greatly from substituting additional live-fire training.

Short guides will be included on how to locate and choose training partners and facilities, how to train safely, and how to maintain operational security. The beauty of this program is that since it is self administered and comes from a centralized source with whom no communication is necessary, it can be conducted in a safe manner according to the time constraints and resources of the trainee.

WEEK ZERO: Pre-Indivdual Phase Assessment

Tasks:

(1) Complete physical fitness assessment
(2) Research and locate suitable training facilities
(3) Take stock of individual equipment and note deficiencies
(4) Complete introductory ruck march

WEEK ZERO TASK 1

Task: Perform physical fitness assessment.

Conditions: During any time of day, given a ten-meter distance in which to conduct shuttle sprints, two 20 pound weights or one 5 gallon water jug, and wearing a vest, plate carrier, L.B.E. or pack weighing no less than 15 pounds.

Standards: Within 6 minutes, complete the following set of exercises four times.

5x burpees
1x shuttle sprint (20 meters)
10x alternating lunges
2x shuttle carry weights or jug (40 meters)

If this task is failed, the trainee has a low level of functional fitness. If they are not engaged in a physical fitness routine, a routine will be provided, starting the following week.

WEEK ZERO TASK 2

Task: Identify suitable training facilities for live-fire training, land navigation training, ruck marches, and field training exercises.

Conditions: As able, given resources on local area.

Standards: Locate and gather information on the following types of training areas.

Indoor/outdoor shooting range with a minimum lane length of 25m for purposes of basic marksmanship training and weapons zeroing

Outdoor shooting range with a minimum range of 50m for purposes of live-fire exercises and weapons qualification

Large area suitable for land navigation training, wilderness camping and field training exercises

Trail or road with a minimum length of 6 miles for the purpose of conducting ruck marches

Gather and record information about hours of operation, road access and route planning, terrain conditions, expected civilian usage, land ownership, fees and permits etc.

Indoor Shooting Ranges:

Indoor shooting ranges carry the advantage of convenience and availability. They are very common throughout the United States, and in some other locations they may be the only place one can access or fire weapons.

However, most indoor ranges charge fees, have a maximum range of 25m, and do not allow shooters to draw from a holster or shoot and move. The beginning portion of marksmanship training will be written to allow the use of an indoor range, but after weapons zeroing another solution must be found.

WEEK ZERO TASK 3

Task: Perform checks and inspections on personal equipment.

Conditions: Given the equipment checklists for worn, fighting load and sustainment load equipment, and an orderly layout of currently available equipment.

Standards: Ensure all personal equipment is well adjusted, serviceable and in properly maintained condition.

Equipment like rucksacks, plate carriers and L.B.E. should be properly fitted to the user.

Once adjusted, all loose webbing and ties should be secured.

If something is found to be in non-working condition, the deficiency should be noted and a plan to correct it made.

WEEK ZERO TASK FOUR

Task: Complete introductory ruck march.

Conditions: During any time of day, given an uninterrupted road or trail of two miles in length (or one mile out and back), and a pack weighing no less than 25 pounds.

Standards: Complete a march of two miles within 35 minutes.

CONDUCTING RUCK MARCHES:

Long-range movements are often a necessary part of infiltrating into an area containing an objective, conducting reconnaissance, and evading enemy forces, among many other critical tasks. Many historical guerrilla forces have had no other transportation than their own feet. For this reason, developing the fitness necessary to carry one’s own equipment during extended marches should be considered a major component of training.

Utilization of and familiarity with difficult terrain inaccessible to large conventional forces is one of the greatest strengths and defenses of guerrilla fighters. The ability to move quickly, efficiently and safely over such terrain could be critical to the continued operations of the guerrilla unit.

PREVENTING FOOT INJURY:

The feet are one of the most essential parts of the body to keep healthy for anyone performing light infantry tasks. Foot injuries are simple to prevent, but once they happen they pose a serious risk to safety and morale.

The first key to the prevention of foot injuries, such as sprains, blisters and infections, is to have the proper footwear. Boots should be supportive and snug enough not to allow free movement of the foot within the boot, but have enough spare room to accommodate a bit of swelling. Boots with a breathable construction will allow foot sweat to dissipate.

Socks are equally important. Wool socks are best because they wick moisture away from the foot, and synthetic or blended socks will dry more quickly than pure cotton. Pure cotton socks are to be avoided if at all possible.

As necessary, change wet socks and boots out for dry ones.

TREATING BLISTERS:

Preventing friction and moisture is best, but blisters are a given until one’s feet are conditioned for long marches. When hot spots form, they can be covered with bandaids, tape or moleskin to prevent further rubbing.

Moleskin is a type of protective padding that isolates a blister. To use it, cut out a piece slightly larger than the blister, then cut a hole in that piece the size of the blister and place it around the affected area.

Blisters should not be popped. Instead, thread a sowing needle with a few inches of cotton thread, then sterilize both using alcohol or boiling water. Push the needle through one end of the blister roof and out the other side, leaving about a half inch of thread on both sides. Cut the needle off the thread, then clean and cover the area. The thread will act as a wick to draw out the fluid without exposing the raw skin underneath or creating an environment prone to infection.

WEEK ONE FITNESS PLAN

This fitness plan can be used for trainees without a current plan or with a low level of physical fitness.

It is recommended all workouts begin with a warmup/stretching routine

Session 1

5 sets:

5x Push-up
10x Sit-up
15x Squat
Rest 30 seconds

3 sets:

10x Superman Back Extension
10x Two-count Flutter Kick

Session 2

6 sets:

12x Alternating Lunge (6 each leg)
6x Plank Walk-up
6x Lateral Lunge
6x Plank Walk-up

2 sets:

25x Leg Raise
25x Sit-up

Session 3

4 sets:

Burpees 30 seconds
Rest 30 seconds
Squat 30 seconds
Rest 30 seconds
Burpees 30 seconds
Rest 30 seconds
Isometric Squat Hold 30 seconds

4 sets:

6x Bird Dog (each side)
6x Superman Back Extension

Session 4

15 minutes of:
Sprint 15 seconds
Walk 30 seconds

THE WILL IS THE WEAPON

Guerrilla warfare is a contest of wills above all else. Each side is attempting to break their opponents’ will to continue the conflict. Where conventional state forces have the benefit of numbers, heavy weaponry and massive logistics chains, irregular forces have their discipline and devotion to the cause.

History has shown time and again that these things cannot be defeated. Bullets can’t destroy an ideology, or the will of men to fight and sacrifice for their people. As long as one fighter remains alive to struggle and proselytize, the cause remains alive as well. As long as one man is willing to light the path to victory, he will rally people to his cause. An occupying force can resort to the total destruction of the people in order to pacify their resistance, but the more they resort to such measures, the more they strengthen the resolve of the resistance and erode their own political will.

Times change, along with methods and equipment; but the will to fight is eternal. It is the distant torch in the darkness lighting the sure path to victory. As long as the path is kept, defeat is impossible. The flame can never be extinguished.