The US Navy SEAL Survival Handbook
Learn the Survival Techniques and Strategies of America's Elite Warriors
Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo
Skyhorse Publishing, New York (USA), 2012
248 pages
ISBN: 978-1-61608-580-3

Not sure if this is (or not) the official survival handbook for US Navy SEALs, but it was definitely written by someone who knows what he is talking about. Overall, it provides plenty of good information on the topic of survival, although perhaps it is too broad in the sense that it covers geographic areas where one is unlikely to be stranded (unless one travels often, that is). That is perfectly reasonable, since the book is actually written for an audience (i.e., the US Navy SEALs) who could indeed be operating in any of those regions. However, that also means that a good part of the book is just not so useful for the rest of us. Said that, as I mentioned, it contains plenty of good advice.


Chapter 7 (Basic Survival Tips, pp. 125-129) is perhaps the key part of the book for a general audience.


Prepare for six contingencies:

  1. Becoming lost. It's not enough to rely on your good sense of direction. Always carry at least one compass, a map, and GPS and a SPOT or locating device.
  2. Darkness. With darkness we shift from relying primarily on seeing to relying primarily on hearing. This is an uncomfortable change for some people. Remember that darkness can be your friend. Treat it with respect, and don't move into areas where you could get hurt by your inability to see.
  3. Being stranded. There are countless contingencies under which you could be stuck in the wilderness for an extended period of time. Anticipate that this could happen and plan for ways to alert others and make your way to safety.
  4. Illness or injury. Any time you go into the wilderness, there's always the possibility that you can become injured or ill. Practice and develop your own wilderness first-aid skills.
  5. Extreme weather. There is no such a thing as bad weather, just different types of weather. Always be prepared. Snow, rain, or extreme heat or cold can impact your ability to survive. Before heading out, make sure you have the proper clothing, water, and the ability to shelter yourself for extended periods of time.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 126)


If lost, stop and do a map study.


Assessing the situation in an objective manner:

  1. Treat any injuries —yours or your teammates. Seld aid and buddy aid. Your health is most important for survival.
  2. What needs to be done to assure your safety? Do you need to move to a safer area?
  3. Observe the area of your location. What are the hazards? Are there enemy or friendly forces in the immediate area? What are the advantages? Is there water nearby? What can you take advantage of to help you survive?
  4. Plan your next move carefully. Work out a plan in your head first. If you're satisfied with it, proceed. If not, give yourself time to come up with a better alternative.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 127)


Take stock of your supplies and immediate needs.
Signal your location.
Find food.


Requisities for a fire:

Oxygen, fuel, and a source of heat. Is your fuel thin and dry enough? Is your heat source hot enough to light the tinder? Is there enough oxygen reaching the point where the heat meets the fuel? Identify the problem and proceed.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 128)


The "enemies of survival":

  1. Pain.
  2. Cold and/or Heat.
  3. Thirst.
  4. Hunger.
  5. Fatigue.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 128)


The "Rule of Threes":

A human being can survive:

  • three minutes without air
  • three hours without a regulated body temperature
  • three days without water
  • three weeks without food

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 129)


A list of "common-sense survival tips":

  1. Always carry a map, at least one compass, a GPS, and a SPOT or something similar.
  2. Dress using layers to avoid overheating.
  3. Carry water and water purification tablets or filter when possible. During the map studies, always identify alternate water sources.
  4. Carry high-calorie energy food such as protein bars in your second and third line gear.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 129)


On the perils of eating snow:

Melt snow before you consume it because if you eat it frozen, you'll reduce your body temperature, which can lead to dehydration. The best technique to convert snow into water is by using what military survival schools call a water machine. Make a bag out of any available porous fabric (you can use a T-shirt), fill it with snow, and hang it near (but not directly over) a fire. Place a container under the bag to collect the water. By continually filling the bag with snow you'll keep it from burning.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 135)


You should never drink the following:

  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saltwater
  • Alcohol
  • Fresh sea ice

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 138)


Navigation using the "shadow-tip method":

  1. Place a straight, one-meter-long stick on a level spot, into the ground that's free of brush, and onto which the stick will cast a definite shadow.
  2. Mark the shadow's tip with a stone or other means. This first shadow mark is always west, everywhere on earth.
  3. Wait fifteen minutes until the shadow tip moves a few inches. Mark the shadow tip's new position the same way you did the first.
  4. Draw a straight line through the two marks to create an approximate east-west axis.
  5. Now stand with the first mark (west) to your left and the second mark (east) to your right. You are now facing north no matter where you are on earth.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 202)


Navigation using the "Moon method":

The moon reflects the sun's light. As it orbits the earth on a twenty-eight-day circuit, the shape of the light it reflects varies according to its position. What we call a new moon, or no moon, is when the moon is positioned on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. As it moves away from the earth's shadow, it begins to reflect light from its right side and waxes to become a full moon before waning, or losing shape, to appear as a sliver on the left side.

If the moon rises before the sun has set, the illuminated side will be the west. If the moon rises after midnight, the illuminated side will be the east. This will provide you with a rough east-west reference during the night.

(Don Mann & Ralph Pezzullo: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, p. 203)


Entertainment: 6/10
Content: 6/10