Survival Rifles of the USAF...

[Andy in NH]

Includes some discussion of the historical progression of USAF survival rifles.

Meet The USAF AR Style Survival Gun – the GAU-5A | Breach Bang Clear

Pilots downed behind enemy lines need a survival gun. Survival rifle development has led to an iconic "carry handle" shorty: the GAU-5A.

www.breachbangclear.com

 

[Maxrobot]

I would like to know what aircraft qualifies to have a survival rifle issued. Do C-5A Galaxy crew have survival rifles aboard? Do all single seat aircraft with ejection seats have survival rifles? Are they limited to geographic areas?

 

[Andy in NH]

I would like to know what aircraft qualifies to have a survival rifle issued. Do C-5A Galaxy crew have survival rifles aboard? Do all single seat aircraft with ejection seats have survival rifles? Are they limited to geographic areas?

@Matt_SERE is probably the best guy to answer that.

 

[Matt_SERE]

I would like to know what aircraft qualifies to have a survival rifle issued. Do C-5A Galaxy crew have survival rifles aboard? Do all single seat aircraft with ejection seats have survival rifles? Are they limited to geographic areas?

@Matt_SERE is probably the best guy to answer that.

I appreciate the respect. It has been a long long time since I have had my hands on a true packed survival kit.

The big differences in kits is that they are either single seat/ejection seat kits or crew-based kits. The Life Support career field are the ones who pack kits for aircrew based on what the unit command tells them. Except for TDY's to specific bases, or a SERE Specialist assigned to a base, kits are taught in generalities. ACES, ACES II, Vests, and life rafts from one-man to 20-man were what I was most familiar with back in another lifetime. Remember survival kits aren't what so many call 'go bags'.

One point to remember is that 'survival schools aka SERE' are designed to get you back home alive, with honor. Unlike the Marines and soldiers hand to hand or weapons tactics are not part of the air crew training at the schools. The instructors do receive some in 'tech school'.

Avoidance, gray-man, gets you home. If captured Code of Conduct and Resistance Training comes in. Air Force SERE Resistance training is second none. This is due to the fact that it is the only branch where the instructors make a career out of it. Other branches it is a special duty rotation. I've had Army instructors as students.

I hope this is an educational way of passing the buck.

Matt

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Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Code of the United States Fighting Force - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Tnkrclwn]

These are an ejection seat aircraft add on. Heavy aircraft do not see these in their kit. Just the side arms that the individual crew members carry depending on mission requirements.