1968 Operational Hot Climate Survival Kit Used by Special Forces in Vietnam Review Tactical Aircrew

Used by MACV-SOG and various Special Forces groups in the Vietnam War. This is a comprehensive kit that's equipped with fascinating survival gadget tools and more. Check out my other survival kit reviews, as there are many various items that are shown in different degrees of detail depending on the video.

Also, stick around until the end on this one. A previously unreleased Tactical Aircrew Kit from 1970 is part of this video - and we go into beautiful detail on the survival booklet that is only glanced at in kit 1. Everything not seen on kit 1 will be seen on kit 2. Whatever isn't seen on either kit, can be seen elsewhere if you look hard enough. Search them all - and keep your eye out as the next kits I'm releasing are just as cool, if not more so than these.

I filmed the first kit around the same time as the Russian Prisoner Ration and my camera settings have been optimized since. The second kit was 100% previously unseen older content which is great to have been added in here to show a few of the items from the first kit on a slightly different camera. They are perfect shown together in a comparative review.

This kit was like $750 - which may be a bit high. Sometimes they go for less - maybe they could go higher too since they're getting increasingly rare.

Up next for kits:
SRU-21/p Survival Vest.
WW2 E-17 Pilot Survival Kit. A perfect example.

For correspondence, or to send a Military Ration for review, my exact mailing information is:
Steve1989
3616 Harden Blvd
360
Lakeland, FL 33803

[rockyraab]

Steve, as you know, I was a pilot for MACV/SOG. I was the "friendly" looking for those guys down there. The beauty of the signal mirror is that it CAN'T be seen by anybody but the target. The ugly part is that it also looks exactly like ground fire. When I was getting hosed, it could be difficult to separate one kind of flash from the other. Regarding the Chloroquine/Primaquine tablets...we each took one of those a week to prevent malaria. The next day was our one day off, because you'd spend it in the latrine. Call it "reinforced regularity" but it was potent. Finally, I carried that air crew survival kit, but this is the first time I've seen what was in it because we were absolutely forbidden to open them!

[McMagpie]

My grandpa was a mechanic in Nam from 67-69. He ran boats up and down canals through the jungle and never expected to see as much action as he did. My Grandma said part of him never came back. They bought some land after and farmed it till the day he passed. Miss than man Dearly. Thanks for the upload, Steve! It was a Banger!!

[yaboiflats]

When you click on a stevemre video within its first minute of being uploaded, you hear a nice hiss

[furrymessiah]

These kits are literally Museum condition. I would expect them to be in the Smithsonian, not on Steve's table. Absolutely amazing acquisition, buddy!

[voidfire]

Whenever I cut into a new bag of coffee at work, there's a quick little hiss. I always think to myself, "nice hiss".

[cyh]

I became friends with a number of Vietnam vets despite being younger than them. Everyone of them taught me something about life. They never talked much about what happened over there so I didn't ask. One of them became a life long friend and fishing buddy. I miss you every day Mark, you were the kindness person I ever met.

[oliverm]

"anti diarrhea tablets, no.2" the company making these had a sense of humour

[TheBeastlyFollower]

Thanks a lot for the upload Steve. Love watching these Vietnam era ration videos. My grandfather was a Recon Marine in Vietnam, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. He did two tours and became an NCO during his time in-country. According to my uncle, he joined because he and my grandmother were going through a rough patch and the pay was good. Never spoke a word to the family about his time in Vietnam. Not even to my dad, his closest son. He set up a veteran's organization in my hometown and caught a record 16 pound walleye in the 1970s or 1980s. Owned a machine shop in the 80s and had a carpentry business after that with my dad until he retired and handed the reigns over to my old man. After he came back he was an avid fisherman and big-game hunter until he passed a handful of years ago in his late seventies. Cool dude, miss him a lot. Have a good day/night Steve.

[gvii]

My dad did two tours as infantry in Vietnam. Mostly ambush patrol. HATED leeches. Oh God, did he hate those things. Couldn't even stand to see them on TV. Used to talk about coming back to from the bush covered in the things. I think it's why he took up smoking while he was there. It was an easy way to get the damn things off. I imagine the shelling by arty and people trying to kill you might have had something to do with it too, but he quite shortly after getting home from over there. He passed away in January. God, I miss him. He was a great man. Drafted into the Army for Nam, but enlisted before his time came up. After that was a carpenter for a bit under my grandfather. Went into the Navy for a long time as a flight engineer on P-3 Orion subhunters over the Panama Canal. Then finally went into active duty Air Force Reserve at the base close to home so he could be with the family more. 27 years in total for the military.

[macdadstromboli]

Steve doesnt get enough credit for the amount of time he puts into these videos. Whether its a ration, or something like this video. The amount of research that goes into each video really shows true dedication.
Thank you Steve for all that you do for each video. None of your videos are boring. More like mini documentaries.

[TheCoffeehound]

5:21 "I'm stuck on Band-aid, 'cause Band-aid's stuck on me!" Brings back memories.

[aokirk]

I think it's incredible that this kit has a zip lock bag in it. 1968 was the first year that the zip lock bag was produced. This was brand new technology. The Ziploc bag was first marketed in 1968 by Dow Chemical Company.

[Nethanieal]

My dad served in the Navy during Vietnam, he held on to his camping gear, had a lot of these survival kits. When we went camping, he always brought some just in case. That was the Early 80's . So cool to see these kits again, brings back memories - Cheers

[tattooedman]

When I was in Iraq, a problem started to become apparent...some soldiers were drinking too much water. That could actually prove to be deadly. The military started serving Gatorade in the chow halls, and they issued powdered Gatorade to the troops. When you were out, the rule was you were to drink a canteen of water, then your next canteen was to be Gatorade. Definitely helped keep the electrolyte levels in check.

[link]

As much as I love the ration reviews, these survival kit reviews are my favorite for whatever reason. Thanks for the great content as always Steve!

[sasquatch]

My father was 101st AB LRRP in 'Nam, he told me about being issued these but I've only seen still pics, never a review and opening. Thank you Steve!

[allys]

This is an invaluable resource.for anyone trying to replicate a period correct survival kit for a production kr a movie or any reenactment of sorts. I love these videos for that reason among others.

[JAL_EDM]

Ah, just the perfect thing to watch at 10 PM on a Friday night after working 10 hours, nice!!

[johnnyjohnson]

The survival kit we were issued also had 2 flairs /spring loaded flair pen and a package of amphetamine tablets for extreme fatigue.

[JoeSkylynx]

Those old school bandaids are something else. Bought an old tackle box and found a few in a small improv medical kit, and damn. Still had great adhesive!