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Basic Principles of Escape and Evasion, Part 1 - Esee Knives
Basic Principles of Escape and Evasion, Part 1 - Esee Knives
Basic Principles of
Escape and
> BY JEFF RANDALL
Evasion, Part 1
Escape and Evasion (E&E) can encompass a myriad of Third World hellhole? We’re with you on
that. Military personnel trying to evade
situations, from fugitives escaping justice to civilian the enemy … well, hopefully your mil
kidnap victims in the Third World to military personnel training has covered all of this, but if not,
trying to evade hostile forces. we’re here for you.
And in case anybody is thinking, hey,
D
ue to the vast amount of material, local culture and terrain—that allowed some bad guy could read S.W.A.T. and
the basic techniques of E&E will him to evade capture for so many years. then use this info for their own evil pur-
be a two-part series for Against Rudolph wasn’t the highly trained sur- poses, I’ll add this disclaimer: the fol-
All Odds. vivalist and evasion guru that many lowing information is readily available
When thinking of fugitives on the run, thought. Simply put, he had a sympa- on the Internet and in numerous open-
the story of Eric Robert Rudolph often thetic support network. source publications. It’s not secret infor-
comes to mind. Rudolph, who had been mation accessible only to an elite few.
charged with bombing an abortion clinic CAN YOU DO IT?
in Birmingham, Alabama as well as the But what if you have no support BASIC PRINCIPLES
1996 Centennial Park bombing in Atlan- network? Is it still possible to survive, Let’s get down to business: What basic
ta, managed to evade capture for more escape capture and make your way to principles can you use to escape and
than five years in the hills of western safety? In a word, yes. But before we go evade should your life depend on it? At-
North Carolina until a rookie cop caught any further, let’s start with a basic as- titude, conditioning and preparation are
him dumpster diving for food. sumption: S.W.A.T. readers are not going everything when it comes to escape and
While many consider Rudolph an ex- to be fleeing from criminal charges in the evasion.
cellent evasion artist, it was actually the U.S. when they need to put a little E&E You have to live every day prepared
federal government’s unique ability to to work. Fleeing from potential kidnap- to act even during the most hum-drum,
piss off the local populace—as well as pers in South America? Check. Running boring parts of your routine. One of the
its inability to understand the manhunt, from a corrupt police frame-up in some easiest things to do is keep minimal tools
20 S.W.A.T. » JANUARY 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
on your body at all times. These should Perhaps the most important thing is to will be closer to a familiar area, he will
include a knife, flashlight, multi-tool maintain a survivor’s mindset. Mentally still be reasonably fit and possibly still
and cash (concealable tools will be dis- prepare yourself to win at all costs in case have items that will aid his escape (well-
cussed in a future installment of Against you cannot flee and are forced to fight, concealed escape tools are often missed
All Odds). Always be aware of your sur- especially in Third World kidnap situa- by initial searches and pat-downs), he
roundings and where you are, and know tions. You must be willing and prepared to will likely have less complicated re-
which way safety is located. incapacitate the threat if you cannot escape! straints, and the attacking forces will be
Maintain a healthy lifestyle that in- When attempting to evade, make it less organized and lacking the “home
cludes a fitness training program as well your goal to get outside of the attacking field” advantage.
as constantly exercising your memory. force perimeter, since threat forces typi- It will probably get much worse for
Get in the mindset of never taking any- cally attack inward. You will most likely you, security-wise, once you arrive at
thing for granted. For example, as soon be found if you are hiding within that the captor’s area of operations. This is
as you enter a new room or building, circle. Most bad guys already know this. especially true in the Third World, where
identify at least two separate ways of Law enforcement will set up a perim- kidnap artists have built a series of safe
getting out, preferably on two separate eter, then spend most of their resources houses and networks to deal with their
cardinal compass points of the structure and time searching that area. If you can prisoners. Each transfer will be more
(e.g., east and west, instead of two exits anticipate this and get outside of those secure and better organized than the pre-
on the same side). bounds, 1) they will likely not find you, vious one.
and 2) it will give you lead time in orga- If you are being held in a secure fa-
ON THE ALERT nizing your future evasion plan while cility, study your opponent and plan
If you get in a car or taxi, make sure attention and resources are concentrated your evasion before any attempted
the door will open and know how to elsewhere. escape. Remember, your captors/
open it (some Third World taxis remove guards are typically not highly trained
the back door handles). If you’re riding EARLY ESCAPE fighting forces, but you should never
in the backseat, does the vehicle have If you are captured, keep in mind that underestimate them! Be patient and
child safety locks and are they engaged? most opportunities for successful escape flexible, conserve your strength for the
Seconds count if you are attacked in a exist during the first few hours. The rea- times you will need it, rest and sleep
vehicle! sons for this are that the captured person as much as possible, drink plenty of
22 S.W.A.T. » JANUARY 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
water, and eat what the locals eat. break up their outline, plus use a scarf, be searched, such as rough terrain. Blend
Gather and conceal as many tools as vegetation, netting or collar around the your shelter with the environment in the
possible and pay attention to every detail neck and under the chin. Keep in mind same way you do your personal cam-
of your situation by using all your senses. that black is rarely found in nature. It ouflage. Make sure you have an escape
Avoid using scented soaps and shampoos also stands out more than earth-tone route with approaches you can see, so
or any items that have a strong odor, in- colors when viewed through night you don’t corner yourself.
cluding insect spray. Do not smoke or use vision. Always take advantage of natu- The ideal shelter is one that can be
tobacco products, since they have an un- ral materials, but remember that foliage concealed with minimal preparation,
mistakably strong smell. wilts and fades over time. Do not over- since there will be less visible ground
camouflage, since it will make you stand disturbance. Locate your entrances and
BODY CAMO out—blend with the environment! Light exits along ridges, ditches and rocks to
If you manage to escape and are on the hair should be covered or stained. You keep from forming paths into the site,
run, camouflage yourself. If your eva- can use stains from grasses, berries, char- and always remember to have overhead
sion is over open ground (non-urban), coal or dirt to accomplish this. concealment. When moving in and out
apply personal camouflage to exposed Never expose shiny or reflective ob- of your shelter, “J” hook into the en-
skin. Use a blotchy pattern for temper- jects such as watches, glasses, pens, trance instead of walking directly to it.
ate deciduous (leaf shedding) and desert etc., and break up the outline of the This way your tracks and scent will most
environments. Use a broad slash pattern body, since the “V” of the crotch area likely lead the attacking forces past you
for coniferous (evergreen) and jungle and armpits stand out to an observer. If before finding your shelter, thus buying
environments. For grassy areas, use a you intend to observe an area, always you critical moments to escape.
narrow slash pattern. The point is to do it from the prone position and from In the end, proper camouflage and
blend with your environment. Any cam- concealment. concealment will buy you time, espe-
ouflage that doesn’t blend will become a cially during the initial disorganized fray
beacon to your pursuers. SHELTER that will come when your captors realize
When camouflaging yourself, it’s If you require shelter, then use the mil- you have escaped.
better to blend darker colors on high itary BLISS acronym (Blend, Low silhou- In Part 2, we will cover noise and light
spots and lighter colors on lower areas. ette, Irregular shape, Small, Secluded discipline, E&E movement, counter-
Your ears should have two colors to location) and choose an area less likely to tracking and urban evasion. £
24 S.W.A.T. » JANUARY 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
Basic Principles of
Escape and
> BY JEFF RANDALL
Evasion, Part 2
Last month, we covered the importance of proper trains moving in the background. Make
camouflage when evading hostile forces or threats. sure watch alarms and hourly chimes
are turned off, and cell phones or other
A
nd while camouflage is ex- possible scenario, then carefully execute non-essential electronic devices dis-
tremely important during any that plan through discipline instead of abled. As a side note, if you ever use
evasion scenario, other factors fear. a cell phone in an evasion scenario, be
also come into play. sure to remove the battery after using
Proper Escape and Evasion (E&E) NOISE DISCIPLINE the phone. Technology is now available
should be thought of as a package of Noise discipline means total silence! to track some phones even if they are
skills instead of a singular technique, Before moving, always secure any loose turned off. The only reasonable amount
since you may not know all the resourc- item on your person or pack. After se- of security is to remove the battery.
es a threat could employ (tracking dogs, curing it, jump up and down and if “Talk and Toss” disposable cell
air surveillance, night vision, thermal anything makes any sound, secure it phones offer a little more security,
imaging, spy network, etc.). again. Get rid of all Velcro, or tape it up. since they are not registered to you, but
Human nature is to run away from There’s no better giveaway than trying consider them one-time-use phones,
a threat as fast as possible, but keep in to move silently through brush only to remove the battery, and toss them when
mind that simply sprinting without get a piece of Velcro snagged and hear you’re finished with your call.
planning may make you an easier target that unique ripping sound.
to apprehend. If you ever watch the TV If possible, always move during bad LIGHT DISCIPLINE
show COPS, it’s pretty obvious that the weather so the rain, thunder, snow or Avoid using any light source unless
panicked runners always get caught. wind will mask your noise. You should absolutely necessary. This means no
It’s always best to prepare for the worst also utilize unnatural noises such as smoking. Be aware of any electronic de-
20 S.W.A.T. » FEBRUARY 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
22 S.W.A.T. » FEBRUARY 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
the locals as much as possible. Look are watching for threats. Make sure dition the owners and authorities to a
like you belong there and use crowds to to mentally map your escape route by false alarm, making it easier for you to
your advantage. Act casual, don’t run exploring it both in the daylight and gain access.
or appear frantic. Avoid groups of chil- at night. Block all the doors and make If you have to steal a vehicle, older
dren, since they are quicker to recognize sure the window is a good escape route. cars are easier to hotwire than newer
a stranger than adults are. Memorize where the stairs and eleva- ones. In fact, some of the mid-1990s GM
If you reach an urban area after an tors are, as well as any utility rooms or products are amazingly simple to drive
evasion through open ground, try to ceiling areas that may aid you. off with minimal tools. If you do acquire
change clothing and clean up as soon If you sleep, do so with your clothes a vehicle, disable all interior lights by
as it is safe to do so. Dress down and and shoes on and all gear packed and pulling the fuses as soon as it is safe to
remove any signs of who you are. Be ready to move at a moment’s notice. do so. You never know when you may
aware of local curfews and habits (for Again, if you have to use a cell phone, have to crawl back into your car under
example, prayer times in Muslim coun- use a throwaway phone or steal one and cover of darkness, and dome or dash
tries). Do your best to hide E&E tools on discard it after use. If you think you are lights are nothing more than signaling
your body in case you are recaptured. being followed, use your surroundings, beacons!
Avoid overeating or appearing to be such as windows and mirrors, to your Perhaps one of the best evasion tac-
too hungry. Stay away from markets, as advantage. If you have to evade, don’t tics is to study and memorize an area of
they are typically one of the first places forget about the underground of large operation before ever setting foot in the
pursuers will place “pavement artists” cities. Drainage systems can often be place. Knowing the geographic lay of
(watchers whose only goal is to iden- used to move about undetected. the land or a city layout can be a crucial
tify and relay information on the person component to successful evasive tactics,
being sought). With that said, markets LAST RESORTS although in many kidnap situations,
during closed hours are a good place to You should only resort to stealing, this may not be possible.
source thrown-away food and tools. burglary and/or bribing as last resorts. In the end, circumstances will always
If you choose to stay in a hotel, try to If you have to break into a place, test the dictate the required actions, but the
get a room on the second floor (known alarm systems before attempting entry. ideal evasion tactics are to remain low-
in some countries as the first
CB_HP_SwatMag.pdf 1 floor). It
10/28/10 Repeated
4:52 PM tripping of an alarm, then key and calm while cautiously moving
will buy you some escape time if you waiting in a safe area, will often con- toward freedom. £
CM
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24 S.W.A.T. » FEBRUARY 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
Surgical tape is the
perfect tool for
concealing items on your body.
Simply keep a piece in your kit
folded back on itself, and in a
hurry it can be deployed with
the tools already in place to
stick to your body.
Escape & Evasion (E&E) tools have been around as long will probably be the most valued asset of
a compact E&E kit. Not only can they be
as man has existed, with numerous stories about them
used to escape restraints, but most im-
being told and passed down through the ages. portantly, they can also be used to make
or acquire other tools. Dog Tag knives,
I
n the year 1716, 26-year-old Lord on, in this article I’m going to focus on razor blades, wire saws, hacksaw blades,
Nithsdale escaped live disembow- small, body-concealable tools that may diamond wire, Kevlar cord and specially
elment (and certain death) using aid in a person’s escape or evasion from designed mini knives pretty much cover
trickery and tools to flee the Tower of hostile forces. In many cases, these are the gambit of what’s readily available.
London, where he was being held cap- not highly specialized tools designed Some of these cutting tools are avail-
tive. In the first half of the 20th century, solely for the purpose of E&E. In fact, able in non-magnetic ceramic, Titanium
the legendary Henri Charrière (Papil- some of the best tools are everyday and plastic to avoid detection with metal
lon) succeeded in escaping from the in- items fashioned to fit the purpose. With detectors, thus making the art of con-
famous French penal colony in Guiana. that said, it should be noted that the cealing them on the body much easier.
More recently, Scott O’Grady, a United tools/techniques discussed here are for (A March 2009 Washington Regional
States Air Force pilot, evaded capture defeating unlawful detention, such as Threat and Analysis Center Law En-
and was eventually rescued after being kidnapping or hostage situations. Con- forcement Report stated that Dog Tag
shot down over Bosnia in 1995. cealing a knife, handcuff key or other knives and non-metallic Zytel knives
What all these men have in common is escape devices is prohibited by law in were potential threats due to their abil-
that they applied tools, techniques and many jurisdictions. ity to defeat screening equipment.)
skills to escape with their lives. While cutting tools get the most atten-
While E&E tools can encompass just CUTTING TOOLS tion when it comes to survival, keep in
about anything you can get your hands For most applications, cutting tools mind that Escape & Evasion can encom-
20 S.W.A.T. » MARCH 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
22 S.W.A.T. » MARCH 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM
AGAINST ALL ODDS
In most cases, the initial contact with the over to personnel whose business is to If you work or travel in hostile envi-
“enemy” will be with the least quali- handle prisoners, your shoes and cloth- ronments, Escape & Evasion planning
fied personnel in the chain of authority ing will probably be removed and you should become a regular part of your
looking for you. Their only mission is to may only be left with your pants—if routine, since your M4 may not be the
detain you and pass you up the line, so you’re lucky. Always plan for these only tool that keeps you alive. Take a
the faster you can break contact and flee, scenarios in advance, even if it means little extra time to conceal items on your
the more likely you are to succeed. taping small escape tools to the genital body and clothing, practice using them,
This is when proper planning and area before going on a mission. (Laugh and keep a survivor’s mindset.
concealment of escape tools in shoes at that suggestion if you will, but it’s the These actions might just keep your
and clothing work best. Once you arrive least likely place to be searched by many severed head from showing up on the
at a more secure facility and are turned violent extremists.) Internet. £
24 S.W.A.T. » MARCH 2011 Copyrighted Material: Reprinted by Permission of SWAT Magazine SWATMAG.COM