Special Forces Use of Pack Animals

By Darrick A Kouns and U.S. Department of the Army

Field manual (FM) 3-05.213 is a guide for Special Forces (SF) personnel to use when conducting training or combat situations using pack animals. It is not a substitute for training with pack animals in the field. This manual provides the techniques of animal pack transport and for organizing and operating pack animal units. It captures some of the expertise and techniques that have beenlost in the United States (U.S.) Army over the last 50 years. Care, feeding, and veterinary medicine constitute a considerable portion of the manual; however, this material is not intended as a substitute for veterinary expertise nor will itmake a veterinarian out of the reader. SF personnel must have a basic knowledgeof anatomy and physiology, common injuries, diseases (particularly of the feet), feeding, watering, and packing loads to properly care for the animals and to avoid abusing them from overloading or overworking.Though many types of beasts of burden may be used for pack transportation, this manual focuses on horses, mules, donkeys, and a few other animals. One cannot learn how to pack an animal by reading; there is no substitute for having a horse or mule while practicing how to load a packsaddle for military operations.However, the manual is useful for anyone going into an environment where these skills are applicable.The most common measurements used in pack animal operations are expressed throughout the text and in many cases are U.S. standard terms rather than metric. Appendix A consists of conversion tables that may be used when missionrequirements or environments change.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1499677049
• ISBN13: 9781499677041
• Release Date: June 2014
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"