Survival Shelters Taught in SERE — What Are They?

Shelter Fundamentals

In SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training, shelters are critical for protecting military personnel from harsh weather conditions and potential enemy detection. Students learn to construct three main types of shelters: the Lean-To, the Debris Hut, and the Snow Hut. These structures are designed to be fast, durable, and concealable.

Lean-To Shelter Construction

The Lean-To shelter is a simple, quick-to-build structure that can be created using a single tree or a group of trees as support. To build a Lean-To, students learn to gather a minimum of 6-8 poles (2-3 inches in diameter and 8-10 feet long), 6-8 horizontal branches (2-3 inches in diameter and 4-6 feet long), and 12-15 lean-to poles (1-2 inches in diameter and 4-6 feet long). The structure is then covered with leaves, grasses, or other natural materials to provide protection from the elements.

Debris Hut and Snow Hut Construction

The Debris Hut is a more complex shelter that requires more materials, typically gathering 60-80 poles (2-3 inches in diameter and 8-10 feet long), 30-40 horizontal branches (2-3 inches in diameter and 4-6 feet long), and 20-30 lean-to poles (1-2 inches in diameter and 4-6 feet long). The structure is then covered with a thatched roof. In snowy environments, students learn to construct the Snow Hut, a dome-shaped shelter that requires 12-18 snowblocks (each approximately 6 inches thick and 12 inches square) to build. The Snow Hut provides excellent insulation and protection from wind and cold temperatures.