I just stumbled onto this thread, and wanted to comment on tidefan's post above...I have only limited knowledge about the subject, but with the little I know, what he has said here is very good point. My son is an active duty Marine, who is going through SERE school as I type this. They are provided some issued equipment, as well a list of recommended items, they might want to provide for themselves. A knife/multitool is one of the items they provide for themselves. My son has a nice selection of knives to choose from, but the SERE school scenarios they learn in the classroom, before entering the field dictated his choice more than anything. As tidefan commented, much of the training is geared toward evasion, but also on being captured, and having them going through interrogation techniques, and looking for escape opportunities. It seems that getting caught is as much a part of the training as evasion and resistance, because they want them to learn how to properly handle the various ways they may be interrogated. As such, it's not like they are on a camping trip out in the bush, where they will use a knife as might your typical survivalist, or bushcrafter, or even someone who might in reality end up in an actual SERE situation. Also, they were told that they should expect to not have captured items returned, and so they might not want their best knife being lost after school. Also, as tidefan commented, with all that is going on, and the limited time frame involved, it's not as if they are going to be out there for an extended period of time utilizing their knife indefinitely. As such, I'm thinking the chosen knife needs to meet some basic criteria, sturdy and useful enough to get them through the training, but not so costly that they mind leaving behind in this training scenario. I would choose accordingly. Most are going to the MCX and choosing cost effective knives with the above in mind. Whether they will come to regret that decision, or not, remains to be seen.
Edit to add: If he and his knife get through this okay, I'll let you all know what knife he chose...you might get a kick out of his decision. If he finds out he made a bad choice, I'll let you know that too.