A platform-agnostic buoyancy aid includes a bladder having a direction of inflation, an inflator coupled to the bladder and configured to fill the bladder with a gas in response to actuation by a trigger, a trigger connected to the inflator and configured to actuate the inflator in response to a tension applied to a ripcord, and a removable directional attachment rig holding the bladder, inflator and trigger, the removable directional attachment rig configured to attach the buoyancy aid to at least one of a wearer's backpack, clothing or harness such that the relative angle of the direction of inflation of the bladder to the wearer's centerline remains substantially constant.