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Faith in training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A pilot is forced to eject, it is a crash landing or their aircraft has been shot down. They are over the open ocean or in enemy territory. For an air crew member, it is one of the worst-case scenarios.

In the middle of the ocean or the wilderness of a combat zone, it is up to the crew to survive on their own. Until help arrives, they must rely on their training: the training to survive in a one-man raft, the training to avoid being taken captive by enemy forces. The training that Staff Sgt. Anthony J. Barrette, 5th Operations Support Squadron operations and training NCO, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, hopes no one ever needs to use.

Barrette, one of only two SERE instructors on base, teaches Code of Conduct Continuation Training, a survival course required for pilots and aircrews every three years.

"Aircrews are in higher risk of being isolated in a number of different places, whether it's combat or non-combat," Barrette said. "Our training is designed to give the skills and knowledge to survive regardless of the situation."

The most recent class to pass through SERE's curriculum underwent both basic water survival and combat survival training, Barrette explained. So, donning full flight suits, parachutes, and life vests, Barrette and the aircrews took to the base pool.

Exercising scenarios where the crew landed over open water, they were taught how to deploy their life raft, survive in it and find sustenance. They also learned how to react in a situation where their parachute has landed over them or inflated and is dragging them through the water.

"We teach them not to panic, regardless of what's going on," Barrette said. "They've been trained on how to handle this."

The second portion of training, combat survival, takes place approximately 50 miles south of Minot. In this secluded prairie, the aircrews and instructors operated the scenario of landing in enemy territory and evading capture. All the while, they trained with the mindset that their worst day as an evader is better than their best day as a captive.

The crews were taught the basics of evasion: navigation, and how to navigate while evading; how to collect food and water; how to properly camouflage; how to build a small shelter and how to build a fire without being seen, Barrette explained.

"Them having this training gives them peace of mind while they're flying and doing their mission," Barrette said. "If something were to happen where they end up on the ground, they know they've been trained on how to survive."

For Barrette, his 12 years of experience in SERE has made this training second nature to him. Aircrew after aircrew, course after course, he passes his knowledge on to each student with both parties understanding the possible reality of each exercise.

"We're sending people over to hostile environments, and there is always the possibility that they'll be shot down. They need to know what to do so they can come home," Barrette said. "The ultimate goal of anyone who hits the ground is to come home."