Training at MacDill provides skills to survive

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  In the military, training can teach most things, but it can't teach the will to survive. That is something contained deep inside, said Staff Sgt. Patrick Ray, the NCO in charge of survival, evasion, resistance and escape training here.

SERE training is essential for military members who fly, or otherwise may find themselves in enemy territory, or in a survival situation. The 6th Air Mobility Wing SERE unit provides preservation training not only for Airmen, but all branches of the military here.

SERE specialists here teach five major courses, covering everything from desert, jungle and water survival, to evading capture and escape if captured. In cases of service members or units being deployed, specialized classes are focused on the nature and tactics of the enemy in the theater to which they are deploying.

Of all survival situations, perhaps none is more perilous than being stranded in the open ocean, Sergeant Ray said.

"You are limited to only the man-made materials you have," he said. "There is nothing in the environment you can use to help you survive; if it isn't on your body, you don't have it."

While desert survival is important in today's conflicts, jungle survival remains a focus, as service members must be prepared to deploy to any environment. Likewise, the SERE unit here must be ready to deploy anywhere and in a hurry.

SERE specialists are one-third of the Guardian Angel Weapons System that also includes pararescuemen and combat rescue officers.

When a service member is lost or captured, Sergeant Ray is equipped to respond to assist with the search, rescue and reintegration of the military member. These rescue missions are videotaped for analysis and possible inclusion in future SERE training classes.

"We are here," Sergeant Ray said. "We have a lot of capability and we're here for anyone who has a need for us."

While much of how a survival situation plays out is determined by the psychological makeup of the individual, having the skills and knowledge of how the military treats captured, or stranded members can make all the difference in the outcome of a bad situation, Sergeant Ray said.

"One of the most important things anyone needs to know is that the U.S. military does not give up until you are found," he said. "If you know and understand America's dedication to get you back, your will increases."