AFIT school conducts search, recovery exercise Published Oct. 5, 2006 By Kim Curry Air Force Institute of Technology Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The Air Force Institute of Technology's Civil Engineer and Services School here took its educational mission beyond classroom walls as students participated in a search and recovery exercise the last week of September. The goal of the exercise was for students in the School's Mortuary Affairs Course to execute a search and recovery at a simulated aircraft crash site. "What we look for as instructors are for students to assess the scene and identify the manpower, type of equipment, and search patterns they will need to conduct the recovery and for them to demonstrate proper procedures for conducting both the search phase and recovery phase of the operation," said Capt. Tim Short, course director. Immediately before the exercise, the students participated in a block of instruction where they learned about all the different aspects of a search and recovery including equipment, manning, search patterns, safety issues and logistical issues. Students were then told of the simulated aircraft crash and that they would conduct the search and recovery. One student was assigned as the mortuary officer and two other students were assigned as the team leads; one for search and one for recovery. The students then planned how they would execute their search and recovery with the people and equipment they had available. The mortuary officer and team leaders assigned the remainder of the roles to the other students before going out to conduct the recovery. The school's services faculty set up a realistic crash scene, including aircraft parts and personal effects. Faculty members played each of the key base leadership roles at the crash site. When the team arrived, the mortuary officer received a site orientation and the recovery began. Once the students demonstrated the ability to conduct the roles they were given, the instructors paused the exercise and reassigned the roles, giving each student the opportunity to experience duties on both the search team and recovery team. The exercise continued to be played out later that week, as students briefed the person authorized to direct disposition, commonly known as the next of kin, on their funeral and burial entitlements as they prepared to lay their loved ones to rest. According to Captain Short, the role of mortuary officer is "the most important and sensitive job a services officer will perform, and search and recovery is a big part of that. Search and rescue is something that must be done with the utmost care as we recover deceased members with the dignity and respect they deserve. Ensuring our mortuary officers are prepared to do this is a big part of this course." The one-week course is offered as a stand-alone course twice annually in conjunction with the school's services leadership course, so new services squadron commanders and directors can take both courses on the same TDY. The course is also offered for new accessions into the services career field as it is embedded into the school's initial skills course. Between the two variations, the course is usually offered four or five times annually.