Combat survival training essential to aircrew mission Published Oct. 21, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Nick Wilson 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Not everything goes as planned. Especially in the seat of a fighter jet like the F-16 Fighting Falcon. A pilot may have to eject because of an aircraft failure or because enemy missiles are bearing down on him. Either way, the actions a pilot takes once on the ground in a hostile environment can mean the difference between life and death. This is why it's important for all 52nd Fighter Wing pilots and crew are required to attend Combat Survival Training. CST is a two-day program where aircrews receive refresher training on skills learned during their 19-day survival, evasion, resistance and escape training at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. "Here at the unit level we provide refresher training just to keep them razor sharp when it comes to meeting the basic needs outside of the jet," said Staff Sgt. Robert A. Martin, 52nd Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist. The first day consists of approximately four hours of academic training in the wing SERE building to refresh aircrew on how to meet their basic needs, such as finding food and water, taking care of medical injuries and traveling in diverse environments while staying hidden from the enemy. "[They] take all of [their] basic skills and then apply those to a combat setting where they are trying to not only meet their basic needs to stay alive, but also trying to stay hidden and avoid detection and capture by an adversary," Sergeant Martin explained. The CST instructors prepare and train pilots for as many scenarios as possible. Skills learned in the class include utilizing lifesaving skills and contacting recovery assets for rescue from a hostile environment. "Even here in Germany, I teach them how to survive in a jungle. So if they were deployed to the Philippines and they ended up having to eject out of their aircraft, they would know how to meet those basic needs in a jungle environment," Sergeant Martin said. After completing the first day of academic training - a prerequisite to the field training exercise - the students and instructors drive to Gerolstein Army Base, which is about 45 minutes north of Spangdahlem. The training range is used for German, 606th Air Control Squadron and 52nd Medical Group field training exercises. In order to provide the most relevant CST information to its students, the course's lesson plans and training instructions are constantly being updated. "In order for me to give the most current and the most relevant information to our high-risk guys, I have to go out and get what is currently being taught," Sergeant Martin said.