Non-aircrew personnel assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing conquered the survival, evasion, resistance and escape Water Survival Course at East Coast College, May 4, 2018.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Through tumultuous wind and rain on a simulated sea, 18 Airmen pulled together to survive a realistic aircraft crash training scenario. The training, typically reserved for aircrew, provided the Airmen a glimpse into scenarios flight personnel must be able to navigate to ensure survival.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all play our part to support the warfighter,\u201d said Tech. Sgt. Derek Owens, 48th Operations Support Squadron SERE NCO in-charge. \u201cToday Airmen across the wing had an opportunity to experience a portion on how 48th Operations Group provides some of that support by receiving the same water survival training that SERE provides our aircrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the height of the course, the trainees faced the \u201cperfect storm\u201d scenario where their life rafts faced simulated 30-knot roaring winds, overwhelming rain, and four- to six-foot waves in pitch-black conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t really sure what to expect, but it was awesome,\u201d said Staff Sgt. Gaebriel Diaz, 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance technician. \u201cI recommend everyone experience it at least once. It can even help you in day-to-day situations like if your commercial plane goes down. This training could help you survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

The participants also learned how to escape being trapped under a canopy, release their harness while being dragged by the wind, mount their one- and 20-man life rafts, and use several different types of survival gear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are just trying to teach them different tactics, techniques and procedures that we teach to our aircrew to plan for the worst case scenario,\u201d said Staff Sgt. Derreck Day, 48th OSS SERE specialist. \u201cIf for some reason aircrew have to punch out and are exposed to this type of environment, then they need to be able to survive if not thrive and return with honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

To maintain their certification, aircrew must pass Water Survival Training every three years. The SERE technicians host the course 12 times a year and are hoping to hold classes for non-aircrew members two or three times a year, according to Day.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\/\/ENDS\/\/<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Article extracted from DVIDS.<\/a><\/div>\n

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For more battlefield airmen stories such as this, click HERE.<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LOWESTOFT, SFK, UNITED KINGDOM 05.11.2018 Story by\u00a0Staff Sgt. Alex Echols\u00a0 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs\u00a0\u00a0 Non-aircrew personnel assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing conquered the survival, evasion, resistance and escape Water Survival Course at East Coast College, May 4, 2018. Through tumultuous wind and rain on a simulated sea, 18 Airmen pulled together to survive …<\/p>\n

LOWESTOFT, SFK, UNITED KINGDOM<\/h3>\n

05.11.2018<\/h3>\n

Story by\u00a0Staff Sgt. Alex Echols<\/a>

48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs<\/a>\u00a0