Minot aircrews are combat ready

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
SOMEWHERE IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS, N.D. --  Airmen trudged through the thick brush while mosquitoes and their annoying cousins attacked, all the while evading in order to survive here Aug. 25 and 26.

Aircrew members of the 54th Helicopter Squadron endured a two-day survival, evasion, resistance and escape refresher course. This course focused only on the evasion and survival portions of the course.

"This course is designed to ensure our guys are combat mission ready," said Staff Sgt. Brett Sipe, 5th Operations Support Squadron base SERE instructor. "Our focus is to assure our teams have the know-how and skills necessary to maintain their lives and honor and return safely home."

The course went over basic survival skills including: wilderness living, shelter construction, fire building, map and compass navigation, backpacking, food and water procurement, wilderness medicine and first aid, signaling and rescue techniques and escape and evasion.

"That's what's so great about our training -- it's hands-on," Sergeant Sipe said. "SERE is one of those things like insurance, you don't realize how important it is until you need it."

For many of the team members, several years have gone by since their initial training held at Fairchild AFB, Wash. The Air Force Survival School Combat Survival Training was established to provide aircrews and other designated personnel procedures and techniques in the use of equipment and employment of survival principles.

Only personnel designated as "high-risk-of-isolation" receive this Level-C training. Minot Airmen who receive this hands-on course are generally limited to aircrew members from both wings. All others are required to complete the annual Level-B online modules through the Air Force Portal.

Though all Airmen maintain safe, secure and effective daily operations, they're all warriors and must keep this mind set during survival and evasion situations.

"The Air Force has an entire career field dedicated to SERE," said Lt. Col. Jay Tewksbury, 54th HS commander. "The Air Force is the only branch which puts this much focus on this training."

"These guys are legit," added 1st Lt. Jordan Wiersch, 54th HS chief of training. "They dedicate their entire career to bringing us home."

Sergeant Sipe charged forward throughout the entire training to develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations to support the President of the United States and Combatant Commanders.

"You could label this course as a 'Code of Conduct Continuation Training,'" the sergeant said. "No matter where they deploy, whether it be stateside or overseas, they'll be ready."

"Thanks to this training, I feel confident in my skills," Lieutenant Wiersch added. "If there's a chance of getting back, I'm all for it and this training facilitates that chance."