August 30, 2007:
The U.S. Air Force is increasing
the number of airmen taking SERE (survival, evasion, resistance and escape)
training. The two week course is normally given to all flight crewmen, to
enhance their chances of escaping capture, and being rescued, if they are ever
shot down and land in hostile territory. About 6,500 air force personnel
currently take SERE course each year. But now, with thousands of air force
personnel on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, and subject to capture, the
SERE course is going to be given to these troops as well.
About half the SERE training is in the classroom,
which includes coaching on how to resist interrogation and torture. The rest of
the training is in the field, where practical field craft is demonstrated and
practiced. This includes proven techniques for dealing with torture, and other
bad things than can happen if you are captured by Islamic terrorists.
The expanded SERE program will probably mean that
at least 10,000 airmen a year will take the course.