SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Aaron
Sanders spends his days teaching students information he hopes they never
need to use. But he wants them to learn the material well, just in case.
As a Survival, 3vasion, 4esistance and 3scape
specialist deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air
Base, Qatar, Airman Sanders travels to bases throughout the U.S. Central
Command area of responsibility to brief high risk of capture training to
deployed Airmen.
Airman Sanders' classes in theater are a
concentrated version of the combat survival course he teaches at Fairchild
Air Force Base, Wash.
"High risk of capture training gives our war
fighters specific guidance on what to do if they are unable to complete
their mission and have to bail out, ditch or eject," Airman Sanders
said. He teaches HRC training to aircrew members unable to receive it
before they arrive in theater.
"Hopefully, they will never have to use any of
the information we give them, but in the event they do, they will have the
confidence to revert back to the procedures we relay to them and affect
their own rescue."
Airman Sanders briefs theater-specific threats to
his students, who are mainly aircrew members and other Airmen whose
missions require them to frequently travel on military aircraft.
"They realize they are here for a reason, to
fight a war, and this training seems to mean a lot more to them since they
know they will be flying over hostile territory, often on the same day
they receive this training," Airman Sanders said.
His students' knowledge of the threat level varies,
as does their basic survival skills -- experience levels range from
aircrew members who went through combat survival training to others who
are hearing survival information for the first time.
Airman Sanders keeps the lessons simple. He teaches
students the essentials of surviving in the elements, including what foods
are edible - all grasses and reptiles - and what foods are not.
The 22-year-old instructor takes into account the
reality of individuals' differences; he asked a recent class at Manas Air
Base, Kyrgyzstan, how many of them would become sick if they ate an
insect. "Make the decision," he told them. "If you taste
it, and it's just heinous, you might want to spit it out."
Airman Sanders also warns his students of dangerous
wildlife.
"There is some wildlife that can harm you out
here. Getting complacent and not exercising good situational awareness in
all situations can prove fatal," he said, pointing out that Airmen
could encounter poisonous and disease-carrying insects.
While downed Airmen are searching for food and
water, Airman Sanders said they also need to focus on avoiding
adversaries.
But -- in case they meet friendly local nationals,
he also teaches his students Iraqi and Afghan cultural tips.
Airman Sanders said he takes pride in briefing
information that may increase Airmen's chances of survival.
"He's not comfortable with you walking away
saying 'Yeah, I know that.' He's one of those instructors who wants to
make sure you understand and are able to apply it," said 1st Lt.
Erick Turasz, a KC-135 pilot with the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling
Squadron and former student of Airman Sanders.
Airman Sanders uses his HRC briefings to fight
complacency among Airmen, encouraging them to always be prepared for
worst-case scenarios. He suggests Airmen always carry a simple survival
pack when flying over hostile areas.
Airman Sanders also emphasizes to students that most
survival situations are unique.
"Although we include many concepts in this
training, we let them know that there is not always a golden answer for
what to do in every situation," he said. "What may work in one
situation could very well be the worst thing you can do in another."
Airman Sanders himself went through survival
training to be a SERE instructor, training in terrains ranging from open
ocean to the artic, and from desert to forest climates.
As a SERE specialist teaching students at Fairchild
or at deployed locations, Airman Sanders has the same goal for all his
students.