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AMC Airman provides last-chance survival training

  • Published
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.