Five COMM Airmen first to attend SERE

Published March 8, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Ashley Coomes
319th Air Refueling Wing public affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A select team of five 319th Communications Squadron Airmen were the first of their kind to go through SERE training and deploy on a flying mission supporting airborne communications as part of team Viper. These five Airmen were selected by their squadron for this unique mission.

SERE stands for survival, evasion, resistance and escape. Because of the nature of the team's mission involving flying, they were required to attend the training.

"We need to know how to survive if the plane goes down. The training teaches you not to panic in emergency situations and survive with the least utilities," said Senior Airman Eric Raffler, a 319th CS Viper team member.

Viper provided non-secure and secure communications on C-17 and C-130 aircraft for the U.S. Central Command commander and other high profile distinguished visitors. The first Viper team was established in 2005. The Grand Forks AFB team members were five of 30 Airmen to be part of the team.

Because the team flew over the hostile territory, they received intel briefings before every mission.

"We didn't have to hear the mortars go off, just hearing the threat made us worry," said Senior Airman Havier Mitchell, 319th CS.

Their deployment was not free from threat though. The plane sometimes landed in unsecured areas, which had the threat of insurgents.

The crew was complete with ravens, (a security forces team for aircraft) who would get off the plane first to survey for insurgents and threats, according to Tech. Sgt. Bryan Doyea, 319th CS.

On one mission, the outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld flew with them.

"We escorted him on his farewell tour," said Staff Sgt. David Evans, who was a deployed Viper team member. "He traveled all around Iraq to thank the people he had worked with."

On several missions, they worked with the White House communications team, who used high tech, state-of-the-art equipment.

"It was like something out of a James Bond movie," said Airman Mitchell. "They brought brief cases like secret agents. It was a cool experience interacting with them."

The team has since returned home and resumed their normal duty.

"It's difficult not to tell everyone our experiences, especially the training we received in SERE. It was a mind-blowing experience that I am grateful to had," said Airman Mitchell.