Photo By Maj. Elias Zani | Tech. Sgt. Matthew Voss, a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialist...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD, Iraq - Survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists recently deployed here to assist in improving and teaching a SERE course for the Iraqi Security Forces.
The new curriculum builds upon an existing Iraqi course in which officers from across the Iraqi Security Forces received training from experienced U.S. Air Force special operators.
“We were here to give Iraqi pilot and navigator students the baseline skills to meet their basic needs in order to survive and be recovered by friendly forces,” said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Voss, a SERE specialist assigned to the 609th Combined Air Operations Center, Joint Personnel Recovery Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
By coming to Iraq to develop this course, the SERE specialists were able to build critical relationships and identify which skills were most needed in order to create an Iraqi-customized course.
“The Iraqis had a course developed, but they were looking at ways to improve,” explained Voss. “Since the 770th [Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron] does not have an in-house SERE specialist, and they identified a gap where they could use one, we saw that we could support the Iraqis and air advisors by arriving on site.”
Twelve Iraqi troops attended the 24-day course.
“I hoped to learn first aid coming into the class,” explained one of the Iraqi SERE students. “I learned that and a lot more from the course. If I’m lost somewhere I now believe I can work within my surroundings to survive and my team will find me.”
During the course, instructors identified areas in which students could improve, and focused on those skills.
“They already had an understanding of basic survival, drinking water, eating food, getting out of the sun. But navigation is such a crucial aspect of what we teach,” said Voss. “People need to know that I’m here and I need to get to where I can be recovered.”
Students will now return to their home station with an improved knowledge of how to survive, and more importantly be recovered, in the unlikely case of an aircraft mishap.
“The students saw they needed to get better at GPS and using a map and compass. It's such a key aspect that is easy to learn, but very hard to master,” Voss said.
As the SERE specialists return to their deployed location from this forward operating assignment, they are certain they have made a lasting impact in the work they’ve done.
“Hopefully I do not have to use this training, but if I’m lost and my aircraft crashes, I can survive,” explained the student. “Then I can give something for my command to find me like a point or position on GPS.”
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2019 03:35 |
| Story ID: | 322120 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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