SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

Airmen from Osan Air Base properly adjust their gear during a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. SERE specialists provide information on where the basic resources to survive are located on the raft; which include tools such as a pop-up shelter, fishing hook and signaling devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Torres, 51st Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape NCO in charge of training and operations, left, explains how to fasten a safety clip on a life preserver for Capt. Jeremy Krohngold, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. SERE specialists provide hands-on training experiences, such as activating signals, getting onto a raft and operating rescue equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Krohngold, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, jumps into a swimming pool during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. The parachute canopy fabric is permeable which allows the trainee to breath if it is pulled away from the face. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Krohngold, 36th Fighter Squadron pilot, follows a parachute canopy seam during a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. By following the seam of the downed parachute canopy and avoiding swimming with their legs, entanglement is almost eliminated in the event of a water landing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

Airmen from Osan Air Base learn how to climb into a one-man safety raft during a water survival training course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. The course teaches aircrew members valuable skills such as the basics of surviving an ocean environment, how to execute proper aircraft evacuation techniques, and identifying and assessing hazards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

Airmen from Osan Air Base swim during a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. SERE Augmentees play an integral part during the WST by readying and preparing the equipment, performing simulated rescues and parachute drags, and by helping pilots and weapon systems officers get the most out of the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Torres, 51st Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape NCO in charge of training and operations, middle right, teaches how to release a parachute to Staff Sgt. Vanessa Bradley, 51st Operational Group unit training manager, middle left, during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. The SERE refresher trainees learned how to effectively detach from a parachute during training that simulated being dragged through water by a parachute canopy that caught wind. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Vanessa Bradley, 51st Operational Group unit training manager, is hoisted up by a recovery strop during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Dec. 17, 2020. The water survival course consists of techniques such as how to release the aircrew from their parachute while being dragged, surviving in the water, and how to use the recovery tools. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Torres, 51st Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape NCO in charge of training and operations, right, explains the equipment associated with a one-man life raft to Staff Sgt. Vanessa Bradley, 51st Operational Group unit training manager, during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. In the event of an emergency the personal rafts allow victims to remove themselves from water to help avoid hypothermia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Torres, 51st Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape NCO in charge of training and operations, demonstrates how to climb a ladder to a fuselage in the air during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. Water survival training is a course that aircrew members and pilots must take in order to prepare for an open-water crash landing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Krohngold, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, climbs a ladder during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. Aircrew members must take a refresher course in water survival every three years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Krohngold, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, is dragged backwards during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. This portion of the training allows pilots to practice unhooking the parachute from the safety harness as they are dragged by the wind. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Torres, 51st Operational Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape NCO in charge of training and operations, left, teaches Capt. Jeremy Krohngold, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, tactical techniques, procedures and proper use of the recovery strop during a water survival refresher course at U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Dec. 17, 2020. The recovery strop is used to hoist the survivors onto a recovery helicopter, making it a vital component of water survival. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

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SERE: Water survival - preparing Airmen for open water

Published Dec. 22, 2020
By Senior Airman Branden Rae
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --