Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots lay down smoke flares to signal the start of a combat survival skills training exercise at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. Pilots undergo SERE training to ensure they can evade adversaries and reach an extraction point undetected. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots navigate through the woods during a combat survival skills training exercise at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. The pilots underwent a SERE exercise in which they had to evade adversaries and reach an extraction point. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dalton Deboer, 35th Operations Group Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) specialist, chops wood for a fire during a fire building demonstration at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. Airmen participated in a SERE training exercise and learned skills essential to survival. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot prepares to ignite a smoke flare at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. Smoke flares were used to signal the beginning of a survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) training exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots try using different radio frequencies during combat survival skills training at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. The pilots used a radio to determine their extraction point while remaining undetected in a secluded area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot reviews a map during a combat survival skills training exercise at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. The exercise was designed to ensure pilots are capable and ready to survive undetected in hostile territory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

Training Pilots: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Training

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dalton Deboer, 35th Operations Group Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) specialist, briefs pilots before a combat survival skills training at Draughn Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2023. The pilots underwent a simulated SERE exercise in which they had to evade enemy combatants and reach an extraction point. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)

SERE: Combat Survival Skills Training

Published Dec. 14, 2023
By By Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --

35th Operations Group survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) specialists conduct a training exercise to ensure F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots are prepared to survive in hostile territory while evading enemy combatants. The pilots had to employ various survival skills such as building a fire, land navigation and self concealment.