Training to survive

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Bradshaw
  • 114th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - --  Staff Sgt. Bo Martz, 175th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman,became the one to listen to as he led pilots of the South Dakota Air National Guard through Combat Survival Training here Jan. 6.

This Combat Survival Training is a mix of hands-on training and instructional briefings, much of which is held outside in the frigid South Dakota winter.  The purpose of this training is to give pilots the skills and knowledge needed to return home with honor if they are ever shot down.  They focus on how to overcome physical and psychological stress.

The course is based off of the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape training that all of the Aircrew Flight Equipment personnel in the unit go through at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. This type of instructional training duty is one of the behind-the-scenes tasks that Aircrew Flight Equipment personnel perform.

"All of the techniques that we instruct are essential means of surviving adverse situations." said Sgt. Martz.

"If any of our pilots find themselves in a survival situation, whether it is behind enemy lines or not, we teach them to never lose sight that as Air Force members, our guys are out there, always trying to find them.  Their job is basically to just stay put, keep their mind right and realize that help is on the way." Martz concludes.
 
The course can be summarized by saying that if one can maintain a positive attitude, take care of yourself, and not focus on the negative you can survive.