AboutJames Bell Expertise I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations.
NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.
Experience Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager
I was wondering if you could shed some light in what all is involved with SERE training. My son is currently at lackland for BMT training, and graduates in late July. I think he will be ok at his tech schools, but I'm a little worried about SERE...
Answer Ray -
Survival-Evasion-Resistance-Escape Training covers a variety of courses including Combat Survival, Water Survival and Resistance training. I can't speak for the specific itinerary of the current program, as I attended many years ago, and I retired in 2004. Some aspects of the program are classified.
I could give you a slew of website, but if you go to Google and type in "SERE Training Air Force" I think you will get a good number of hits that can paint an accurate picture for you. There is a YouTube video that covers the essentials that is pretty good, along with several other sites (realize that the video covers the instructors, and is much more demanding than the typical student covers during their two-week class).
There are some informational handouts you can view at ...
www.specialtactics.com/SV80Handout.pdf
www.specialtactics.com/SV80Equipment.pdf
Yes, this course is demanding, and he may find it will require much more of him than the academic classes of his specialty. But, once he is done with the training, he will find himself with a much greater level of confidence in everything he does.
