U.S. Media Reveals: How the U.S. Military Trains for Survival Behind Enemy Lines?

According to a report by Reference News on April 8, the U.S. elite military pilots and special forces undergo high-intensity training to prepare for situations behind enemy lines. This training is known as "Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape" (SERE). The training is conducted in various ways across different branches of the U.S. military, with the Air Force placing particular emphasis on it.

Here are the four pillars of SERE:

"S": Survival

According to SERE principles, the primary task is survival. This includes prioritizing needs to minimize stress and energy expenditure.

Pilots typically eject from their aircraft when shot down and return to the ground via parachute. This involves a series of rapid, dizzying, and dangerous scenarios that present multiple physical and mental challenges beyond the battlefield.

The military teaches that the best approach is to use a mnemonic method, where several letters in the word "survival" represent related actions, such as "S" for situational awareness, which includes treating wounds and deciding how to hide; "V" for valuing life; and "L" for learning basic skills.

According to a video from the U.S. Air Force, SERE training exposes pilots to various harsh environments, from deserts to the Arctic. The video shows trainees jumping into water and parachuting from the air. They must collect drinking water from rivers, start fires by drilling wood, build shelters using palm leaves or ice blocks, and learn to cook cacti and beetles for sustenance.

"E": Evasion

"Survival and evasion are inseparable," says Jason Smith, the chief instructor at a SERE training facility in North Carolina and a retired Army Special Operations officer. He adds, "The core concept is not to get caught."

Each mission plan includes contingency rescue plans, which are agreed upon by pilots and base personnel before flight. Therefore, while evading the enemy, pilots must also execute a set of extraction strategies. Smith states that ideally, "he can position himself in the most favorable location for rescue."

One of the most famous applications of SERE may be Captain Scott O'Grady in 1995. At that time, his F-16C fighter jet was shot down during the Bosnian War, and he spent six days in hostile territory. O'Grady survived by eating ants, moving at night, and managed to establish contact with his base via radio signals.

"R": Resistance

If a downed pilot is discovered by the enemy, SERE training requires them to resist. However, there is no public information on what "resistance" specifically entails. Some clues suggest that pilots learn combat skills, carry small arms, and receive training on the rules of engagement in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Due to the sensitive nature of the content, Smith is reluctant to discuss the specific details of SERE training, but he indicates that the pilot rescued in Iran was well-trained. Smith states, "That pilot certainly received training in resistance and related areas."

During the Korean War, then-President Eisenhower issued an executive order establishing a code of conduct for military personnel facing the threat of capture, which included: "If captured, I will continue to resist by all means available."

Eisenhower's code of conduct stipulated that American prisoners of war would only provide their name, rank, date of birth, and service number to the enemy.

"E": Escape

According to a document from the U.S. Air Force, crew members must learn how to properly and effectively use flares, radios, and other devices to evade the enemy and achieve a safe escape.

The SERE program is headquartered at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State. In a video shot at the base, SERE instructor Michael Salvaggio states that the philosophy is "in case they (the pilots) are shot down, they can still get home safely."

In O'Grady's case, when a U.S. helicopter appeared, he used a smoke signal flare to mark his location, leading to his rescue.