REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio - Pilots and aircrew with the 121st Air Refueling Wing participated in Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape water survival training May 7.
Every three years, pilots and aircrew go through SERE water survival training to familiarize themselves with the different equipment and to prepare for the possibility of evacuating aircraft in the water.
“This is a refresher training for us in case we have to abandon the aircraft in the ocean or we find ourselves separated from the rest of the group,” said Tech. Sgt. Krista Guillotte, a boom operator with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard. “It’s important for us to practice these steps in a safe environment so that in a real-world situation, we are ready for whatever comes our way. We all want to make it home to our families.”
Training began with classroom instruction on how to use survival equipment. After the classroom portion, training moved to the pool at the Harcum Fitness and Aquatic Center, where Airmen received hands-on instruction with a 20-person raft and canopy. These tools helped them discuss and practice proper responses for different emergencies.
“This experience and just the teamwork involved is so great,” said Guillotte. “Working together in this kind of capacity is a little different, but it helps us grow as a team and improves our readiness for the mission at hand.”