133rd Aircrew refresh in the St. Croix River

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amber Monio
  • 133rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Hastings, Minn. --  More than 60 members from the 133rd Airlift Wing's 109th Airlift Squadron and the 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron out of Saint Paul, Minn. conducted aircrew survival training on June 11, 2011 at Afton State Park in Afton, Minn.

Aircrew members receive refresher training every three years to stay proficient with the various survival, evasion, resistance and escape equipment and techniques taught during SERE school and are also given an opportunity to review the skills and knowledge previously acquired during a separate water survival course as part of their initial air crew qualification.

While in Afton the 109th members were instructed on search and rescue tactics, how to form an evasion plan of action, emergency parachute and hanging harness scenarios, survival radio operations, and land navigation skills using both compass and GPS devices.

To conclude the day's training the Airmen carried out water survival training on the St. Croix River where they utilized life-saving equipment such as a single-person life raft, a 20-person life raft and Life Preserver Units, the individual flotation devices used by aircrew personnel.