Misawa SERE, JASDF rescue learn life-saving lessons

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kelly White
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Ensuring survival in wartime missions is something all military members train for and exercise regularly, and some Japan Air Self-Defense Force mission partners visited here July 22 and 23 to increase their understanding and ability to help Misawa pilots survive if they were shot down over the waters of Japan. 

The JASDF Chitose Rescue Squadron were guests of Misawa's Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape instructors for classroom and live crash simulations in Lake Ogawara. 

"It's great the Chitose Rescue Squadron was able to see our training and our gear," said Maj. Scott Jewell, 35th Operations Support Squadron SERE and Aircrew Flight Equipment commander. "...if one of our pilots goes down over water here, it will be these guys who come for them." 

It was Chitose Rescue Squadron members who pulled Col. Mike Lepper from the Sea of Japan on Nov. 13, 2000, after a midair collision near Hokkaido, and during the visit, Misawa SERE instructors and pilots learned some of their own survival tips as they heard the Chitose pararescuemen talk about that experience. 

One of the issues the rescue team in 2000 had that increased the time it took to recover the pilot was that, because they didn't know what gear the pilot used, they weren't sure how to recognize him, Maj. Jewell said. "But during the visit, they had a chance to become familiar with the equipment our pilots use." 

During the simulated pilot crash demonstration, pilots practiced swimming techniques to free themselves from their parachute to board a one- or seven-man raft. 

"The gear itself doesn't weigh that much, but when it's soaked with water it can be very difficult to swim in," said Maj. Jewell. 

Air Force pilots are required to have water survival training every three years, but at Misawa they train every year. 

One of the reasons Misawa pilots train more often is because of the cold water temperatures, said the major, adding that they train all pilots during the warmest months of the year. 

"The water is about 65 degrees right now, but in the winter it will get down to about 30 to 35 degrees," Major Jewell said. "We need to make sure our pilots get out of the water as soon as possible, because 10 months out of the year, the water temps here can kill them." 

This water survival training is great, said Capt. Brent Ritzke, 14th Fighter Squadron pilot. "The tactics and skills we leave with will greatly help our chances of survival if we are ever faced with an emergency." 

And the lessons learned by Misawa's SERE instructors and the Chitose Rescue Squadron may one day get that pilot to safety sooner, said Maj. Jewell.