REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio —
Pilots and aircrew with the 121st Air Refueling Wing participated in Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) water survival training at the Harcum Fitness and Aquatic Center in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, May 7, 2023. Every three years, pilots and certain aircrew go through SERE water survival training to familiarize themselves with the different types of equipment and to prepare for the possibility of evacuating the 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. “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 where Airmen were taught to use various types of survival equipment. After the classroom portion, training moved to the pool where they received hands-on instruction with a 20-man raft and canopy. These tools helped them to discuss and practice proper responses for a variety of different emergency situations.
“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.”
