Mother Nature challenges 445th Airmen during Water Survival

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  More than 45 Airmen from the 89th Airlift Squadron and the 445th Operational Support Squadron traveled to Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., to participate in an intense, hands-on water survival refresher course March 11 and 12.

The course was offered for the first time last year. It proved to be so successful that the training was offered again in Florida.

"This year's training was very realistic for the aircrew and provided them with a very real-world situation. The winds were strong this time, causing the water to be very choppy, which presented a very good situation for what one could expect if they had to ditch in un-calm waters," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Knouse, 445th OSS, aircrew flight equipment technician.

Over the two-day period, four groups of students went through the training. Two groups trained the first day and two groups trained the second day. Each day while the first group was in the water, the second group was going through land navigation training. Later in the day, the groups switched. The same sequence was repeated the second day for the other two groups.

During the water survival portion of the training, the group of students received a safety briefing before boarding the rafts. Some of the training the students learned while on the rafts included; raft care and maintenance, food and water procurement, first aid, protecting oneself from the outside elements, and signaling for help. The last part of the scenario in the raft involved a Navy helicopter from the NAS using a hoist to pull up each member and return them safely to land.

While the one group was in the water, another group participated in land survival in the woods. They received a land safety briefing then practiced and reviewed signaling devices, such as using a whistle, strobe light and signal mirror. At the end of the lesson the group practiced flare firing.

One reservist participating in this year's training felt it was very realistic and feels what he learned from the class can help him in the future if he's put in such a situation.

"This training was very beneficial and unlike any training I've ever had before. I now feel confident in aiding others if I'm ever faced with this type of situation," Senior Airman Aaron Davenport, 445th OSS said.