Making a Splash: Aircrews refresh survival skills with Alabama wetdown

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Eric Sharman
  • 908th Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  An AC-130 gunship, with seven souls on board, is no longer viable.

Over the Gulf of Mexico, hundreds of miles from any airfield, the aircraft is going down. With only a personal life raft on them and a 20-man raft they must swim to reach, the aircrew has to know how to outlast the ocean until they are plucked from the sea.

Whatever mission they had before, there is now only one, survive.

A harrowing situation, but one the Airmen of the 357th Airlift Squadron trained for during a joint exercise here, July 11. The biannual training, which took place at the Maxwell entrance to the Alabama River, was a joint endeavor between the 908th, Montgomery Police and Fire Departments, and the aviation division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Led by 908th SERE instructor Staff Sgt. Cody Speckman, the training covered several disciplines of water survival, the first of which was how to operate the personal survival equipment they carry, and that which is carried aboard the aircraft.

The training began with aircrew members entering the water with life vests, and mounting the personal life rafts. The personal life raft is a key piece of equipment stored on the aircrew survival vest, and is large enough to support one person.

After demonstrating capability with the personal life raft, the crews simulated escaping from under a parachute - in the water. A training rig of a parachute, held in a spread-out position with PVC piping, was placed in the river. The Airmen had to navigate their way out from under it.

"This training aid teaches you how to get out from under a chute when it lands on top of you," Speckman said. "You have to navigate your way out of that situation very carefully, or you could get tangled up in the parachute cords. That is not a situation you want to be in."

Another situation was simulated in which the Airman lands in the water, and is dragged though the water by the parachute. This was done by dragging the aircrew members through the water from the back of a patrol boat.

This training method creates a realistic environment for the air crew.

"Very realistic," said Technical Sgt. Justin Nettles. "We've gotten briefings from people who have had to use these skills, and our SERE guys got it just right."

Aside from getting wet while fully clothed, and trying to swim in shoes, the least comfortable part of the training was boarding the 20-man life raft, according to Nettles. "It's supposed to be able to fit 20 people in it, but it is tight. The lack of space would make it stressful," he said.

The 20-man raft is used as a more stable rescue platform than the individual version. It provides greater visibility, and some protection from the elements.

After the rafts, and drags, and chutes, the rescue portion of the training got underway. Aircrew members were hoisted out of the river by helicopter and deposited on dry land. These extractions were accomplished by state troopers of the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Also providing support was the Montgomery Fire Department.

"The training we have this weekend meets not only requirements for our aircrew members, but also helps the Montgomery Police and Fire Departments and the Alabama Troopers with their training and proficiency," Speckman said.

"We really appreciate their support and enjoy working with other professionals," Speckman added.