Saving lives by ensuring survival
April. 11, 2003
By Airman 1st. Class Abby Young
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan - From performing inspections on critical life-sustaining equipment such as night vision goggles and aircraft-installed survival kits, to teaching pilots how to evade capture and survive if they ever must eject from their aircraft is what makes these airmen truly an Air Force asset.
Even though life support sections are usually small, the crews are required to maintain a multitude of various programs. Having to master this broad scope of skills calls for each airman to be, more or less, a "Jack-of-all-Trades," said Master Sgt. William Ryan, 35th FW Aircrew Life Support superintendent.
With pilots flying practice and real world missions every day, it's important for them to know how to survive and have the equipment to do so. Laziness or overlooking things could result in the injury or death of a pilot. Misawa's life support team has one survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist who ensures pilots stay safe when reaching the ground after an ejection.
"My job is to teach the pilots what to do after they pull the ejection handle," said Tech. Sgt. Tim Foster, SERE specialist.
Technical Sgt. Foster trains pilots how to survive in water and on land, how to keep themselves alive, and how to signal their position to other aircraft. In short, he teaches them how to survive and be rescued.
The 15-man team is divided into three sections belonging to the 13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons and the wing crew. By all three sections working together, they recently won Pacific Air Forces Life Support Unit of the Year for the second year in a row.
With solidarity, an outstanding work ethic and a year's worth of hard work to their credit, these technicians proved they're some of the best in the business.
"Life support is just a part of the many units that come together to make flying operations happen," said Master Sgt. Ryan. "It is, however, very gratifying to see the individuals' hard work pay off with an award like this, especially two years in a row."
It takes exceptional people to make an extraordinary team. Tech. Sgt. Foster was awarded PACAF SERE Specialist of the Year as well as promoted to technical sergeant through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program.
"I am honored," said Tech. Sgt. Foster. "All the SERE specialists in the command are hard workers and top performers and I'm proud to be a part of the team."
Holding others' lives in your hand is a big responsibility, but, as proven by their award-winning streak, these airmen do it with precision and expertise. (PACAFNS)
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