SERE Organisation

[askdenmark]

I work in the Danish Airforce, and one of my responsibilities is to conduct SERE training for aircrew.
We are talking about changing the organisation regarding SERE and that’s why I would like to know, how this is organised in the RAF. Do they have SERE officers at Station or Wing level or is only at squadron level? All information about duties and responsibility within each level is also welcome.
ASK

[Bob Viking]

SERE

I can only speak with any authority on the fast jet world but I'll tell you what I know.
Each squadron has it's own SERE Officer (used to be called CSRO - Combat Survival and Rescue Officer) who is responsible, mainly, for maintaining currencies relating to survival aspects (ie dinghy drills, para drills etc) and training pilots on relevant details.
Each station will then also have a station SERE Officer who will oversee the whole thing.
Every pilot undergoes various survival courses throughout their training, the last of which involves Conduct After Capture training.
The whole thing is run by the RAF school of SERE training at RAF St Mawgan (not for much longer though!) which I'm sure you can find contact details for if you Google it!
Hope that helps.
BV

[3portdrift]

SERE

It's much the same set up as BV mentioned on the ME and RW units as well. SERE is run on a tri-service basis, and there is (or certainly was until recently) an SO2 SERE at Air Command, RAF High Wycombe who would be able to answer all you questions.

[spectre150]

I am sooo out of touch. I thought SERE was Specialist Entry and Re-Entry ie Officer training (lite) for chaplains, medics, dentist and the like. Pardon my ignorance but what does this new(er) SERE accronym stand for?

[PingDit]

Bob has it correct from your point of view. SERE is indeed at:

RAF St. Mawgan
Newquay
Cornwall
TR8 4HP

And will be there for some years to come!

Ping

[Mr-Burns]

Chaps,

Just a thought. I'm sure that Mr Denmark is genuine but dont you think his english and grammar are just a bit too perfect for a non-native speaker? - like a graduate from journalist school??. Lets be careful who we're talking too eh??

[3portdrift]

SERE

SERE = Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Extraction.

Mr Burns - If you'd worked much with the Danish, Norwegians or Swedes you'd probably have noticed that their command of the English language tends to knock ours into a cocked hat. Besides which, we've hardly mentioned anything that is close to classified!!

[Mr-Burns]

..... and I'm just trying to keep it that way.

[c130jbloke]

As he is posting from a scandinavian country his standard of english would be ISS A grade stuff....

[ihoharv]

CSRO course

happy memories,in a slightly perverse way, of doing the CSRO (now SERE apparently!) based out of RAF Mountbatten (RIP both of 'em) in the spring of 1982.
After a glorious night's sleep on rainy Dartmoor under a parachute we were awaken by the DS to learn we were at war! Somewhere called the Falklands. Of course we all thought it was part of the CSRO-plot but soon found out otherwise as the Victor guy was RTU'd tout suite.
Not being CR at that point I was left to face the joys of the R to I fun at the end. ..

[Mr-Burns]

If Mr Denmark really was involved in SERE Training, he would know exactly who to go to within the Danish military for info on SERE in the UK. The SERE world is small and the scandinavians are heavily into it. Interesting that he hasn't commented further in the forum. He's a journo - trust me.

[Bob Viking]

Mr Burns

You are to be congratulated on your healthy interest in preserving all things hush-hush, but how in Gods name could mr Denmark ever hope to make any sort of story out of the SERE organisation?!
I'm sure he would reach out to literally 10's of readers!
BV

[anotherthing]

Unless anything has radically changed, there ain't that much sensitive material on the course anyways - unless we are the only country that knows how to kill and prepare a rabbit.

Bugger - did I let a state secret out

[Strictly Jungly]

Gentlemen,
Bottom line is, if he is indeed who he says he is, he will find it is quite easy to establish contact with UK SERE representatives.
It would appear that some individuals are drawing on their own experiences, which are now outdated and totally different to modern SERE training and feel they can then make inaccurate comments.
Mr Denmark already has enough information to progress his enquiries.
Lets leave it at that shall we?
SJ

[askdenmark]

Hi guys and thanks for your answers.
I am sorry if I have upset some of you with my question, but I am who I claim to be.
Right at this moment I am sitting in Basra, working with a bunch of UK guys, and they have told me slightly different about the organization in the rotary wing world.
My question was only to confirm what I heard here (and before), and be able to contribute in the best way to our possibly chance of reorganizing our SERE setup regarding personnel and duties.
I am of course aware of St. Morgan, but lack of time made me use your forum to gather information.

ASK

[Bob Viking]

Mr Burns

Any further comments?
BV

[askdenmark]

Okay - let’s stop it here.
I have got the info I wanted from this thread and by other means.
I hope that we Danes in the future can have a well organized SERE organization at all levels like you seem to have it in the RAF.

ASK

[US Herk]

You would do well to contact as many SERE organisations as you can, including the US school (which does have exchange programs) at Fairchild AFB, Washington.

Having been through both RAF & USAF SERE, I can tell you they are complementary & each brings different things to the table.

[225Turbo]

aren't the squippers now doing this? makes sense really as they know the kit better than anyone else?

[Bob Viking]

Turbo

There is slightly more to it than dinghy drills.
But I won't elaborate for fear of upsetting some of the more sensitive individuals on this forum!
BV