JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Aircrew members from the 535th Airlift Squadron, 65th AS and the 96th Air Refueling Squadron participated in a Wing Warrior Day exercise Sept. 12, allowing them to complete required tri-annual training, and help support joint-service cooperation and capabilities.

"We had to evade through thick brush and anything else that provided us cover from enemy combatants," described Maj. Juan Amaya, 96th ARS and training participant. "This was great training because it was more involved and hands-on than normal with it being in conjunction with Wing Warrior Day."

The training was a refresher Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape course for the aircrew, which upon completion, allows them to maintain their flying status. They had to train as if their aircraft went down in a hostile environment. This required them to evade enemy combatants, find and secure a safe area to stay overnight and establish communication with rescue units for an evacuation. Overhead, Army 25th Combat Aviation Brigade UH-60 Black Hawks and OH-58 Kiowas provided air support and reconnaissance.   

"I think joint training like this is extremely important to improving real-world capabilities," said Staff Sgt. Marcus Ohler, 15th Operations Support Squadron Weapons and Tactics. "The Air Force, Army and Marines have been working cooperatively on this and it's had a positive impact on how we train. With all of these training resources, we've been able to make this training as realistic as possible without having to simulate very much."

Once the aircrew reached an evacuation point, they communicated by radio with rescue support to receive further instruction, and within minutes, a crew of pararescue Airmen parachuted from the sky into a nearby location and made their way to aircrew. After the aircrew validated who they were to the rescuers, everyone on the ground made their way to UH-60s for evacuation.

"This is not only training for the aircrew, but it's training for everyone involved," said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Ray, 15th OSS SERE Operations. "For the [pararescuemen], this is what they do real-world-- they're sent into hostile environments to rescue people."

Ray was the SERE trainer for the downed aircrew, providing them with instruction and guidance during the exercise.  

The rescued aircrew members were flown to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, where they boarded a C-17 Globemaster III back to JBPHH.