Secrets of SERE School, the Military's POW Training
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mike "Nasty" Manazir returns to the channel to detail his time at SERE School, the military's intense and secretive POW training.
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I went through Warner Springs in the fall of ‘68….I KNEW I was going to Vietnam soon and we were taught that if captured we’d be tortured. Months later every time I rode the escalator from our ready room below the hanger deck to the flight deck I’d pray I’d be safe or killed and not captured as I didn’t know if I’d be tough enough to resist. I was finally shot down on 206th mission, but rescued….answered prayers.
Who picked you up?
I can’t tell you what to do with your life, but I rather ram by damaged jet into an enemy and die than years of torture.
'68? BS. SERE school didn't start until much later.
God bless you Captain! Regardless of who you are, nearly every military member has to live with this state of Readiness and fear on a near-daily basis. I had the same fears of being captured.
USMC RETIRED
@@The10thManRules
He never mentioned SERE. If you don't think this type of training was being conducted during Vietnam, well then you're just uninformed and shouldn't be commenting it all. POW training was going on at least as far back as World War II.
One of my bosses related a story about his niece who was a B-1B pilot. In SERE she had dug her snow shelter and every few hours a sargeant would come by to check on everyone. He had her take her boots off, then started hollering for an evac on the radio. She started protesting and they got in a wrestling match, which she of course lost. He threw her on the chopper saying she was hypothermic and delusional. The hospital later noted that blue toenail polish was not a sign of frostbite.
lol
You can't make this sh** up. Too funny.
that is why you shouldn´t have nail polish on.
Nothing funny about having to re-do the whole deal from scratch...
@@exploatores Or even take that a step further.
I attended SERE IN 1983. My son went to the same school 30 years later. Yeah. You never forget that experience.
God bless you two.
I attended SERE at WS in 64. They told us anyone who successfully escaped would get a ham sw. They starved you so that sounded really good. I got my chance when I found a small glass bottle in the sand I was able to break into a leathal shard I put it in one of my flight jacket pockets in easy reach. As they were waterboarding me I grew very angry and reached for the shard. My interrogator had his face in mine and couldn't see my hand. I screamed at myself this isn't real. But it was a close run thing. I caould have cut his juggler vien a heartbeat and spent the rest of my days in
Oops. Just accidentally down-voted you! I failed switchology..
@@vincentmazzola7230 I actually wondered during the video if those airmen get psychological help after Sere school, especially since it is
a) so intense
b) one might comes across one of those instructors later in their career and a unburdened professional relationship might be wise.
Is SERE still as intense as it was back in the day? Or has it been dialed down quite a bit
An ex UDT friend of mine was a "bad" guy in the Maine SERE School. He was a big guy that you wouldn't want to mess with. He really played the part but in the end had great respect for all the airmen that went through the program. He left us too soon but I'll remember him for ever.
If you don't mind my asking, what was your friend's name? Someone leaving UDT to teach SERE School is highly unorthodox.
My guess is that he meant a UDT Instructor that was already done with deployments and instead of being a desk jockey he decided to instruct. They probably grabbed him from UDT to do some SERE stuff for the Air Force.
@@jbh759 Maine is not an Air Force SERE School site. That is exclusively U.S. Navy. Even prior to the 5326 NEC, detailing to SERE school was not likely. There is no shortage of people who had some minimal affiliation with SpecWar, from cutting their hair to being a yeoman on a ship that had UDT as ship's complement on WESTPAC, who embellished to say they were with UDT.
UDT part is particularly curious, considering their mission and skill set different greatly from a SEAL Team, with regard to land navigation and survival. It would be more plausible for, but not accurate, for a SEAL, due to their AO. If there was any relevance to water survival in SERE A, there is no shortage of rescue swimmers and egress ratings to teach.
Notice he did not reply with a name, or reply at all, for that matter. That is not happenstance. Expect that comment to be deleted in the near future, rather than answer the question.
@@DowntownDeuce2 Actually I have seen SEAL's teach swimming in boot camp at RTC Great Lakes when I was in 1987. Like sub guys do shore duty and sometimes have different jobs. My bro was on subs, but on shore duty he was the deserter squad as a skip trace investigator and then would hunt deserters down. That was called NACU, but my point is sometimes you get different jobs on rotations.
@@2000ViperGTSsubscribe I understand, having experience with detailer duty. Generally, the SEALs at Great Lakes are there to perform BUD/S screening for those with contracts, which requires being stationed there. Assisting other recruit training blocks is nothing unusual, but the fact remains that they are there in a SpecWar billet, for screening.
The point that I was making was that would be a very unorthodox situation, considering the procedures of that era, especially the UDT vs SEAL mission, and the O.P.'s incorrect assertion that it was a USAF facility, which it is not. Often civilians assume that any shore-based command combatant is automatically UDT/SEAL, not understanding the difference between Littoral Security Forces, EOD, Techs, etc. Add to that the number of people falsely claiming to have served in SpecWar, and the waters get very muddy. I think it is noteworthy that he declined to respond with the person's name when asked.
My beloved brother was a Force Recon Marine, who spent a year in Vietnam, three months at Oak Knoll, and another year in Nam. He taught my young ass Survival and Evade when I was young. He toughened me up. When I was a 22YO USAF E-5 I had cancer that left me with intractable chronic pain. I truly believe that I have survived 44 years with it because I was mentally prepared. And I just received a small percentage of what our soldiers are taught in SERE School.
Sorry, I just had to honor my brother Mike. Simper Fi Jarhead!
Thank you for sharing about your brother-that is a terrific tribute.
@@2000ViperGTSsubscribe Thank you. When we were hearing about people with self-inflicted wounds coming home, and here he’s going back with the sutures barely removed… I thought he deserved far more than a Bronze Star. Waking up backpacking with him yelling “CORPSMAN!!!!!” Really made it real to me.
Admiral, Sir, as an ex Air Force Nurse during the Viet Nam era I've had the honor of taking care of our men. When you chocked up at the end of video you brought me to tears also. I believed our wonderful military men had better have Officers of the highest caliber leading them. You just proved my hypothesis correct. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and washed out eyes.
lol nurses aren't deserving of respect.
I went through Air Force SERE training 23 years ago at Fairchild AFB in Spokane. The last day was absolutely a tear jerker. What a sense of pride that was.
Me too… Later I PCS’d to Castle AFB. I was enlisted aircrew…
Hey brother. I went through Fairchild in 2001. Interesting times indeed!
I'm glad students understand the last day🤙
Bro the last day hits
It’s the last minute of the last day, actually!
In 1980 I joined the USAF and became a Tail Gunner on a B-52G, I attended SERE at Fairchild AFB (Washington). The moment Adm. Manazir mentioned the time he would not forget, I knew exactly where he was going. My tranning experinece was very similar to his. To this day I don't like to talk about it as I have the same reaction. When he got to the end and teared up, I was at the same place. To this day, after 42 years and I still dont know where to place or how to reconcile with this experience.
My Cousin was a Naval RIO in F4 Phantoms who flew several deployments over Vietnam. He said SERE School was worse than flying combat missions over Vietnam. And you could tell by the way he talked about it how it affected him. RIP Gary.
As a former yellow shirt on the flight deck of CVN-65 my Division Officer had been a prisoner of war and he attributed his survival to SERE school. Thank you for providing a look into what you and all our aviators go through to serve our country. Too bad our politicians don't have to go through SEREs before they can serve our country...maybe things would be different.
AB for the win-well done shipmate.
Probably a lot different.
I agree. All politicians used to at least do some token military service. No longer. I think it should be mandatory for public office.
Karl Swope, Yes Sir, you are correct!!!!! Our politicians should be required to attend SERE School or something like it. I think this would make them more patriotic and give them a better sense of what it means to take an oath of service to protect the US Constitution!!!!!
So many of our politicians today could be classified as enemy combatants to the US Constitution, which makes them an enemy to America!!!!
It is a complete shame what our Government has become!!!!!
Thank you so much for your valued comment, Karl!!!!
Stay Safe & Healthy,
Terry Thornock
Former Special Agent, AFOSI
100% Disabled Veteran and Above Knee Amputee (Due to Trauma)
Yea imagine Mitch Micconnell or Diane Feinstein going through SERE school lmao.
Gives you a whole new respect for what actual POWs had to go through. Pretty hard not to respects those men and women who had to live through being one. Thanks for sharing the training stories!
And as a instructor it was great working Side-by-Side with them, a lot of lessons learned, Thank You Doug, Jess and Cdr. Ralph Gaither. An important thing to remember is that SERE school is a Code of Conduct training program where you get to live the Code of Conduct.
My dad, a USAF Navigator on EC 121's and the F-89, went through SERE in the 60's. It's part of what made him the bad-ass he was. As kids, camping trips with our dad was always an adventure, and a lesson in survival. I think SERE had quite a bit to do with that.
I am proud to have been a SERE instructor at Brunswick from 1965 to 1970. The 9505 NEC means a lot to me. One of the best duties in my 30 year career.
I went through SERE there in '69, you may have been one of my instructors.
Art,
I went through SERE in late August on '70. I was assigned to the over all unit (worked on the flight simulator) but not directly to the school). It was because I was assigned to the unit that I had to go through SERE because we were called on to help complete the staffing when a class was coming through. I remember being called into LCMDR "R" office (I won't write his name here) and he wanted to know what I thought of the 'experience'. I told him that it was the hardest thing I'd ever been through.
We must have met, I went in 1968.
@@graplingurty
I went in in 1969, I finished school in Memphis in 1970 and arrived in Brunswick in late August of '70. I reported in on a Saturday and to was set up to go to SERE school Monday morning.
Labor Day weekend coming up, you know what that means, backwards class. Of course I didn't know it (just as well).
Admiral ~ thanks for being REAL and for showing the exact emotions that I felt 46 years ago - it's special and can only be understood by those who were there.
Hey Ward, thought we weren't supposed to give away details about SERE! Since you did, enlisted guy went through Jan. of '77 at Warner Springs. Had a huge red bearded guy bounce me off the corrugated steel walls as Nasty. Two trips on the waterboard. As the religious PO for our class they hauled me up in front as they tore up the Bible while at the top of my lungs I defended it, then to see behind the class they brought our senior guy to raise the Stars and Stripes. I bellowed "Aten hut!!!" the class jumped up as the Anthem began. Wasn't a dry eye in the place.
May Christ be with you. Thank you for serving.
Thank you for your service to both God and country!
Awesome video!!! I went through SERE at Warner Springs as an O-3 in Jan or Feb 1968 before being shipped to Vietnam as an advisor on a Vietnamese Navy gunboat. Two memories of that stand out. 1) After three days with no food the instructor lectured us on how to trap, dress, and eat small game. In front of us he killed and dressed a rabbit and told us that every part of the rabbit was edible including the eyes. I, being a bit of a wise guy, said "Would you eat one?" He said, "I will if you will." Whereupon he plucked both eyes out, put one in his mouth, and handed me the other. I will never forget the texture and taste - not recommended. 2) The commandant of the prison camp made a speech pointing out the weaknesses, hypocrisy, and corruption of the U.S. government and democracy in general and how much better the communist system was. He was an excellent and convincing speaker. It made us think. Remember this was 1968.
Funny how many young, indoctrinated people want communism today. I refuse to be one.
As a civilian, the most profound realization of watching this is that you guys voluntarily put yourselves through that deep emotional and physical experience for me. Thank you all.
Believe it or not, your interests and the governments interests usually contradict
And all anyone has to do is go ring the bell and it's all over for them. No one in our group opted out.
No bell ringing here.
Everybody made it.
SURVIVAL ✌️
I was a River Patrol Boat Sailor. We went to SERE at Warner Springs. Taught to make a shelter out of a parachute. Tough to find one of those on a river boat.
Funny to hear that, we had a Riverine qualified crewman as one of our instructors at Warner Springs.
I went through SERE in 1980. I will never forget my "war criminal" number, 3. also did DWEST then. I was training to be aircrew on P3 Orion's. You are absolutely right, it's something you will never forget. Also proves to you that you can do a lot of things you never thought you could. It started out as an adventure, it got real Really fast. I remember that I "stole" a pencil from the soft interrogation room and then went to the "wrong" air raid bunker to turn over my prize to an officer, I was E-3 at the time. The waterboarding is kind of intense to be honest. In my class the enemy was the PDR, Peoples Democratic Republic. I will never forget the breakfast gruel complete with pieces of twigs and leaves in it on the last morning, nor will ever forget the feeling of comradery in those last few hours or the feeling of absolute pride when the National anthem started to play. And yes that playing of the anthem always comes to mind each time I hear it to this day. Thanks for bringing some great memories back.
I attended Navy SERE at San Diego/Warner Springs in 1979 as a new Aircrewmen having completed Aircrew Candidate School at NAS Pensacola. My father USAF SERE at Fairchild AFB in 1968 prior to a tour in Vietnam. Those who have never been cold, wet, tired and hungry for several days. Then "handled" like a POW for a couple more, have no idea of what this school does and means to all that attend. One learns a great deal about him/herself, like few other expereinces in life, short of being an actual POW.
"hurry up and wait" and "cold, wet, tired, and hungry" should be plastered on all military recruiting material.
Whenever I'm having a bad day, I read the Medal of Honor citation of Lance P Sijan.
Both brothers and both sisters in my family had to pass SERE. I only got a few inspirational lectures. Lucky me! One brother was an embassy Marine, the other brother was a helicopter pilot, one of my sisters was a flight nurse and the last wound up running command centers.
The sister Flight Nurse went thru SERE? That must be fairly new, well, it wasn't there during Nam era. I was a Flight Nurse 1970-71. Interesting. .Viet Nam changed a lot of aspects of trainings. I was lucky, never had to set foot in country.
@@carolecarr5210 I went to SERE with a flight nurse in 2019.
@@carolecarr5210 When she told me her story and how she was so hungry that she was really happy to kill her rabbit and feast on its flesh, I informed her that my Marine Corps boot camp and infantry combat training didn't get that brutal. Training often is "one size fits all" and she was very glad to return to garrison mess halls and her bachelor's quarters.
You have quite the family :). I’m proud of my siblings but man I can’t imagine being in that sort of company!
I tear up every time I participate or witness our beautiful flag being raised or lowered. Thanks Ward, thanks Nasty--this is a beautiful interview. SGT Andonian, US Army 1992-2001
I went through SERE school in '87 as a Marine Sgt with three SEALS and a bunch of naval aviators. The SEALs killed a snake without an instructor present and then had to deny it, so we didn't get to eat it. We did catch and cook one during the instruction phase, before being captured. I was Prisoner #18. When I was brought before the Commandant for questioning, the muscle guy was a huge black guy from a squadron I was in a few years before. He took me by the collar and slapped me with that ham of a hand. Wow. They waterboarded a guy who was going to join the school after graduation. He contacted me years later asking for a statement, as he was filing a PTSD claim with the VA.
Attended SERE in 1997, hard to believe that was 26 years ago, lol. The instructors told us on the first day it would be the best class we ever attended in our careers, which none of us believed. I separated from the Navy in 2003 and that statement ended up being true to the letter. In fact, some of the lessons I learned from the incredibly stressful and difficult experience that SERE School was remain with me to this day.
Very powerful interview. I was not in the military but when you started talking about the national anthem I started tearing up.
Same.
The most professional course I had ever gone through in my career. The one course I said I would do again because of how professional it was. The repatriation still gets me choked up thinking about it today. I can’t here the national anthem without bringing back that day in my mind. Fun fact about my graduation, Jack Hemingway was our guest speaker. When I returned to my unit in the 101st, I became an instructor and aiding in the certification of the army’s only official SERE B course at the time.
One of the best training at my Officer Engineer Basic course SERE. At the time we were still reeling from the effects of Vietnam. Serious training that has stuck with me my whole life.
Ward, you bring the best interviews of the most credentialed and amazing people from the Navy and the rest of the military. Thank you!
By far the most realistic training of my 25 year career! I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Thank you both for your service to this great nation. It appears you learned one of the most important lessons of SERE school. Keep the Faith. As SERE Instructor in Maine for 14 years I can honestly say it was the greatest duty and most humbling experience of my life.
I went through SERE in 2015 as a PFC in the Marine Corps and it’s crazy how it hasn’t changed at all (based on their stories). When they played the peoples anthem, our entire class turned away from the flag and completely ignored their orders. We were all so out of it that when they started the national anthem, half the people didn’t even realize and we’re hesitant to turn around lol. SERE really is a one of a kind training.
Hi, I'm currently a Marine PFC that's interested in SERE school. So what was your mos (i'm infantry) and how were u able to be accepted into the school?
@@phsyco_gaming6262 unfortunately, the Marine Corps is pretty reluctant to send people who “don’t need to be qualified for it” so it’s pretty unlikely you’ll be able to go as an infantry man, however, you can always ask.
I was a Huey Crew chief (6174), so it was a requirement for us to go.
@@MrJimmyboy262 ah ok, thank you for your response and thank you for your service!
@@phsyco_gaming6262 you too man, good luck with your time. Enjoy it.
I went in 2015 too, just a good ol camping trip with the bois
It has been more than a few decades since I went to SERE school in Warner Springs. A group of us going through the RAG at VS-41 was sent at the same time. The training was invaluable. I was fortunate not to be waterboarded but did get slammed up on the corrugated wall. As Nasty stated it did make a lot of noise and did not really hurt so I just relaxed and let the guy slamming me against the wall support my weight. As part of the interrogation process, we were put into a box with a lid. This is where not being tall was good since it was a small box.
SERE Graduate July 1992 Warner Springs. Why they sent me to SERE when I was going to VXE-6 (Antarctica) I'll never know. I now have an appreciation for the poetry of Rudyard Kipling. 🤣 Best water I ever had I drank from my boots at SERE! Best part was when Doug Hegdahl talked to us.
Thanks to Ward for another excellent interview and thanks to Nasty for his recollections.
Another fantastic episode with two great Americans! I went to SERE at Brunswick while stationed at the F-4 RAG, VF-171. I don’t remember any “training time outs” during our participation. Each participant had an individual final debrief. Mine was pretty simple… “you would be dead”. I can still distinctly remember the National Anthem being played at the end of the training. Quite emotional. Spent many years at VR-56 with the Admiral’s fellow war-criminal Ted Morse. Great Naval Officer.
I went thru SERE in April of 1970 at Warner Springs. At that time, the concentration was on the Vietnam experience. Many of the aggressor instructors when I went thru were the guys that came off of the Pueblo. At the very end of the class when we returned to North Island, we had a classroom experience with Navy Petty Officer Doug Hegdahl. Doug had only been repatriated a few months and so he wasn't an actual instructor, but sort of a guest lecturer. It was a jaw dropping class. Many of the things that Adm Manazir related sounded very familiar. I was only 18 years old at the time (I was enlisted aircrew - AW going to VS) and I got beat up quite bad. There was a small handful of us that had to get a closer look by the flight surgeon after the confinement stage. I was pretty bloody - nothing serious but I was prone to nose bleeds at the time. One funny thing.... almost everyone I know remembers their "war criminal number". Seems to be a thing. I do not, for some reason. But I remember the end with the raising of the Stars & stripes and the National Anthem, and I agree with the Admiral. It means so much more to me today, than I think it would have without SERE. Great segment Ward. PS - just finished Punks War. Excellent.
Went through SERE in 1971 on way to A-6 at Whidbey then Vietnam. In addition to raising the American flag and playing the National Anthem we had an extreme low fly by of an A-4: that has lived with me all these years as I am now 74 and it seems like yesterday. Fly Navy
I went through SERE in early 1972 on my way to VAQ-129. We had a PXO/CO in the class on his way to lead a San Diego helicopter squadron. On our third day of foraging (starvation) we saw a helicopter circling over the field, trailing a package on a rope. When they found us, they dropped the package. It was a bag of dry dog food. I learned you can do just fine without food for three days. Like Nasty, I still can't tell the story of the flag reveal at the end without getting choked up. /s/ BlackCloud.
I think this training is profound and all of us who have gone through this learned the lessons, but came out better people. Regardless of branch, this training is invaluable and transforms many folks about how they view their priorities and their leadership skills. I went through the training over 40 years ago and I remember photographically everything about that training. It’s important and impactful.
Mooch, thanks so much for this interview with Admiral Manazir. I never served, but instead spent 32 years as a software engineer at a defense contractor. Had great respect for all the service members I worked with, and have great respect today for all who serve. Today I'm humbled even more; truly, thank you for that.
And thanks to all who commented; I appreciate your service to our country.
Holy shit what a story! I did an oral history with my dad before he passed away in 2016; in it he recounted his experiences at SERE school in 1960, which he had to take as a member of the 6916th Security Squadron. He told of many of the same things that the Admiral did in this episode.These men are and were very tough and the best at what they do in the world. Needless to say, God Bless the USA!!
Went through “Escape and Evasion“ training in the Army after the Korean War. It was tough but no where near what you describe.
Similar experiences here. E&E is good training for what happens BEFORE you get caught. SERE trains you for the worst of what could happen AFTER you're captured.
Ward, may have been your best episode. When the Admiral described (and showed) his feelings at the playing of the American Anthem, I had the same response.
N.B. my father flew Wildcats off 'The Shamrock Bay'
I went through SERE at USAFA in '83. It's been awhile. When recalling the experience, I had similar emotions as Admiral Manazir begins to describe at 14:49. Man, that stuff sticks with you. Best DoD school/course I attended.
I went to Brunswick, it was very enlightening. It was pre requisite to become a SERE Survival Instructor at NAS Pensacola. Yes, our National Anthem took on a deeper meaning for me after SERE.
Thanks, guys. I may not sleep tonight. My Marine SERE was one of the most intense experiences of my life. Brutal, but invaluable. You find out who you are and what you're made of.
How so if you don’t mind me asking? I’m a marine aviator contract
As a meter reader I read the SERE facility just beyond Warner Springs CA. Seeing the facility is a very sobering experience. Props to those who go through and complete the training. Your service is appreciated.
After graduating UPT I went to AF SERE at Fairchild AFB in 1981. I will never, ever, forget how I felt when I heard our National Anthem and saw the Stars and Stripes instead of that damned DDR rag. That feeling has stayed with me to this day.
There is so much back bone, courage and patriotism that emerges in American service members. Something lacks in today's common society. People don't remember and forget what it takes for the military service members to go through (some of the training) and then perform the jobs they do to protect America. They don't stand for the national anthem, don't say the pledge of allegiance & have a general distain for the country. It's so bad. My thanks to all the veterans who served to protect this great country.
SERE was hands down the best instruction I have ever received when I was in uniform. The organization that operates these schools (you know who you are) is a national asset that is far under-recognized. Well done.
I retired from the Navy in 1990. AMS1. I attended SERE in 1968, at Werner Spgs. While I'm sure that there may have been small changes over time, I was able to relate completely, most especially with the description of raising "Old Glory" at the end. I've never looked at the flag the same way again. I also remember thinking later on when our POWS were returned, how they must have felt, after many years of torture.
Worked as a volunteer "guard" at SERE school in NC in the late 80's. The environment quickly pulls you in to believing that it is real. We were pretty rough on them as it needs to be. Us guards had to frequently remind ourselves that the prisoners are on our side. Much respect for the students. Good times, good training!
Man, Mr. Carroll ... this one got me for sure. The wonderful officers you interview are amazing. With each interview, I feel more and more like I "skated" through my career as a naval enlisted man. I must have been allowed to do so because of people like Admiral Manazir. :)
Mr. Carroll, I recently received and accepted my appointment to USNA. Watching your content and listening to the countless stories from your time as a naval aviator was very motivating for me. Thank you for sharing your passion here on youtube at no cost and inspiring others to serve our country. Go Navy! ❤
Look forward to seeing you here in Annapolis, Spencer!
@@WardCarroll Likewise!
I had SERE in 1968 at USAF Academy and it taught me more about myself and others than anything since. I have enormous respect for anyone who did time as a POW!
WOW!!!!! What an emotional interview!!!!! I can’t imagine how it must have felt going through SERE School training with such terrible trauma to the mind and body!!!!
I more strongly salute all who have done it!!!!!
I'm from warner springs. Back in the 60s and 70s i remember riding by the survival school. A few times i rode by a guy hiding behind a manzanita. Shhhhh! One time in summer 105 deg. One time in spring raining and butt cold. Great to hear the stories!!
I've never been anywhere near SERE School, but, the last? When you and the Admiral were talking about being tortured to salute the opfor flag, then turned to see Old Glory? I had tears in my eyes, as well...
The two of you have something I can't define, but you somehow manage to describe what you lived through in a way that somehow makes the rest of us, to some extent, live through it as well.
Bravo Zulu, gentlemen. Semper Fi
I attended SERE in 1990 at Brunswick. Still remember it like it was yesterday. In your tiny cell contemplating breaking your hand so as not to be able to sign a confession. Yeah, like Nasty I was completely immersed in it but we didn't have training time outs (at least I didn't). Yes, when they raised the US flag at the end, we stood there and cried unashamedly.
I was training to become a SERE instructor for the Airforce when an injury changed my path. They put you through worse than the students ever see. My partner can't use eye drops to this day because they kept him up for days and tied him in a chair, pulled his head back, pulled his eyelids open and held a dropper over his eyes with "acid" and threatened to drop it in his eyes if he didn't tell them what they wanted to know. They did this for countless hours with the promise of doing it for days when he was already about delirious from beatings, fatigue, thirst and hunger... He cracked at the dread and realization it wouldn't stop. Everyone cracks, that's the point.
I decided early (internally, didn't say anything) that i wasn't going to talk unless they started permanently maiming me and removing parts of me (fingertips, eyes, etc.). I cracked. But, it took a long time and they had to figure out what my "key" was, other torture wasn't working, thry figured out what my mindset was, what my preset limit was (nothing else worked and they've done thus before, they know the different things people hang onto) and when they realized that physical mutilation was my chink in my armor, that was it. They didn't have to do it but they sure convinced me thry were about to. Everyone gets caught, everyone cracks.
The purpose is not to prove you won't crack but to realize what you can withstand when actually pushed to the limits and beyond. Then they want to be sure that what you told them is the truth so, they do it all over again until you confirm that you were lying or, determin you don't know anything else and were telling "the truth."
Music?? Try the second side of Yoko Ono's album at "11" for 10hrs straight... Thatd drive anyone insane. SERE instructors are some sick, twisted, sadistic people. 😆
I lived on a ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, every time we walked out the front door we had to check the steps before we went out, they were made of concrete and the rattle snakes (western diamondback) would crawl up there to warm themselves in the morning sun (snakes are basically solar powered, running down in energy in the cold of night and gaining energy by sunning themselves on flat, hard surfaces) and anytime we went to the wood pile or anything that was stacked or offered shelter from the sun and protection from predators, we had to make noises and be careful and deliberate about our movements so they would know we're coming and take off or raise a ruckus to let us know they were nesting, had no point of retreat, etc..
They were prolific and just part of life in the hills and mountains of the northwest. The neighbors dog had several chunks out of his tongue where he'd caught and killed snakes but they bit his tongue in the process (he was a tough ol'SOB who caught a lot more than had bitten him but, it's a miracle he survived to die of old age.
When I was logging in the northwest corner of Montana, the timber rattlerswere huge and, as far as we were concerned, around every stump and brush thicket. It takes a certain acceptance and conviction to live/work in rattler territory.
I worked with a gentleman who was special Forces in the 80s. He told me of his SERE training and that he was the only one who gained weight, hunting, killing & eating rattlesnakes.
@@LouT1501 I was in during the 80s, too. I grew up hunting with my father from the time I was give, lived in rattler country and had no problem eating them and could handle the "wilderness" section with ease,maintaining weight and thriving. Then, you get caught and you *always* get caught. Then it's a matter of will power and determination, right up until they peck away at your mind, figure out your personal limits. I stopped at the promise of losing body parts. You know they won't because it's "training" and yet, they break down your reasoning and rationale until you believe they'll actually do it.
It's what they dedicate their careers and lives to and they're very good at it. They observe you, categorize you, identify what things get to your "core" of defense and then attack them relentlessly and then turn around and convince you they're on your side.
I attended SERE West not even 2 weeks ago (cold as hell and actually the most rainy Warner Springs had been in any of the instructors’ time) and it’s incredibly how little has apparently changed in the last 30+ years. I went as an already once-deployed aircraft commander and was one of the most senior guys in the class. The leadership positions definitely add a layer of difficulty, in the sense you have to fight the urge to go internal and only worry about yourself. Extremely good training all around but you couldn’t pay me enough money to go through it again.
I wonder why there is no psychological debrief afterwards. Considering what the instructors have to do with the attendees, I could imagine some attendees harboring bad feelings towards them. Would be unfortunate if that would lead to conflict later down the line when those two people cross paths again in their careers.
@@ThorstenWieking There is such a debrief afterwards and the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a Navy psychologist or one of said instructors should you choose.
I went through SERE West in 1971 as an enlisted sailor before heading to VN for helicopter duty. I can attest that the officers got it worse by far. It was gut wrenching to see the senior officer catch hell every time he asserted his authority. And when he was eliminated the next senior officer assumed responsibility and caught hell for it. I saw firsthand what bravery looks like.
Every episode has been pure gold Mooch, seriously, there isn't another channel that brings the amount of knowledge and experience that yours does. Every guest is amazing and this one with Nasty filled me with so much American pride. Keep kicking ass Mooch!!!👍😊🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
My dad went through a POW training during Vietnam, after being drafted. They did a whole torture simulation thing, locking them in lockers that were buried horizontally into the ground, etc. They told them that they should attempt to escape if possible. Well he and a friend were able to sneak off into the woods and "escape" at one point. They walked to the nearest road, hitchhiked to the local town, spent the evening going out to eat and bar hopping. They obviously got chewed out when they returned in the middle of the night. His argument was "hey, if I escape I'm not going back!". Lol.
Thanks for sharing! It brought back a lot of memories. Took SERE at USAF Academy in 1978.
War Criminal FOUR SEVEN sir! Warner Springs Alum. Summer 1985. I remember every minute of my SERE experience. Grateful I received the training and never had to use it.
Thank you both for sharing this, as well as for your service.
Mooch I went to Air Force SERE at Fairchild AFB in 1985 as a brand new Airman fresh out of Tech School on my way to my first assignment overseas. The AF required me to go to SERE as a “Life Support Guy” “PE Guy” for my Navy friends. I had many of the same experiences the Admiral discussed. When he spoke to the end of POW scenario I got very emotional as he related the experience. I also had something very similar.
I was “fortunate” enough to be the SRO of my SERE class at Warner Springs. Good times…
Also did Jungle survivial,at Cubi,and Clark AFB. And USAF SEA SURVIVAL IN JAPAN . LOVED IT ALL.
That was awesome and moving in equal amounts , thank you both.
Great episode Ward! I’ve been hoping you or Jello or someone would do an episode on SERE school. I have a friend who’s a former Navy helo pilot & when talking about SERE he broke down too. Thanks so much to Nasty for sharing his experience. He already had my fullest respect from hearing all his previous stories over the years - and his service for this country (as well as yours Mooch) was more than enough - but I respect him even more for not being afraid to let out his emotions. I know SERE is no joke and it makes you really respect anyone who’s spent time as a POW. And as a side note I hope those who kneel or do whatever to disrespect our flag when the national anthem is played will take notice. Yeah it’s their right to do so but pay some respect to those who have sacrificed so much for our flag & country!
War Criminal 121 checking in, USAF Survival School Dec 1983, and I too went before starting Nav School. Talk about an eye opening intro to the AF! Crazy that all of those memories of almost 40 years ago are as strong today as they were then. That feeling of pride of being an American (and maybe a little relief that training was done) as the Anthem was played will always stay with me. BZ Nasty and Mooch!
Thank you for sharing. What a powerful experience!
Thank both of you for your service.
I teared up when he did remembering his experience.
Ill just never forget how cold it was. That was the coldest I've ever been in my life. My breaking point was when they hit us with the water hose when it was 42 degrees in winter springs. Didnt think water would get to me, but it really did.
God bless you gentlemen, and all of the men and women of the armed forces. I teared up watching this. You guys are special humans.
Mooch, this was a spectacular episode. It was insightful yet so moving. I can’t wait to read Nasty’s book. Thank you (and him) for putting this episode together.
It never occurred to me why I get so choked up when they play the National Anthem until now.
My first 18 months in the US Army were really...eventfull. Three of my fellow recruits and a Drill Sergeant were killed in my Basic unit in our last FTX. It got Real fast but I was young and rolled with it. AIT then Jump School at Benning...December of 1989. We lost all our planes when they took them for the invasion of Panama. I saw my first and only Air America jetliner. Rangers and SF guys literally walked up and started throwing their rucksacks off a truck and began rigging their parachutes. Two days later we got our planes and final jump but there were empty MRE boxes, Ammo cans, grenade cannisters piled up outside the rigging shed...like 8 feet high.
I go to my first duty station in Europe and spent almost half of 1990 at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels. Turn 19. We were informed we were deploying to Saudi Arabia in the motor pool having just gotten out of the Box at Hohenfels. Almost a year to the day I arrived in Germany...I'm on a plane to Saudi. I'm at Khobar Towers the day the Air War kicks off...Scud fireworks. Jets flying overhead coming in from their missions. My unit then heads out into the desert...3BDE 3rd Armored...Spearhead. Do the things. Play some desert volleyball. Turn 20 in the desert. Head back to Germany.
It never occurred to me why...until "Nasty" got choked up. Now I know why I get so angry when I see people use the American Flag as a prop. Thanks for this. o7
Thank you for your dedication, commitment and service to our country!!! This makes me so proud of all our armed forces and the incredible men and women who serve, fight and sometimes die for our flag. May God grant you peace and tranquility the rest of your days!
We were so blessed on the West Coast to have Doug Hegdahl tell his story first hand at the conclusion of SERE training. At the time, I didn’t realize what a national treasure he was. Check “the stupid one” book for details of his story
Wow! What an awesome treat!
Doug and a Korean Vet Jessie (can’t recall his last name) provided a wealth of knowledge. Listing to Boots repeat all night long! I got a copy of the tape.. Jessie did Soft Cell interrogation and was like the “good cop” and offered cookies..
When he was doing part of the debrief that last day, and started his song or began tapping out code on the side of the podium, the whole experience came to a sharp & focused point for me. This man endured years of treatment that was way worse on his best day than the few days I spent being loved on in SERE. We came back to North Island, I threw my field gear into the BEQ shower, opened a Corona, sat down in the shower and fell asleep after half a beer.
Cannot even imagine the ordeal our guys went thru in Hanoi but I'm damn glad we do something to prepare our people for what may happen, so they can make it back home. God bless those brave souls and the folks that stand up for our country today.
Your videos with Nasty are the best. The Spin story and DCS, too. Great stories, especially seeing how moved he still is by the experience.
Great episode. Love your channel.Thank you for your service.
Thanks for the great video. I have lots of memories from my experience of the experience in 1971. They made the experience very real. I don’t recall my interrogation evaluations at all maybe because I was low rank enlisted. Memories- one guy turned around inside the box a couple of times but I don’t know if that was a successful resistance technique. I truly thought that I was going to die in the box. We got the Eastern European, Latin American,and Vietnamese camp/interrogation treatments.
We all remember SERE, mine was in the middle of February at Spokane, WA USAF. It was cold, snowy, and miserable. Not sure I could handle the small claustrophobic box I was in back in 88' in today's time. Loud music, no sleep, babies crying sounds, what memories. If you wanted to fly airplanes, we had to pass. I distinctly remember pretty much all of us crying when it was over as the Stars and Stripes was raised as the National Anthem played.
I was Criminal 47 ten years after you.
@@thebronzetoo Nothing has changed I’m sure. I haven’t slept outside in the snow since. 😊
Spot on, I was “number 2” as a 42 yr old MSgt recently crosstrained to C-130 loadmaster.
Thank you for sharing your experience, and thank you for your service.
I did the east coast sere in 86… A7 pilot just starting the RAG. Not pleasant and brought perspective to many things. While it wasn’t pleasant to go through, I was grateful. We had the Russian scenario. Had managed to survive, and evade, and land navigate to the safe house…. Still remember after the capture the phrase “crawl through the door like the dog you are” while being onboarded into the facility.. . after 2-3 days of sleep deprivation, starvation and various forms of torture, you begin to hallucinate and the training becomes much more real… slammed against the wall, putt in boxes, smoke inhalation to passing out all “help” you become more engaged in the exercise.
Remember signing the paper haha… blinking sos etc. boots boots sound track non stop… when they stormed the facility at the end and played the national anthem I was sobbing..
I did this at Warner Springs in 1971 before shipping out to Vietnam for helicopter aircrew duty. It was just like he described. Kept in a box. Interrogated late at night; tortured by beatings, put in small boxes, and getting water boarded. No sleep and plenty of abuse. More than 50 years later I remember it all. I was enlisted and it was pretty bad but the officers got it the worst. Intense stuff.
The lack of sleep is a powerful tool.
My children ask me why I tear up every time the anthem is played, Ward you said it best it’s ingrained into our DNA as a Sailor or any American 🇺🇸 Fighting man or woman we give it all. I spoke to a very close friend who I served with not long ago who we both were talking about this very thing. Love of Country ❤
Full Respect Sir, had tears in my eyes all the way through.
Powerful stuff. My great uncle was a Vietnam POW, shot down in April of ‘66. Humbling to hear his stories and the experiences of others. It gives perspective and a greater appreciation for who well we have it here. I’ll be picking the Admiral’s book up very soon.
Great video, I graduated from SERE in the '86 summer (mosquitoes, black flies, and lost record) and again in the '97 winter as an O-5, the undisputed SRO who realized that "rank has its privileges" was not really an advantage at Rangeley, Maine. I would add that by the time the "Pronese" captured us, we had already been doing survival/evasion training for 2~3 days, on a single bowl of rice (the best rice I ever tasted), walking with snow shoes (heavy, wooden, vintage ones) and/or sinking in 2~3 ft of snow (I am serious). We were all sleep-deprived, hungry, uncomfortable (cold/snow covered)... "Maine, the way life should be..." really? These few nights were so cold (sleeping under a parachute canopy over a "pine branches mattress") and... short that some "sympathizers or resistance members" regularly checked on us for frostbites and proper hydration. Worse (for me), was that I recognized my "hard cell interrogator" from a previous duty station - so he called in an "comrade trainee" to further convince me that I was mistaken. To use his own words, I was "handled in stereo"! I can tell you that by the last day (the "save the flag day"), a few of us were "delirious" if not convinced that this was real thing (remember the movie "Deliverance"?).
I learned two very important lessons from this training:
1- My first Wing Commander at TW-3 Beeville, TX was a former POW (classmate of late Senator McCain). After hearing many of his captivity experiences at the Hanoi Hilton, I was convinced that I could never face what our POWs had endured (i.e. I would fight till the end but the enemy would never catch me alive, that last bullet was for me). SERE school gave me faith in myself, restored my will to survive duress, showed me that I could face more pain than I thought, and convinced me that my shipmates/seniors would do the impossible to get me out of captivity i.e. I would not be abandoned/forgotten (which is very important in combat).
2- Most of all, SERE training reinforced/reaffirmed the priceless value of the principles, traditions, Constitution, and Flag of our country. I found a new respect for what it means to be "an American".
May God bless America, Ciao, L (Veteran)
As someone who lives near Fairchild AFB’s SERE school I’m really looking forward to this video.
THANK you for posting this.
Great video! As usual. Thanks for sharing.
Fort Rucker, 2008, maybe 2009 strangely, out of all of the military schools I've been to this is the most fondly remembered one; got hung up and everything. What that says about me, I legitimately don't know...
When CW04 Durant came back stateside his SERE Cadre visited him in the hospital it's detailed in his book In the Company of Heroes. He talks about the training earlier in the book.
Great interview and VERY moving!
You guys are amazing thank you for your service
Completed Survival Training at Pensacola. After my wings, attended SERE School in the Winter of 1980 at Cherry Point, NC. If you know anything about Cherry Point, the woods are chock full of sticker bushes which ripped my legs apart. Instructor butchered a nice big Bunny Rabbit he was petting to demonstrate how to do it, if we could snare one. It turned into our chow while on the course, among other things we could forage. Did not get captured but witnessed a Squadron Mate get a good going over, from concealment. I held my breath for what seemed like hours, until they hog tied him and dragged him off. Drank stream water using the water purification tabs, and chewed Sassafras roots. Tastes good like root beer. Easily identified by three different leaves on the same plant. Single leaf, mitten leaf, and three pronged leaf. All on the same stem.
By the end of the course I was pretty cramped up, uncomfortable, but managed to evade, and get to the rally point at the end of the problem. The BOQ at Cherry Point seemed better than any 5 Star Hotel after the course. You learn a lot about yourself while on the run.
"By the end of the course I was pretty cramped up, uncomfortable, but managed to evade, and get to the rally point at the end of the problem."
Wow. I thought that in SERE everyone eventually got captured.
Brunswick, winter, 1996. So cold. Size 13 bunny boot, 10 1/2 sized foot. A big, giant moose walked out of the woods within 12' of me at 0200ish as I was taking a piss on a snow bank at the edge of a grove of trees. We stared at each other for about 2 minutes before he got bored and walked back the way he came. Largest animal I have ever seen in my life.
Moose can be aggressive, especially during the Fall rutting season. Fun fact: I probably was snowmobiling in that area, while you were in training. We had a hunting/snowmobiling camp, in Rangeley, that we used to use during the 90's to the mid 2000s. It wasn't far from the SERE compound in Dallas Plantation.
BTW: I had my SERE fun in Warner Springs, CA; back in the early 1980s.
Thank you for your service, gentlemen.
SERE Warner Springs 1988. War Criminal 03! Most professional sailor’s I’ve ever met. One will never forget the graduation (ending) of the class. Got to attend Advance SERE school and was invited to go back into the camp and view others reactions of the students. It was awesome and learned a lot.