Sere
My first tour 100% of the west coast VP had to go through SERE but east coast VP had the certain percentage thing. When I did my DH tour, it was 100% VP wide. What is going on today, I haven't a clue.
I did get a chuckle at 2 of my fellow DHs that had an east coast DH tour and never went to SERE in their first tours. All through the RAG we fed them horror stories about SROs. After the RAG, I went to check into the squadron and they went to SERE as LCDRs. When they checked in a month latter, they did not have any fun stories either.....
Never go to SERE as a LCDR.
If you are calling anyone a pussy and telling them they should be thankful that they are not really captured I have a couple of points of contention.
1. I don't think anyone on this site or an American period would argue such an obvious point, that it is better to simulate the experience than make that nightmare a living reality. That is why people at 'higher risk' of capture go through SERE, to learn the lessons of those that were actually POWs to apply if we they are captured.
2. You probably didn't go to SERE with an opinion like that, and if you did you missed the lesson. What do you want people that went to SERE to do, hold a vigil every day and stay home from their 'high risk' jobs because of the chance of being captured. Sorry, but as you can see from those that went through SERE a sense of humor is MANDATORY and is really the only way quantify and deal with such an intense and frighteningly real simulation. I tell people that are going to go to SERE, that they do not have to worry about buying into any artificialities because they will be forced to buy in, it is just that real. I had one of those serious types living across from me who just got up, said I quit, and that was it, he did not come back. Now he has one more chance in Maine to complete the course or his career is stopped. So please don't try to make anyone feel like crap because you have a problem with some in my opinion light locker room talk about a shared experience we all went through.
Oh, and I can testify to the 110 daytime temp with the mid 30s at night in Warner Springs. Lets just say that being dryhumped by a shivering Navy Seal is not all that it is cracked up to be.
And to answer the question 100% of VP and VQ go through SERE before arriving at their first command, I am pretty sure you cannot transfer without completing it.
Also, one more point. I was one of the unfortunate ones who was gouged up prior to going to SERE by some friends. So I kind of had an idea of what was going to happen, which was the worst thing that could have happened. Because, even with that knowledge my mind built expectations that were continually exceeded by the realness of the lab. My advice, just go, don't ask friends and don't let people tell you too much. I promise it will not help. Advice about what can make you life easier, like wearing under armour boxer briefs vs anything cotton, and taking GOOD socks are essential. Any more questions about good gear to take let me know...take care
