Hey dudes, just got a rip about going to survival school.  Any tips tricks etc.  I know that you are not supposed to tell anything about it, but these are the main questions:   What do you bring?  Uniforms?  Cab to Fairchild or rent a car?  Any help would be appreciated.

Actually there is only one small component guys can't talk about...the rest is fair game. As far as what to bring, a flight suit and a pair of BDUs. I'd go with the BDUs in the field since it's likely to be "hot" unlike the snowcovered SERE I did. If you have a gortex camo jacket you may be able to bring that. Gortex is great on those rainy days. If you don't sleep well when someone snores loudly next to you...you may want to bring some ear plugs. You'll probably be in charge of a ten wo/man or so team in the field and you'll likely spend some nights in a group shelter. If you have a crusty old MSgt in your group that snores up a storm, like I had, you'll wish you had some earplugs. You might want to pack a plastic bag with cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly and take that. It's great tinder for getting fires started. That was more of a concern in January when it was cold. If you don't like being in tight spaces for an "extended" period of time...you might want to prepare yourself for that. Just remember not to "flex" - just stay limp. If you start applying pressure with your body it'll feel tighter.

The SERE instructors are probably THE sharpest guys I have seen in the Air Force. It's not just there. Even in my flying organization those guys never fail to impress me. They know their shit, they're motivated, and they can speak in a large forum as well as they do their field stuff. Pure Grade A Americanos. Enjoy working and learning from them. I'll PM you one thing to ask them to teach you that is pretty nifty.

SERE is actually a good time. I went with a buddy from UPT and we ended up in cells next to each other and he had me laughing my ass off the whole time. The music they play when you're in your cell is pretty catchy. I find myself singing it to myself even now. Not really.

And don't let anyone tell you about "the ending." You don't want to know. It'll ruin the experience.

You could easily do the cab thing.  The only reason to rent a car would be to party on the weekends you have off.  There is time for that and a lot of guys won't have vehicles so that might be the way to go.  I remember a couple of dudes, one was a FAIP like yourself, that partied like rock stars the whole time.  I don't know how they did it but I could tell they were paying for it on some of those briefs.  I guess FAIPs just know how to party.

Enjoy it.  It's a great experience.

Anybody else do the SERE thing and live to tell?

If you like camping, then you will enjoy the survival portion.  I enjoyed it.  Don't be afraid to eat stuff.  If they say it is edible, then eat it.  All the hiking will wear you out and if you have food aversions, then just cowboy up and eat what is edible for energy.  No matter what, you are not goiing to starve to death.  You can dehydrate, but they pound into you so much about staying hydrated, so if you do get dehydrated, it is a result of your own bufoonery. 

Get a good pair of boots.  I recommend wearing BDUs also.  Pack only what you need. 

As for resistance training, of course we can't say anything.  All I can say is that I would rather go through the survival portion 3 more times than going through RT again.  It is going to suck...period.  Just tell yourself that it is not forever and be grateful that you do not have to go through what those guys in the Hanoi Hilton had to deal with.

I went through SERE back in 1993 so my info is probably dated, but I would not be surprised if most of it is the same.

Good luck and I can't say I'm jealous of you!

Looks like everyone has covered all the points. I can't say I enjoyed anything about survival except for the plane trip out of Washington! I'm glad it is behind me but the training was great and I really learned a lot. Just do what you are told and you will be fine. I just caught a van from the airport over to the base. I never left the base until time to leave and I just caught another van back to the airport. Nice and simple and cheap! I am sure you will get a packing list at some point on what to wear. When I went through they made us wear the clothing that we would be egressing in. I wore a flight suit the whole time but I do remember wearing BDUs for something but cant recall the reason, so take both to be safe (in my opinion). Just like the others, it has been a while for me so ask some of the other new LTs and see what they have to offer. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

"Haole"

Aight,

So I finished SERE back in June; being fresh out of it, I have only a few things to offer that haven't been covered.  A few days before I went, I discovered a mysterious rash on my back and neck.  I went to the flight doc and since the rash was intermittent, nothing he could do since he couldn't see it.  However, he was fresh from SERE also, so he gave me a prescription for Benedryl.  This was money. If you can swing it, I would.  In the field I was able to take two before bed and slept like a rock. Generally, you aren't supposed to have medication of any kind in the field unless its prescription.  Also, take as many pairs of cotton socks as you can.  Any chance you get change your socks and always wear two pair.  Personally, I think wool socks are overrated.  Before SERE I had completed 2, 70 mile treks wearing nothing but 2 pair of cotton socks; I've never, ever had blisters.  The overboots they give you seem like they are better for collecting water than repelling it.  That said, I would wear them anyway.  The look uber homo but for me, they really helped. 

RT sucks, no way around it.  Don't listen to anything anybody who tells you.  The "experience" is tenfold if you are ignorant of the going ons of RT.  Good luck and have fun. 

ps  I want to know how they got a waiver at Survival Inn to charge students (mostly O-2 and below) the full rate for double occupancy (roomie in a hotel room with 2 singles).  Seems like huge waste as far as AF dollars go.

I don't know the answer to your question but I would guess you'd still have to do it only because of the aviation flavor of the SERE. Using the tools you'll have in your survival kit, parachute canopy, etc.

Nice stats btw. You're sitting pretty.

Makes sense. Oh well, can't wait to go get beat up again! (sts) Can anyone give a little bit of difference between the Navy/Marine SERE and the AF one? Length of the actual school is the big difference i've heard of so far.

Thanks for the compliment, T6driver!  Hopefully their good enough!