Survival Evasion Resistance Escape, Fairchild AFB, Washington Challenge Coin

Survival. Evasion. Resistance. Escape. SERE. These vital survival skills are taught under the most adverse and toughest conditions imaginable at the US Air Force Survival School, Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington. Mandatory to all Air Force aircrew, the course lasts 19 days, with no time off, no weekends free, full-time immersion in the techniques of wilderness survival and interrogation resistance.

Training that addresses physical and psychological stresses of survival come first. Hands-on training in how to survive after aircraft ejection, life-support measures and survival medicine are next. Training then moves deep into the wild mountain areas around Fairchild where students are taught shelter construction, how to scavenge food in the wild, and how to camouflage and avoid capture during day and night travel. Finally, students return to Fairchild where they are trained in conduct after capture-that is, interrogation and torture techniques. Brutal, hard, difficult-that is what the training is. But it gives one the skill to "Return with Honor."

This bold coin states the purpose of the school: "Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape-Return with Honor-USAF SERE-Fairchild AFB, WA."