SERE skills tested during Razor Talon

First Lieutenants James Hendershaw (left), 336th Fighter Squadron weapon systems officer, and Michael McCoy, 336th FS pilot, evade simulated threats during the Razor Talon exercise Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. The aircrew members used their survival, evasion, resistance and escape training, while attempting to contact their wingmen for aerial support following a simulated aircraft crash in a hostile environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

1st Lt. James Hendershaw (left), 336th Fighter Squadron weapon systems officer, and 1st Lt. Michael McCoy, 336th FS pilot, evade simulated threats during the Razor Talon exercise Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. The aircrew members used their survival, evasion, resistance and escape training, while attempting to contact their wingmen for aerial support following a simulated aircraft crash in a hostile environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

First Lt. Michael McCoy, 336th Fighter Squadron pilot, uses a mirror to signal a nearby friendly aircraft during the Razor Talon exercise Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. Razor Talon is a monthly exercise that allows service members unique opportunities to combine land, air and sea forces from all service branches in a realistic training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

1st Lt. Michael McCoy, 336th Fighter Squadron pilot, uses a mirror to signal a nearby friendly aircraft during the Razor Talon exercise Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. Razor Talon is a monthly exercise that allows service members unique opportunities to combine land, air and sea forces from all service branches in a realistic training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

First Lt. James Hendershaw, 336th Fighter Squadron weapon systems officer, applies camo paint to his face prior to participating in the Razor Talon exercise, Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. During this Razor Talon scenario, two aircrew members utilized their survival, evasion, resistance and escape training following a simulated aircraft crash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

1st Lt. James Hendershaw, 336th Fighter Squadron weapon systems officer, applies camouflage paint to his face prior to participating in the Razor Talon exercise, Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. During this Razor Talon scenario, two aircrew members utilized their survival, evasion, resistance and escape training following a simulated aircraft crash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

First Lt. James Hendershaw, 336th Fighter Squadron weapon systems officer, uses his combat survival evader locator to try and make contact an allied aircraft during the Razor Talon exercise Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. The CSEL is used by aircrew to support survival, evasion, and personnel recovery operations and provides secure two-way communication with nearby friendly forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

1st Lt. James Hendershaw, 336th Fighter Squadron weapon systems officer, uses his combat survival evader locator to try to make contact with an allied aircraft during the Razor Talon exercise Aug. 5, 2016, near Smyrna, North Carolina. The CSEL is used by aircrew to support survival, evasion, and personnel recovery operations and provides secure two-way communication with nearby friendly forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --

Exercise Razor Talon tested aircrew members from the 336th Fighter Squadron on their survival, evasion, resistance and escape training, Aug. 8, 2016.

Razor Talon is a monthly exercise that provides service members unique opportunities to combine land, air and sea forces from all service branches in a realistic training environment.

1st Lt. Michael McCoy, 336th FS pilot, and 1st Lt. James Hendershaw, 336th FS weapon systems officer, simulated surviving an aircraft crash and proceeded to use their SERE skills to evade enemy capture while attempting to make contact with their wingmen, who were still flying, to try and get rescued.

“We went out there with some of the equipment we’d have on us had we ejected and started at a point and began our initial actions of evasion and simulated we were in a hostile environment,” said McCoy. “Even though it was a simulated environment it was still stressful and intense, but the training was very helpful and it was nice to see how all the equipment works and how coordination with the [F-15E Strike Eagle] works.”  

Approximately 10 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 333rd FS participated in the monthly exercise with aircraft from multiple bases to include F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and a P-8 Poseidon from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

While evading through the woods, Staff Sgt. Joshua Krape, 4th Operations Support Squadron SERE specialist, followed behind to offer advice when needed and to make sure the aircrew members were extracting all that they could from the exercise.

“Whenever we have these exercises we try to incorporate a downed aircraft scenario to provide a SERE training opportunity,” said Krape. “This particular [Razor Talon] we did a downed aircraft on land and the aircrew were required to evade and also try to make contact and get a visual with the other F-15E that was still flying. I was there as an observer-controller and their goal is to see how much they’ve retained from their initial SERE training and apply during a real-world exercise, like Razor Talon.”