U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joe Dittmer, 347th Operations Support Squadron, was named the 2011 Outstanding Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Airman of the Year at both the Air Combat Command and Air Force level. He has two deployments to the Horn of Africa under his belt, was a lead planner for a multi-service hostage exercise, and he is a certified Army Combatives instructor. This summer, he’s excited to add “father” to his resume as well. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Another day at the office

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Daubert, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, assesses the placement of a training dummy in a tree June 11, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Daubert teaches a tree rescue course as part of SERE curriculum to personnel assigned to the 23d Wing and 93d Air Ground Operations Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Demonstrating the techniques

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Daubert, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, demonstrates proper climbing position during a tree rescue course June 11, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. By securing himself to the tree with a safety line and spurs, Daubert is able to use his hands to assist a stranded parachutist in the tree. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Feedback from the pros

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Daubert, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, checks the stance of Senior Airman Skylin Fosah, 820th Combat Operations Squadron, during a tree rescue course June 11, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. With proper training and equipment, Fosah will be certified to safely rescue a parachutist from a tree. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Preparing the dummy

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joe Dittmer, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, attaches a parachute harness to a training dummy during a tree rescue course June 11, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Moody SERE specialists conducted the training with 820th Base Defense Group Airmen, who routinely parachute from aircraft as part of their mobility training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Ready for the climb

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Daubert, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, dons tree-climbing spurs prior to ascending a pine tree during a tree rescue course at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 11, 2012. The spiked spurs allow the climber to ascend a tree while using a rope and harness for stability and safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Rescuing the dummy

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Skylin Fosah, 820th Combat Operations Squadron, positions himself in a tree to provide assistance to a training dummy, which represents a stranded parachutist. Fosah and other Airmen with the 820th Base Defense Group attended a tree rescue course June 11, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Tools of the trade

Assorted tools, harnesses, ropes and saws are essential to safe tree climbing. The 347th Operations Support Squadron Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists assigned at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., taught a tree rescue course June 11, 2012, and demonstrated the proper way to safely scale a tree. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Up he goes

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Daubert (left) and Staff Sgt. Joe Dittmer, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists, hoist a training dummy into a tree June 11, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The SERE specialists taught a tree rescue course to 820th Base Defense Group Airmen, who could potentially have to rescue a stranded parachutist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Watching the expert

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Daubert, 347th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, demonstrates proper wear and use of tree climbing harnesses and equipment to Airmen with the 820th Base Defense Group June 11, 2012, during a tree rescue course at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The 820th BDG Airmen completed the training in order to safely rescue stranded parachutists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs/Released)

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Tree rescue course prepares Airmen for survival

Published June 22, 2012

Another day at the office

Demonstrating the techniques

Feedback from the pros

Preparing the dummy

Ready for the climb

Rescuing the dummy

Tools of the trade

Up he goes

Watching the expert