SERE specialist trained 14 rescued coalition members

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Betty R. Chevalier
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - --  Senior Airman Christopher Osnes, 355th Operation Support Squadron Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape specialist at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., earned the Air Combat Command SERE Specialist Airman of the year for 2012.

The ACC award cited Osnes for going above and beyond the requirements of duty.

The responsibility of a SERE specialist is to prepare aircrew and high-risk-of-isolation personnel to return with honor. Specialists also train in various climatic conditions and have intense training in wilderness living, map and compass navigation, escape and evasion, and conduct after capture.

Osnes was recognized for dedicating 1440 hours as the subject matter expert in personal recovery, which ultimately led to the recovery of 14 coalition service members during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was an observer controller in many Combat Search & Rescue exercises and provided realistic survival and evasion skills to aircrew personnel, which led to two A-10 pilot upgrades.

Osnes instructed Code of Conduct Continuation Training to more than 650 aircrew, all while the section was at 50 percent manning.

On top of keeping up on his own training and teaching Airmen, he has been continuing his education and is 16 credits from getting his bachelor's degree for surgical nursing.