ON OCT. 29, 1963, the Vietcong captured Army Capt. Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace, 1st Lt. James Nicholas “Nick” Rowe, and Master Sgt. Dan Pitzer after a vicious fire-fight. Versace eventually was executed, and Pitzer was released after four years in captivity. Only Rowe remained behind bars. Rowe fought his captors at every turn, vehemently rejecting repeated attempts at communist indoctrination while secretly plotting his escape. After five years, the Vietcong had had enough: Rowe was scheduled for execution.
During his transfer, Rowe took advantage of the distraction caused by a sudden overflight of U.S. helicopters and overpowered his guard. He raced toward an open field, where he was picked up by one of the passing choppers and flown to safety.
Rowe left the Army in 1974, but he was recalled to active duty in 1981 to create and run the Army Special Forces’ Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) program. Its goal: to train personnel to survive if separated from their units, evade the enemy, resist enemy attempts at interrogation or exploitation if captured, and return home with honor.
Today, SERE training is provided by all branches of the armed services and is required for anyone at risk of isolation or enemy capture overseas. It’s a grueling program, and students learn a variety of survival and coping skills that one day could save their lives.
There currently are three levels of Army SERE instruction, according to Army Maj. Jeffrey Bracco, company commander, C Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), Camp Mackall, N.C.:
■ Level-A SERE instruction is included during basic training and all entry-level courses for officers.
■ Level-B SERE instruction uses a training support packet containing 16 lesson plans that support training in 38 tasks.
■ Level-C SERE instruction is designed for personnel whose wartime position, military occupational specialty, or assignment poses a high risk of capture and whose position, rank, or seniority would make them targets for greater exploitation efforts by the enemy. This includes Special Forces, Pathfinders, selected aviators, flight-crew members, and members of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
52 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84