BOLOVANI, Romania —
Survival, evasion, rescue and escape specialists conducted training here with 37th Airlift Squadron and Romanian air force pilots during Carpathian Summer 2018, a bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability and readiness of forces by conducting combined air operations with the Romanian air force.
The 37th AS is part of the 86th Airlift Wing 'based in Ramstein, Germany.
“Our purpose today is to work interoperable training with the Romanian rescue forces,” said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Canoy, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa SERE functional manager. “We put survivors on the ground, they communicate with their wingmen, and then they pass the information to the Romanians to get rescued.”
As the pilots rummage through their gear, they pull out a 3-by-5-inch mirror and a radio. As a face-painted pilot dials in a frequency to make communications, another takes the mirror and makes her way out to the field, the only spot within a 2-kilometer radius beaming with sunlight.
Receiving Instructions
The sweat beads up on their faces as they listen to the SERE experts provide instruction.
“When they fly over us, you're going to want to aim that mirror right at their cockpit,” Canoy said.
In the distance, the faint sound of aircraft faded in and out.
“They're…
