INPUT
is being sought into a review of the Combat Survival Training
School’s combat survival course, which teaches skills to use if
your aircraft has crashed or is shot down in a way that pushes
participants “beyond their established comfort zone, harder than
they have been ever pushed on a PFT before, and longer and in
more difficult conditions”.
The course is primarily for aircrew, although as part of the DI(AF)
it is a requirement for ground defence officers, ADGs and PTIs.
Other musterings such as air traffic, air defence and medics
are also participating in the course as space becomes available.
Squadron Leader Jason Allery, CO of CSTS, said the training needs
analysis would include developing new competencies based on flying unit requirements and a review of the activities of other
training establishments overseas.
“The process may involve significant change to current training,
or simply confirm that current training is satisfactory,” he
said. “It’s a difficult area because what we do here, ideally,
no-one ever uses, so it’s very hard to get validation of what
you do other than in a training scenario. It’s hard to justify
changing what we do on the basis that no-one’s ever proven that
what we’re doing is not appropriate.”
The 21-day training is heavily focused on environmental survival
covering the sea, coast, arid and jungle situations with less
emphasis on the combat side. “At the end of every course, we review
it and pick out all the good and bad points, so effectively every
course changes in terms of the practical delivery. [But] the objectives
haven’t changed for many years, so this is what the training needs
analysis will look at.”
He said there was a “lot more call” for survival skills to be
involved in major exercises and unit exercises to provide expertise.
“People are getting much more involved in it and taking a larger
interest in doing it properly.”
Courses are typically made up of about 60 per cent Air Force,
25 per cent Army, 10 per cent Navy and 5 per cent other personnel.
CSTS is seeking input into the review from all flying groups,
units and interested individuals.
Contact SQNLDR Allery on (07) 4752 1500. Also, the 25th anniversary
of the Combat Survival course at RAAF Townsville will be celebrated
in mid September with a “suitably ruggedised” social function.
Any previous staff are welcome to contact the current Chief Instructor,
FLTLT Chris Humphries on (07) 4752 1501 to register their interest
in attending the function.
