A bit of a challenge

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Colette M. Graham
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Have you ever thought about who might greet you first if you were a returning prisoner of war (POW)?

After a POW is recovered, one of the first support personnel the returnee would meet is a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) psychologist who assists in easing them back into life and work.

This transition from POW status to Airman is known as the repatriation process. It helps give returnees the best chance of success by preparing them for the changes to come and making sure the returnee is well before sending them back to work, but special training is required to assist in this process.

Lt. Col. Dawn Kessler-Walker, 4th Medical Operations Squadron commander and licensed psychologist stationed here since June 2010, was given a rare opportunity to attend the SERE training conducted at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Sept. 12-30 and SERE psychologist training Oct. 3-6.

Kessler-Walker attended the DoD level C SERE course. Most people just receive the first level training online through Advanced Distributed Learning Service.

"There are probably about two psychologists (on average) during each three week training," said Kessler-Walker.

Any U.S. personnel, who are captured in wartime or peacetime, in a hostage situation or any type of evasion or survival situation, must go through repatriation. A SERE psychologist is involved in the whole process by performing an assessment and providing mental support during repatriation.

SERE psychologists provide the mental health services needed, which varies with each person and situation. Some people need little help, while others need long term psychological services. The goal of the SERE psychologist training is to gain insight into the mental balancing act between stress, resiliency and survival.

"I have not been involved in anything yet [but] I do know that most people find [repatriation] very helpful, because we serve as an advocate for the person. If we see something that is not right, we will make sure this gets fixed and we help the person through the whole process," said Kessler-Walker. "For example, [the returnee] will have to go through a lot of interviews and this can be stressful [for them]. We make sure this goes okay."

A passing fitness test and proper medical clearance are some of the requirements to attend this type of training and not everyone is able to participate.

"DoD wants to have SERE psychologists in order to be able to assist in the phases of repatriation and to work in certain jobs," said Kessler-Walker. "Some psychologists attend training as part of their deployment requirements, and others, like me, ask to attend the training to be SERE qualified to have the opportunity to be involved in repatriation or to help with local issues at his or her base. I asked to attend and was lucky enough to be able to go."

SERE training teaches Airmen principles, techniques and skills to survive in any environment, such as making shelters and finding food and water. The course covers evasion of capture and how to avoid surrendering when possible. Students learn how to resist questioning and physical abuse to the best of their ability during interrogations in order to avoid giving out important information or participating in making propaganda.

"A lot of people had told me the resistance training was hard," said Kessler-Walker. "The resistance part was not fun, but I didn't have a lot of problems with it - probably because mentally, I was prepared for it."

Finally, students learn if and how they should escape under different circumstances. Most importantly, they are taught to use the code of conduct as a moral guideline.

The psychology part of the SERE training was helpful for Kessler-Walker when she learned what SERE psychologists do and after watching the resistance training.

"Watching the training really made sense of everything I had just gone through and made me feel prepared if I ever do get the chance to help someone during the repatriation process," said Kessler-Walker.

The biggest challenge for her was the physical part of the survival training while in the woods for six days.

"I was a little nervous about how hard it would be to hike through the mountains carrying a heavy rucksack, which was a bit of a challenge," said Kessler-Walker. "By the fifth day, my body was getting pretty tired; it was hard to keep up with the rest of my element who were all 25-years-old or younger, I kept thinking, I am too old for this!"

Now that she has the required training Kessler-Walker can assist in repatriation wherever she is assigned and while deployed. Additionally, she can help Airmen who require SERE training by preparing them before they go.