Why isn't SERE-C part of every MOS's Prof-Dev pipeline?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 03:21:42 -0400

How is it that SERE-C is basically relegated to Air Crews and SOF. Who could not benefit from the experience and lessons from SERE-C? its not like it's some outsourced school like Gryphon Group that would cost the tax payer money. Why waste money on a cook to go to Air Assault/Airborne yet not invest it in SERE-C where he can learn skills that transcend the Army?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 8:45 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 08:45:28 -0400

First, don't kid yourself. Every school costs the tax payers money, even if the Army builds it, owns it and runs it.
Second, SERE-C is required for those jobs that pose a higher risk of capture/detention, whether in combat or between wars.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 10:12 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:12:30 -0400

Also it's not like there is a list of authorized MOS' that can go, most people just dont have a reason, dont know they can, or the biggest- their unit doesnt want to train people because sweeping the motor pool and conducting PRT are all they do, instead of you know, actually training and sending people to advanced schools.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Mar 20 at 2019 5:03 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:03:13 -0400

Airborne and air assault qualified cooks, mechanics and clerks have the probability to serve in airborne / air assault units as those MOS sets are common to nearly all MTOE and many TDA units , so training those folks is not a waste and ensures you have a pool of trained and qualified personnel to rotate in and out.
Air crews and SOF personnel go to the SERE-C training because they are the MOS sets most likely to encounter situations that require the training due to their flying over / through and operating deeper within enemy held territory than the majority of other MOS sets.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Mar 20 at 2019 9:29 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 21:29:15 -0400

It is realistice. We were captured off an airplane, hog tied in a truck for several hours. At the destination they stripped naked on our knees in the snow in the middle of February in Maine. We stayed naked in a cold cell that was 4'X4' with a can to pee in and a light that never went off. They beat the shit out of you, starve you, interrogate you clothed. No sleep for days while hearing propaganda 24 hour a day. There is more but I'll leave the other nasty details to imagination. You want to experience that then get selected to a Tier 1 unit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 9:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 21:52:36 -0400

There's nothing wasteful about sending a cook to Airborne School, it's required to be part of an Airborne unit. Support personnel have an important role in the Airborne mission. It's not a waste to send them to Air Assault school, you don't need to be combat arms to conduct slingload operations or use any of the other skills learned in Air Assault.
I'm not sure how you grouped Airborne and Air Assault together as if they're interchangeable, but OK...
There's no major benefit to sending every MOS to SERE. It's not a requirement for their MOS, which means that having it is fluff. In this case, it's very expensive fluff because it would require standing up a SERE course at every single AIT and OSUT station, certifying all the Cadre, and watering down the training because it would have to be validated through TRADOC.
Did i mention how expensive that would be? Even once the initial piece is paid for, that's a lot of expense for no tangible benefit to the Army.