Extreme academics: airmen travel to central Alaska's frozen wilderness to learn the rigors of arctic survival

Airman, Sept, 2004 by Scott Wagers

During the coldest months in central Alaska, when temperatures plummet to minus 60 degrees, you can toss a hot cup of coffee into the air and it'll evaporate before the first drop ever touches the ground.

There's no more dramatic proof that cold kills. And it's a valuable lesson for students at the Arctic Survival Training School at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. It's something that Staff Sgt. Sean Hanson, an 6-year veteran survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, uses to teach American and NATO troops the importance of staying hydrated in a cold environment.

Affectionately known as "Cool School," arctic survival training began in 1947 under the encouragement of the commander in chief of Strategic Air Command Gen. Curtis E. LeMay. Having proved that environmental and situational survival training reduced aircrew losses during World War II, more than 700 students--mostly aircrew--are now receiving personalized training annually. The training includes personal protection, shelter construction, food gathering, signaling, communications and recovery.

According to Tech. Sgt. Joel Emerson, a 14-year veteran and SERE specialist, staying alive requires more than overcoming the physical challenges.

"Your mind is powerful," he said. "Keeping it busy on positive things like the shelter you successfully built or the food source you discovered, as opposed to bad things like 'Why hasn't help arrived yet?' is key because negativity and boredom are disastrous in a survival situation."

With most aircrews traversing hot, desert-like climates, it's easy to assume an arctic survival situation is not in the cards. So what's the biggest danger in arctic survival?

"Not being prepared or thinking this will never happen to you," Sergeant Hanson said. "For those at northern tier bases a simple trip into town late at night during the winter could turn into a survival situation. A family ski trip into the mountains could go wrong. Being prepared could save your life."