AFH10-644 — Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE) Operations

AFH10-644 governs SERE operations and isolated personnel activities during survival, evasion, resistance, and escape.

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  • Publication number: AFH10-644
  • Title: Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE) Operations
  • Date: 2017-03-27

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AFH10-644 covers environmental conditions, psychology, medicine, weather, clothing, shelter, firecraft, water, food, navigation, travel, signaling, recovery, and evasion. Compliance with this publication is mandatory, and its tactics, techniques, and procedures are recognized best practices.

Applies to: This handbook also applies to US Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units and members.

Topics covered

  • SERE medicine
  • Global climate characteristics
  • Shelter construction
  • Food preservation
  • Land navigation
  • Urban evasion
  • Signaling and communication
  • Equipment

Questions and answers

What conditions affect survival during an isolating event?

Five basic conditions affect every isolating event (Figure 2-1). (paragraph 4)

How do climatic conditions affect survival?

Extreme cold or hot temperatures, complicated by moisture (rain, humidity, dew, snow, etc.) or lack of moisture, and the possibility of wind, may have a life threatening impact on the IP's needs, decisions, and actions. (paragraph 4)

What shelter pitch is optimum for shedding precipitation?

A 60-degree pitch is optimum for shedding precipitation and providing shelter room. (paragraph 5)

How should food be stored around a shelter?

Food should never be stored in the shelter as this may attract wild animals and could be hazardous to IP. (paragraph 5)

What is the limitation of the shadow-tip system for determining direction?

The shadow-tip system is ineffective for use beyond 66'/2o latitude in either hemisphere due to the position of the Sun above the horizon. (paragraph 4)

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