SERE: Background information when reading Waiting for Eden

SERE

This article relates to Waiting for Eden

In Elliot Ackerman's novel Waiting for Eden, a pivotal scene is set at the Marine Corp's SERE school.

SERE is an acronym that stands for "Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape." Created by the U.S. Air Force at the end of World War II, the program was modeled after the experiences of British and US aviators who were able to evade and escape the enemy. In the 1950s and 1960s, CIA interrogation practices were incorporated. SERE was later shaped into its current format by LTC Nick Rowe who observed the deficiencies of the military's training techniques during his five years of captivity during the Vietnam War. SERE training methods were adopted by the other services with each branch developing their own specific curriculum.

Some level of SERE training is required for all military personnel:

Level-A: Taken by all military personnel during induction, as well as Department of Defense civilians and private military contractors. It provides trainees with a basic understanding of the military code of conduct. The six-article code is at the heart of all military training and states:

1. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
2. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
3. If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
4. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
5. When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability, I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
6. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

Level-B: Geared toward those at moderate risk of capture such as members of ground combat units, security forces in charge of high threat targets, and anyone in the front lines of battle. This type of training is mandatory for most who are deploying, and is conducted at the unit level.

Level-C: Designed for individuals at high risk of capture and exploitation – generally elite troops. There are only five authorized Level-C training centers in the United States. Each Level-C class spans three weeks and takes place in three phases:

1. The first 10 days is held in the classroom and concentrates on the military code of conduct as well as various skills that can be taught indoors (some have called it "Death by PowerPoint").
2. The second phase is a five-day field training exercise where the trainees practice survival skills such as fire making, creating shelter, finding food, and navigation. They also work on evading tracking dogs and enemy forces over long distances.
3. Finally, personnel are subjected to a mock prisoner-of-war camp, where they're tested on their ability to resist interrogation and exploitation, and to properly apply the code of conduct. The last phase is largely shrouded in secrecy since those undertaking the training sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The last step of SERE Level-C training has become controversial, with some calling for the military to shut down their "torture school." (See Marine Corp soldier David J. Morris' 2009 article in Slate.) Adding fuel to the fire has been mounting evidence that prisoners such as captured Taliban soldiers, those at Abu Ghraib and prisoners held at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, were interrogated using techniques taught during SERE training school. Some also argue that the training is out of date; today a soldier is much more likely to be held by a small band of enemy fighters and skills other than endurance are more important.

Filed under Cultural Curiosities

This "beyond the book article" relates to Waiting for Eden. It originally ran in October 2018 and has been updated for the September 2019 paperback edition. Go to magazine.