Airman prepare for the spectacular, daring, dangerous: the chase

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Kim
  • 1st Special Operations Public Affairs
EGLIN RANGE, Fla. --  Part 2 of 3 about a tactical driving course taught and facilitated by members of Team Hurlburt

In a small corner of the tactical driving course facilitated by the 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron, a line of cars, which on any given day would call a junkyard "home," are prepare to be a medium for invaluable training. What the cars lacked in aesthetic value, the cars made up in durability and functionality--two attributes important for the next part of the driving lesson coincidentally explaining the damage: the chase.

After fine-tuning their handling skills during the Combat Aviation Advisor Military Qualification Skills Course defensive driving module on Eglin Range, Fla., Airmen attempted to master the Precision Immobilization Technique, or commonly known as the PIT maneuver, used in cases of pursuit. The students pursued cars driven by instructors, whom are trained professionals, with the goal of administering the slightest tap to send the car spinning helplessly and hopelessly, ending the pursuit.

"Most people do not get to experience anything like this until it is too late," said Master Sgt. Ace Jones, instructor and course facilitator from 371st SOCTS. "If there is a wreck on Highway 98 or something in front of them where they don't possess the skills, they are usually included in a wreck or make it worse."

The daring chases are, yet again, just one small aspect of the overall training to prepare Airmen for unforeseen circumstances they face during their unique mission of helping partner nations in prolonging their aircraft, among other various activities. The overall course aims to help Airmen integrate themselves and build relationships with those nations for better mission effectiveness.

"There are a lot of great courses taught over at the center where they learn intercultural communications and regional specific skills to help integrate into a situation where a partner nation might not be as willing to accept us or our help at the beginning," Jones said. "But once they find out we are true professionals, that we know how to communicate with them, a lot of times in their own language, it pays dividends that people can understand when you're in a negotiation about what's going to go on, flying their air frames, using their buildings or getting invited to the base commanders home to eat and drink with them."

The wise instructors and facilitators dictate their missions be completed with the utmost precision and efficiency through important training such as smooth relations with partner nations. Unfortunately, when threats become very real and very dangerous, Airmen can use essential tools learned in the course to survive. While the students learned to chase and stop vehicles, the final test will prove whether they can escape from perilous situations.

Next Week: Part 3--Airmen learn to escape