USN/ USMC Exercise at Warner Springs, CA

[xnvyflyer]

I recently took part in an exercise at Warner Springs in the vicinity of SERE school. Some of the SERE guys were dressed as rag heads and were looking for the marines who were doing their best to remain invisible. Our job, as we were told was to try to locate the marines and make it known to them that we could see them, if we in fact could find them. We'd just hover directly over them for a couple seconds was the plan.

Besides the 2 marines that were spoon fed to us by a couple rag heads in a pickup truck, we saw exactly JACK SQUAT. We were at and below tree level, looking in bushes for at least an hour. I'm not sure how many guys were out in the bush but either they got the cloaking device dialed in or we just plain suck.

Anybody here partake in that one?

 

[MasterBates]

Having been there.. I'd say hiding from a helo would not be that hard.

MOVING and hiding from a helo, that would be beyond my skills.

 

[llnick2001]

Agreed. That's pretty cool that they did that though.

 

[Schnugg]

Did you try to use IR imaging? Do you have that?

 

[xnvyflyer]

Did you try to use IR imaging? Do you have that?

Yeah we have it but I was flying during the late morning and by then the ground is so solar-loaded there's really no point. Everything is pretty darn hot.

 

[skidkid]

It is still not that easy even with a great FLIR. Sounds like you hit thermal cross over but even in a thermally diverse environment finding an individual in a moderately wooded area isnt hapenning unless they move or someone cna vector you on.

 

[FlyinSpy]

I recently took part in an exercise at Warner Springs in the vicinity of SERE school.

If by "recently" you mean "last week", our flight surgeon was going through the course there. I'll get a debrief from him next weekend and ask him about any helos.

 

[Gatordev]

Various war stories from SERE

Guys, keep the details to a minimum. XNavyflyer's question is legit, so I'm keeping it open, but there doesn't need to be an after-action report on everyone's experiences w/ their knee-balls.