Leave No One Behind

The world watched fascinated as America recovered two pilots isolated behind enemy lines in Iran. Television screens were filled with pundits or veterans discussing everything from SERE* school to the impact of the successful recovery of both pilots on ceasefire negotiations. I was one of those pundits who helped fill the airwaves, conducting over 20 interviews across multiple networks, and being the first guest to talk about the recovery on Fox News, within minutes of the Pentagon confirming it.

There were those with a wealth of knowledge and experience who stood out for their demonstrated expertise in the language of Personnel Recovery (PR) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). While some clearly did not know the topic. At the bottom of this article is a list of my specific qualifications that allow me to write about this topic as an expert.

I am certain a movie and a book will result from this incredible story. But I thought I would provide some basic knowledge about the military PR/CSAR system and why it is so important not only for recovering isolated individuals (mission #1), but also for our national security. I will also briefly discuss aspects of PR/CSAR from the isolated person on the ground to the overall system embedded in the military and across the government. This article will be short because much of what goes into preparing individuals, staffs, and a nation for this mission cannot be shared publicly. I can only ask that you trust me when I say there is more I can’t share than I can. For those who’ve been through some of the training, you know how much I have left out.

First, recovering our own and demonstrating a fulfilled promise are national security successes for the United States.

• An all-volunteer force needs to recruit and retain the best people. If we are to attract the best and brightest into the uniformed services, they must be able to trust the chain of command and the entire military. If we only say we will leave no one behind, but fail to follow through on that promise, we’d become a second-rate military, and our national security would suffer.

• Many specialties in the military are voluntary once in uniform. Army aviation and all forms of special operations forces are examples. Aviators of all branches and special operations forces are also at the highest risk of becoming isolated on the battlefield. If we did not seek to train every person at High Risk of Isolation (HRI) effectively or exhaust all means to recover those who become isolated or go missing, the volunteers could stop coming.