Air rescue and recovery training center

The Air Rescue and Recovery Training Center was established in the early 1960s at Stead Air Force Base, Nevada, to provide specialized training for Air Force personnel in search and rescue operations. Originally part of the Air Rescue Service, the center focused on developing advanced techniques for helicopter and fixed-wing aircrew to conduct combat and peacetime rescue missions. Its curriculum included survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) training, as well as instruction in medical evacuation and airborne recovery methods. The training center played a pivotal role during the Vietnam War, preparing thousands of airmen for critical recovery missions behind enemy lines. Over time, it evolved into a key institution supporting the Air Force’s commitment to saving lives and recovering personnel in hostile environments.