INTRODUCTION OF THE COURSE
From 2002 to 2006, the European Air Group (EAG) conducted VOLCANEX Exercises with a heavy focus on Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR). These exercises provided not only valuable training for the participating forces but, also threw up a variety of lessons learned. Through these, it became obvious that Force Integration Training was extremely valuable.
As no other training opportunity of this kind was available in Europe, the EAG developed a Combined Joint Combat Search and Rescue Standardization Course on the basis of the previous VOLCANEX exercises and their respective lessons learned.
Later on, the need for this course became more pronounced. However, the naming of it lead to misunderstandings and distracted from its aims. CSAR is just a narrow subset of Personnel Recovery.
On the 3rd of July 2013, the EAG Chiefs of Air Staff decided to create a European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC). An interim EPRC was initiated and situated at RAF High Wycombe with 8 Staff Officers under the control of the Director of the EAG. The EPRC achieved Initial Operational Capability on the 8th of July 2015 and an inauguration ceremony was held at its final location on Poggio Renatico Air Base in Italy.
This is the first time that the EPRC organizes the course by itself. Last year the course was still organized by the EAG and ultimately implemented by the EPRC. The name of the course has also changed in Air Centric Personnel Recovery Operatives Course to provide more clarity.

INTRODUCTION COURSE DIRECTOR
We spoke to the Course Director, Lieutenant Colonel Bart Holewijn. He works at the EPRC since it was founded and his main task is to organize this course. The 2015 course would have still been organized by his predecessor who worked at the EAG, but due to health issues this is his second time as a Course Director.
Lt. Col. Holewijn tells us how he ended up with the EPRC: “I started in the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1990 at the 299 squadron, and have flown the Bölkow Bo-105 there for several years.” When the Bölkow was phased out he had to be re-trained on the Alouette III, but due to practical considerations, he went to staff.

CHANGES IN THE COURSE
In comparison to last year, there are a lot of changes on how the course is set up. The goals are the same, but the approach is very different to the years before. Holewijn explains: “The biggest discussion we had last year is: what is this? Is this an exercise, is it a training event, or is it a course?”
The EPRC concluded that they had to return to a real course. There had to be clear and explicit learning objectives, and a clear description of how gradually make the course more difficult during the two weeks. “It has to be that on any given day, if we have three task forces, that they all perform the same mission. They have to have the same learning curve.” The course also starts at a lower level to be more accessible, and in order to connect better with the partakers.
UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
Holewijn points out there is no course like this anywhere. “The Netherlands have the Helicopter Weapon Instructor Course for example, the British have a comparable training, but internationally there is nothing like this, and other countries also have no similar training course.”
Different to last year is also the formation of the task forces. For the first three days they consist of the same people. It is easier to communicate they also are able to execute things they have learned.

COURSE OPERATIONS CENTER
Another important change as opposed to last year is that a Course Operations Center is now set up for the course. “Previously, there were several different departments, all of which were somewhere in the building, all of which had an owner, and they all walked around somewhere.” A Joint PR Center communicated with all of the departments. The colonel gives an example: “When a task force asked to have fifteen minutes extra because they cannot make the boarding time, then the JPRC had to go coordinating with all those players. But they had to be looked up somewhere, because they roamed around somewhere.”
In order to prevent that from happening this course, a small scale Air Operations Center, or a Course Operations Center was established on the base. All the key players are present in the room and they don’t leave. “If the question comes to delay departure for fifteen minutes, they can immediately ask if it’s possible.”
Communication lines are shorter that way. Information can immediately be communicated that to the other players in the room. “Especially if it becomes clear that we cannot fly for any reason, then you immediately have everyone available. Every player can call his people to make them come back.”
THEORY DAYS
The course starts with two days of theory. The first day focuses on what PR is, but attendants are expected to know a little about that already. In addition, information is provided about local regulations, about what the participants can expect, what the survivors roles will be in this course, and the capacities and capabilities of the various aircraft. The second day is focused on planning. How does the planning process work, how to divide tasks, what steps to go through and how to use various tools.

MIXING CREWS
Crews and helicopters of various nations are mixed all the time. At the beginning of the course, when everyone arrives, a cross training takes place, to ensure safety. The purpose of this mixing is to see if attendants interpret the same text in the same way. A difference in interpreting certain things is common, and this kind of training is very useful to get clarification.
Holewijn finds that very interesting: “Normally, fighter pilots never talk with extraction forces. Fighter pilots and helicopter pilots talk to each another sometimes, but they don’t cooperate often. In between these groups there’s also an AWACS flying for support. Fighter pilot of course communicate often with AWACS, but helicopter pilots never talk to AWACS, and extraction forces neither. So there are all kinds of players who would normally never actually talk to each other will be forced to work together.”
All communication takes place in English. It is also required to talk English in the planning area. Holewijn:”If someone behind you suddenly starts talking Spanish for example, then you have no idea what he’s talking about, when what they say can be very important for your role in that process.”
MISSION PREPARATION
Before starting a recovery mission, the group divides itself into a number of teams, that are preparing parts of that mission. The Rescue Mission Commander (RMC) is there to keep control over the process. During the planning process there are so-called mission mentors supervising the entire planning process. They advise people and they are also watching the exercise.
When everyone is ready planning after a few hours, there is the big briefing. The RMC briefs the overall plan and it should be clear to everyone. If so, the mission will start. But, like Holewijn experienced in the past, that is not always the case. He recalls saying: “I have no idea what you will do, but that cannot be safe, so the mission won’t be carried out like that.” A discussion arose in the group on how to execute things, and preparations of various teams didn’t connect. “You have a conclusion at the end of the discussion, but if you have three, four discussions during a briefing, doe everyone still know exactly what’s really decided?” They had to do the briefing again with all the corrections and additions, and that time it was clear.