The 12th edition of the Air-centric Personnel Recovery Operatives Course (APROC) was held at Gilze-Rijen air base in the Netherlands between May 21 and June 6.
THE ANNUAL AIR_CENTRIC Personnel Recovery Operatives Course (APROC) is organized by the European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) and rotates between the participating nations: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US. EPRC training manager Lt Col Bart Holewijn says the aim of the exercise is, ‘to improve the four phases of personnel recovery [PR; preparation, planning, execution and adaptation] by developing and harmonizing policy, doctrine and standards through clear lines of communications with participants and provides assistance in support of education and training, exercises and operations as required.’
The well-known motto ‘that others may live’ manifests itself in a complex course about operating behind enemy lines. Holewijn says, ‘PR is often named in one line with combat search and rescue [CSAR], but CSAR is a very specialized operation, often carried out by dedicated special forces [SF].’
The EPRC course has pretty much the same mission but it can be carried out by ex…
