SCUBAnauts annually conduct wilderness survival training with the US Air Force (USAF) survival instructors based out of MacDill AFB, Florida. SCUBAnauts arrive at Avon Park Bombing Range late on a Friday evening where they first have to navigate their vehicles in the pitch black through thousands of acres of wilderness on unimproved roads to locate the USAF survival training base camp on this remote military reservation. The youngsters make camp and prepare their backpacks and plot points on their maps for the following day's march through some of Florida's thickest (and wettest) woodlands. If they are lucky, there is a full moon to help them find their way to the makeshift latrine draped by a torn parachute. The lights of their flashlights nervously dance far in front of them to steer clear of the banks of the nearby ponds where the eyes of the alligators reflect from the dark water.

Early the following morning, SCUBAnauts assemble at a clearing where they receive their waypoints and final destination where they will make shelters. Wilderness survival instructors provide hands on instruction at this time to assist the SCUBAnauts in plotting the waypoints and teach them methods of orienteering using map and compass. The short brief on emergency first aid from one of the USAF Combat Medics is suddenly interrupted by an emergency radio call from a simulated downed pilot.

After a short series of radio communications with the simulated downed pilots, the SCUBAnauts give way to the seriousness and importance of their new mission. What originally appears as simply a challenging orienteering weekend involving wilderness survival has suddenly become a serious task that will test their skills in orienteering, fast-paced backpacking, and emergency first aid.

SCUBAnauts begin to backpack the long 9-12 mile orienteering courseingroups of 2-3. Their immediate objective is to orienteer through waypoints to administer emergency first aid to both pilots. Two life-sized medical dummies are in flight uniforms and partially suspended in a tree by parachute. The SCUBAnauts assess their condition based upon the scenarios provided to them by the military combat medics and render the proper first aid with the equipment provided.

After demonstrating their first aid skills, including transporting the victims via litter, they will continue to orienteer to the remainder of the waypoints to a destination dubbed “Freedom Village”. When they arrive at Freedom Village (6-7 hours after starting), the SCUBAnauts are required to construct a shelter with one small tarp and natural materials that they may find in the area, and they will sleep overnight in these shelters.