Full Breakdown
Exercise Sourdough: A Mock Urban Evasion Training in San Francisco
1/11/2026, 9:24:52 PM
Overview of the Exercise
From December 8 to December 11, 2025, San Francisco served as the backdrop for "Exercise Sourdough," the Department of Defense's largest urban evasion training event. This exercise involved over 150 military personnel and civilian law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the San Francisco Sheriff's Office, who collaborated to enhance the evasion skills of U.S. Air Force airmen. The training aimed to simulate scenarios where airmen must evade capture in hostile urban environments, mirroring potential real-world situations.
Training Objectives and Execution
The exercise was designed to improve the airmen's Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) skills. Lt. Col. Mary Lea Bordelon, commander of the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, emphasized that the training provided a realistic and high-stress environment for participants. Eleven teams of airmen were dropped off in various locations throughout the city, tasked with navigating the urban landscape while avoiding capture by opposition forces, which included sheriff's deputies and SWAT teams.
During the exercise, airmen received specific instructions on their movements, including how to find minimal supplies and where to seek shelter overnight. The training involved high-pressure scenarios, with captured airmen being taken to a sheriff's office for interrogation, enhancing the realism of the exercise.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
Exercise Sourdough marked its 11th iteration and showcased extensive collaboration among various agencies. In addition to the Coast Guard and the San Francisco Sheriff's Office, other participants included SWAT officers from the California Department of Corrections and the University of California Police. This multi-agency approach aimed to strengthen interoperability and coordination in urban environments, which is crucial for effective joint operations.
Extraction and Conclusion of the Exercise
At the conclusion of the exercise, all teams were successfully extracted via helicopters and boats, culminating in their return to Moffett Federal Airfield. They were then transported back to Travis Air Force Base aboard a C-5M Super Galaxy transport aircraft. Master Sgt. Jeremy Campbell highlighted the training's significance, noting that few exercises of this magnitude exist within the Department of War, underscoring the importance of such realistic training for military readiness.
Criticism & Opposition
While the exercise was designed to enhance military readiness, some critics raised concerns about the implications of conducting military training in urban civilian environments. The potential for confusion or fear among local residents and the appropriateness of such exercises in populated areas were points of contention.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The exercise is designed to improve airmen’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) skills in a “realistic and high stress urban environment,” said Lt.” — Lt. Col. Mary Lea Bordelon, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron
- “The training value cannot be understated because there are few frameworks of this magnitude within the Department of War.” — Master Sgt. Jeremy Campbell, 571st MSAS weapons and tactics noncommissioned officer in charge.
Exercise Sourdough exemplifies the U.S. military's commitment to preparing airmen for complex operational scenarios while fostering collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
