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Sere Instructor Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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Sere Instructor information

See Virginia salary details

$9

$21

$35

How much do sere instructor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for sere instructor in Virginia is $21.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.72 and $23.85 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Sere Instructor vs Survival Instructor?

AspectSere InstructorSurvival Instructor
CertificationsMilitary survival, SERE training certificationsWilderness survival, first aid, outdoor skills
Work EnvironmentMilitary, government facilities, training centersOutdoor, wilderness, private training companies
Industry UsageMilitary, government agenciesOutdoor education, adventure tourism

While both Sere Instructors and Survival Instructors teach survival skills, Sere Instructors focus on military-specific survival, evasion, resistance, and escape techniques within a controlled environment, often for military personnel. Survival Instructors typically teach general wilderness survival skills to civilians or outdoor enthusiasts. The key difference lies in the target audience and the context of training, with Sere Instructors primarily serving military needs and Survival Instructors focusing on outdoor survival education.

What are some common challenges SERE instructors face when training students, and how are these addressed within the team?

SERE Instructors often encounter challenges such as ensuring student safety during high-stress survival simulations, maintaining engagement through physically and mentally demanding exercises, and adapting instruction to diverse learning styles and backgrounds. These challenges are typically addressed through thorough team coordination, regular safety briefings, and ongoing professional development. Instructors collaborate closely with colleagues to debrief after training events, share best practices, and support each other's growth, ensuring a safe and effective learning environment for all participants.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a SERE instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) Instructor, you need extensive military experience, survival skills, and often completion of specialized SERE training courses. Familiarity with training curriculum development, use of survival gear, and instruction in resistance techniques is crucial, along with certifications such as SERE-C or equivalent military designations. Leadership, resilience, strong communication, and the ability to mentor trainees under high-stress conditions set exceptional instructors apart. These skills are vital to effectively prepare personnel for real-world survival scenarios, ensuring their safety and mission success.

What is a SERE instructor?

SERE instructors are specialized military personnel who teach Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) techniques to service members. Their primary role is to prepare individuals to survive and return with honor if they are isolated, detained, or captured in hostile environments. SERE instructors train students in areas such as wilderness survival, navigation, resistance to interrogation, and escape methods. They work in challenging environments and are experts in both physical and psychological aspects of survival. This training is critical for pilots, special operations forces, and others at risk of capture.

What does a SERE instructor do?

A SERE instructor provides survival training for military service members who are facing deployment in hostile situations. SERE stands for survival, evasion, resistance, and escape, and in this role, you teach students to avoid being captured, escape if they should be captured, help others in captivity, resist coercion, and avoid inadvertently assisting the enemy. Your duties and responsibilities also entail teaching them how to survive in remote, dangerous terrains ranging from the desert to the open sea, by improvising shelter, finding food, and avoiding predators. You also participate in personnel recovery operations, contributing to planning, strategy, and execution.

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Sere Instructor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sere Instructor job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,724 per year, or $21 per hour.

SERE - Instructors (Naval Special Warfare)

BLUEFORCE INC

Carrollton, VA • On-site

$14 - $18.25/hr

Contractor

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

BlueForce Inc is seeking qualified SERE Instructors in support of the Naval Special Warfare Training Command (NSWATC) in multiple locations including Imperial Beach, CA; Laguna, CA; Lake Morena Country Park, CA; Kodiak, Alaska; Virginia Beach, VA; and Little Creek, VA.

The instructor’s role is critical in delivering advanced Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) and Personnel Recovery (PR) training to Naval Special Warfare (NSW) trainees and select personnel. The mission is to ensure every student gains the knowledge, skills, and resilience to return with honor regardless of circumstances involving separation, isolation, or capture in hostile environments.

*** Subject to Contract Award ***

Duties and Responsibilities

Include, but are not limited to:

  • Provide comprehensive training in Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) and Personnel Recovery (PR) techniques tailored to the needs of Naval Special Warfare personnel and other select trainees.
  • Perform pre-course coordination and preparation of required schedules, training areas, and materials for all assigned training events.
  • Develop and deliver all required Code of Conduct (CoC), Personnel Recovery (PR) principles and procedures, worldwide survival and evasion TTPs, resistance and escape POIs, academic role play labs (ARLs), field training exercises and resistance training laboratory (RTL) exercises depicted simulated captivity situations course material.
  • Provide written/verbal assessments and student reviews for coach, mentor, and remediate functions supporting student capabilities and training requirements.
  • Generates and administer staff and event evaluations through training reports and End of Training (EOT) reports at the conclusion of each training iteration.
  • Assist in the development and training of newly assigned Contractor, Active Duty and DoD Civ (GS) personnel, as well as any emerging tasks/requirements as defined by the COR/Command.
  • Assist in the development of new concepts and doctrine for the NSWATC PR/SERE Course.
  • Perform and research technology assessments to stay current on capabilities in order to support the Government’s efforts to improve the quality and scope of training and for PR/SERE SME development.
  • Analyze course content, trends in adult learning, and coaching, mentoring, and remediating student performance and make recommendations concerning course/POI improvement.

Qualifications

  • Secret clearance.
  • Must be a former or current U.S. military service member at the grade of E-4 or higher, with a minimum of four (4) years of honorable service.
  • Successfully completed an approved Department of Defense (DoD) Instructor Training Course (ITC) or an equivalent instructor qualification program.
  • Possess a certificate(s) of an approved DoD SERE Level “C” course, that fully qualifies you as a SERE instructor*, including successful completion of a recognized SERE training program, such as:
    • Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) for SERE Instructor;
    • Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for SERE Instructor; or
    • Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) for SERE Instructor.

*The SERE instructor requirement can be waived for former SEAL’s SWCCs with COR approval.

  • Prior experience as a military instructor, with demonstrated ability to deliver both classroom and field-based training.
  • Demonstrated proficiency and safety in weapons handling.
  • Possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license and be able to operate Government vehicles as required for training support.
  • Must be physically fit and pass a physical fitness test.
  • Must be able to pass as a psychological exam.

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