What Are the Goals of Using a Disguise in SERE and Code of Conduct Evasion Training?

The answer

In SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) and Code of Conduct training, the two stated goals of using a disguise are:

Pass initial scrutiny - blend in well enough that an observer's first glance does not flag you as out of place.
Prevent further scrutiny - avoid drawing the follow-up attention that leads to being questioned, searched, or identified.

Both goals serve the larger objective of evasion: staying free and unrecognized long enough to link up with friendly forces or reach a recovery point. A disguise is a form of concealment applied to your appearance rather than your position.

Why this is the correct framing

Evasion works on a graduated model of attention. First, an observer scans an area and either dismisses you as unremarkable or notices something wrong (wrong clothing, wrong behavior, wrong direction of movement). Passing initial scrutiny clears that first filter. If something does catch attention, the observer looks harder - checking your face, papers, or gait. Preventing further scrutiny means giving them nothing that rewards the second look. A good disguise addresses both: it matches the local pattern of life so you are neither noticed nor, if noticed, retained.

This is why disguise is taught alongside blending techniques like matching local dress, mannerisms, and pace. The disguise is not about becoming a specific fake person - it is about becoming unremarkable and unrecognizable.

Why the other options are wrong

Select-all questions on this topic usually include tempting but incorrect goals:

"To keep warm" - Clothing may incidentally keep you warm, but warmth is a survival function, not the goal of a disguise. The disguise's purpose is concealment of identity, not thermoregulation.
"To pass as a Red Cross or protected-person member" - This is explicitly wrong and unlawful. Falsely posing as Red Cross, medical, or other protected personnel is a violation of the law of armed conflict (perfidy) and is never a sanctioned goal of evasion.
"To signal your location to rescuers" - This is the opposite of disguise. Signaling is a recovery technique used deliberately and selectively; a disguise is meant to reduce your visibility to hostile observers.
"To intimidate the enemy" - Evasion avoids confrontation entirely; a disguise supports avoidance, not aggression.

The bigger picture

Disguise fits within the broader evasion mindset defined by the Code of Conduct: an isolated service member's duty is to evade capture and make every effort to escape. Concealment of appearance complements concealment of movement and position. The measure of a successful disguise is simple - the observer's eyes pass over you and move on. Anything that would make you memorable, legally exposed (like impersonating protected persons), or more visible defeats the purpose.

Frequently asked

What are the goals of using a disguise in SERE training?

The two goals are to pass initial scrutiny and to prevent further scrutiny. A disguise helps an evader blend into the surroundings so observers neither notice them at first glance nor identify them on a second look, supporting successful evasion.

Why is 'pass as a Red Cross member' incorrect?

Falsely posing as Red Cross, medical, or other protected personnel is perfidy - a violation of the law of armed conflict. It is never a sanctioned evasion goal, so it is always a wrong answer on this question.

What is the purpose of evasion during isolation?

Evasion aims to keep an isolated service member free and unrecognized so they can avoid capture and reach friendly forces or a recovery point. Disguise, concealment of movement, and blending into the local environment all support this objective under the Code of Conduct.

What does 'pass initial scrutiny' mean?

It means blending in well enough that an observer's first glance does not flag you as out of place. If you clear that first filter, you avoid the closer inspection - checking your face, clothing, or documents - that could lead to identification and capture.