Here's an overview, written by my buddy/technical advisor, who flew the PJ's where they needed to go.
| Here's the vomitous mass on PJs (just kidding) Pararescue Technicians (PJs) are the United States Air Force’s elite, “jack-of-all-trades” in the medical rescue arena. Not only are they highly-trained medical personnel, capable of dealing with a broad spectrum of life-threatening injuries, but their methods of arriving “on scene” are straight from takes in a James Bond movie. Diving from high-flying aircraft, rappelling from helicopters, paddling to shore in rubber boats, underwater (SCUBA) arrivals, or jumping dunes with four-wheel ATVs in the black of night, are all de rigueur for their combat mission of rescuing Air Force pilots (that's right........they exist for ME!) downed behind enemy lines! Yet these same skills are invaluable in a host of other missions ranging from support of Special Operations teams on missions deep behind enemy lines, to providing first-responder support for astronauts in the event of a Space Shuttle mishap, to assisting the injured and lost, stranded in vast wilderness tracts far beyond the reach of most civilian rescue forces. In short, they’re tough, they're lean, they have an attitude. But if you need them, you’ll put up with the attitude and buy all the beers at the bar. Sincerely, William W. LeRoy, Demigod of the Skies Above Alaska...... |
THE 506th RESCUE SQUAD
PJ’s, Air Force parajumpers are the elite special forces unit called "Seals with stethoscopes." All are paramedics. All are highly trained warriors. These guys are equally at home in the water, on a sheer rock face or jumping from a chopper behind enemy lines. Not well known, but very well trained.
Instead of me introducing the guys, I let them introduce each other.
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Colonel Rick McIntyre |
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PJ's - they aren't just for bedtime any more!!!