
COMBAT RESCUE OFFICER
ENSURING LIVES ARE SAVED
When servicemen are injured and rendered immobile on the front lines, their life depends on a swift, effective evacuation. Responsible for organizing and strategizing recovery operations, Combat Rescue Officers provide the insights and skill essential for rescue missions to succeed. These highly capable and courageous Airmen not only train, equip and develop necessary survival skills in rescue personnel, but will often deploy into direct combat as a member of the rescue team themselves.
- Provide command and control of full spectrum personnel recovery operations
- Lead Pararescue, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) operations
- Assess readiness through training exercises, inspections and evaluation results
- Strategize and conduct rescue and recovery operations
- Manage rescue programs and training
- Direct short- and long-term survival and evasion assistance
Career tasks
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
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MINIMUM EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree or be within one year of attaining your degree.
A passing score on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT)
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QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of principles and practices of personnel recovery
- Completion of required training courses:
- Combat Rescue Officer Development course
- CRO/Pararescue Indoctrination course
- Air Force Combat Dive Course—open circuit
- Army Airborne Parachutist course
- Military Free-fall Parachutist or U.S. Navy Military Free-fall course
- Underwater Egress training
- SERE training
- CRO Advanced SERE training
- CRO course
- Physical qualification for marine diving and parachutist duty
- Must maintain combat-ready status
- Completion of a current Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI)
- Completion of Officer Training School (OTS), Air Force Academy (AFA) or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 39
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APPLICATION PROCESS
Combat Rescue Officers must follow a specific application and assessment process conducted twice a year.


TRAINING & EDUCATION
How do we transform you into a leader and an officer in this field? From education to continued training, your Air Force path is here.
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OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL
8.5 weeks
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MILITARY TRAINING LOCATION
Maxwell AFB AL
- INTERESTS & SKILLS
- Combat & Warfare
- Special Warfare

TAKE A BREAK
Flights and 30-days vacation with pay each year.