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

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree
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
APPLICATION PROCESS

Combat Rescue Officers must follow a specific application and assessment process conducted twice a year.

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