enlisted

Pararescue

Saving the lives of fellow Airmen

When an injured Airman needs saving from a hostile or otherwise unreachable area, it’s our duty to bring them home. As members of Air Force Special Warfare, Pararescue (PJ) specialists rescue and medically treat downed military personnel all over the world. These highly trained experts take part in every aspect of the mission and are skilled parachutists, scuba divers and rock climbers, and they are even arctic-trained in order to access any environment to save a life when they’re called to do so.

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That Others
May Live00:00

YOU DON’T APPLY, YOU PROVE.

SWIPE TO SEE THE TRAINING PIPELINE TO BECOME A PJ

BASIC MILITARY TRAINING (BMT)

Eight weeks/Lackland AFB, TX

The first step to becoming an Airman happens in BMT where trainees learn military structure, the core values of the U.S. Air Force, and to prepare both mentally and physically for life as an Airman.

Learn More

SPECIAL WARFARE PREPARATORY COURSE (SW PREP)

Eight weeks/Lackland AFB, TX

If they have what it takes to join Air Force Special Warfare, it will be revealed here. Candidates will undergo intense strength and conditioning training by running, rucking and swimming extensively. They’ll also learn about the rich history of Special Warfare, Esprit De Corps and ultimately take the Physical Ability and Stamina Test (PAST) to see if they’ll move on to tech training.

SPECIAL WARFARE ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION COURSE

Four weeks/Lackland AFB, TX

This is the moment candidates must prove they are worthy to advance in PJ training or find another career field.

SPECIAL WARFARE PRE-DIVE COURSE

Four weeks/Lackland AFB, TX

Because an emergency can occur in the middle of the ocean, PJs must be expert divers. This course physically and mentally prepares candidates for the rigors of upcoming combat dive school. It consists of intense calisthenics, middle- and long-distance running, swimming and, most importantly, water-confidence training.

SPECIAL WARFARE COMBAT DIVE COURSE

Five weeks/Panama City, FL

Becoming an expert diver happens here. Building upon what they learned during the pre-dive course, PJs undergo extensive combat dive training so they can render medical aid whenever, wherever.

AIRBORNE SCHOOL

Five weeks/Fort Benning, GA

When an aircraft goes down, it’s often in the middle of nowhere, which means PJs must airdrop in to help the survivors. During airborne training, they learn basic parachuting and prepare for static line jump operations.

MILITARY FREE-FALL COURSE

Four weeks/Yuma, AZ; Jamul, CA

In addition to being certified paramedics, PJs are also advanced skydivers. This is where they take that next step by building on the training they received at airborne school.

SERE TRAINING

Three weeks/Fairchild AFB, WA

Special Warfare Airmen conduct missions in some of the most extreme and hostile places on the planet. This is where they receive survival, evasion, resistance and escape training that will likely one day save their lives.

PARARESCUE EMT-B COURSE

Seven weeks/Kirtland AFB, NM

The primary job of a PJ is to provide medical aid to downed personnel. This is the first step in how to do that by learning basic emergency medical training.

PARARESCUE EMT-P COURSE

30 weeks/Kirtland AFB, NM

After obtaining the fundamentals of emergency medicine, PJ candidates continue onto advanced medical training where they learn additional lifesaving procedures in pressure situations in order to become certified paramedics.

PARARESCUE APPRENTICE COURSE

22 weeks/Kirtland AFB, NM

PJs are combat medics and rescue specialists who will often find themselves in the middle of a war zone. This is where they learn to apply their training under pressure while obtaining fundamental combat skills utilizing a range of weapons and strategies.

Exceeding Every Standard00:00

GET SPECIAL WARFARE READY.

SWIPE TO SEE WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BECOME A PJ, SO YOU CAN PREPARE BEFORE ENTERING THE PIPELINE.

Swim 25 meters underwater

Swim 500 meters (breaststroke, sidestroke and freestyle)

Run 1.5 miles

Pull-ups in one minute

Sit-ups in two minutes

Push-ups in two minutes

Download a 21-day fitness program to get yourself ready.

Download

ANYPLACE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

THE SWORD AND THE SHIELD

MSgt Ivan Ruiz

That others may live is not just a motto, it’s the first rule of being a PJ and one that Master Sergeant Ivan Ruiz followed on Dec.10, 2013.

Qualifications summary

Minimum EducationHigh school diploma, GED with 15 college credits or GEDASVAB RequirementsGeneralQualifications

Successful completion of the Pararescue Physical Ability and Stamina Test
Minimum score of 60 on PJ selection model completed in Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System
Physical qualification for aircrew, parachute and marine-diving duty
Normal color vision and depth perception
Qualification and proficiency as a static line and military freefall parachutist and as a military SCUBA diver
Certification from the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians
Completion of a current National Agency Check, Local Agency Checks and Credit Check
Completion of 8.5 weeks of Basic Military Training
Must be between the ages of 17 and 39

360° Combat Search & Rescue 00:00

views from real Special Warfare

An Air Force Combat Controller (CCT) is an FAA-certified air traffic controller who provides combat support on missions by establishing air control. In this case, that means directing an A-10 Warthog to where the enemy has taken up position.
The training to become an Air Force Special Operator is some of the hardest, most intense training in the world. Only a few have what it takes to make it all the way through, but those who do are prepared for anything.
After being pinned down in the Afghan mountains and engaging the enemy for several hours, this Air Force Special Operator takes matters into his own hands to end the firefight once and for all.
In Air Force Special Warfare, when we say, “Any place. Any time. Anywhere,” there’s a good chance you’ll be getting muddy from time to time—especially when you’re behind the wheel of an MRZR.
They say to make it through Air Force Special Warfare training you have to endure the suck. These Airmen training to become CCTs are doing just that to prove they belong among the most elite warriors on the planet.
Training along the Miami coastline, these Air Force Pararescue specialists prepare for a water evacuation scenario. Wherever there’s another service member in need, Air Force Special Ops will be ready to go in and get them out.
“These things we do, that others may live” is not just a motto, they are the words that Air Force Pararescue specialists carry with them when called to put their lives on the line to bring home another service member.
Every Air Force Special Operator has a unique skill set that they bring to the fight. But the one thing they all have in common is knowing how to fight. This Airman checks his M4 before heading to the range to get some practice in.
The training to make it into Air Force Special Warfare is just the beginning. These elite warriors continue to push themselves both mentally and physical every day, so they’ll be ready when they’re called into action.
In addition to being expert divers, snowmobile and motocross riders, rock climbers, and survivalists, Air Force Special Operators are also expert parachutists who are prepared to offer help from above when needed.
Air Force Special Operators often serve alongside other special forces teams to bring their expertise to the fight. This Pararescue specialist rehearses hoist-rescue operations on an MV-22 Osprey while imbedded with a Marine unit in Africa.
Air Force Special Operators conduct missions around the world, often in hostile environments. Because of this, they must be expert divers who go through intense water training so they’ll be prepared for any situation.

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