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Pararescuemen Airmen train 'so others may live'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrea Wright
  • Air Force News Agency
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNEWS) --  Ask any pararescueman, or PJ, and they'll tell you, if they're working a mission, then something has gone very wrong. Chances are, an aircraft is down and there are injured personnel in need of rescue. So, it's a good day when they aren't hard at work.

Fortunately, aircraft mishaps are few and far between in Afghanistan and training is number one on the minds of these Airmen.

"We try to fill up our days with as much training as we can, keeping proficient in all our skill sets," said Staff Sgt. John Henry Lane, a pararescueman with the 306th Rescue Squadron.

An average day for a PJ starts the same as many other jobs, with a cup of coffee. Then they ready their gear and head to the climbing wall or to the junkyard to train on one of the many skills they need to keep sharp.

"As pararescuemen we're tasked with a number of different things we need to stay proficient such as a confined space rescue, shooting and high angle rescues. We also have to keep our hours current on the helicopter," Sergeant Lane said.

Other skills they hone in their downtime are extrications from up-armored HUmvees and focusing on the medical side of their jobs.

"We'll go through medical exercises for treating patients or just sit and talk about medicines and medical procedures," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Piccoli, another pararescueman with the 306th RS.

Sometimes, there are certain aspects of the job that cannot be practiced in Afghanistan, such as the combat dive mission.

"We are not able to work on it because there's not any water around here," said Senior Airman Brian Kimber, another pararescueman with the 306th RS. "But, we do bring all of our gear with us just in case something happens and we're the closest people to help out."

In general, a pararescueman's job while deployed is, is "to provide combat search and rescue for theater assets," Sergeant Lane said. It's a simple definition, but these PJ's also provide much more, he said.

"We're the main asset for search and rescue in the area and that doesn't just involve downed U.S. aircraft, it involves any isolated personnel whether it's U.S, Coalition Forces or Afghan nationals," Sergeant Lane said.

The pararescue motto is, "So others may live," and it's the reason they train nonstop and volunteer to put their lives on the line.

"The reason I became a PJ is because, as Americans, we don't leave anyone behind. That's what we're here for, personnel recovery. Making sure everybody that comes over here goes home," Sergeant Lane said.

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