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EMSWORLD.com | AUGUST 2017 21 T he captain of the 60-foot sailboat hadn't gotten much sleep in the past two days. That was when one of his crew was seriously burned by a fire and he'd activated his emergency satellite beacon. The fire had destroyed all other communications equipment, so the captain had no idea if help was on the way. With more than 600 miles to sail to get to California, he was losing hope. While trying to get some rest, the captain heard shouting from on deck. Rushing up the stairway, he saw a large four-engine prop plane pass low over the water next to the boat. It continued to circle as it climbed higher. Everyone's initial elation at knowing their emergency signal had been received and they had been found began to wear off as they wondered what a large plane could do to help their friend and crewmate. A large object fell from the back of the plane, followed by five smaller ones. Para- chutes opened above all the objects. The boat crew could see that the five smaller objects were men. They landed in the water close to the large object. Before long the crew realized the larger object was an inflatable boat with a motor. After a few moments it sped toward the sail- boat. Aboard were U.S. Air Force (USAF) pararescuers, also known as PJs. Highly trained in medicine, rescue techniques and small-arms combat, they are responsible for recovering personnel, military or civilian, from any kind of environment. Birth and Growth The pararescue concept began toward the end of World War II in Southeast Asia. A few doctors were given parachute train- ing and jumped into the jungles to treat the crews of planes that had crashed. Other ground teams would work their way through the jungle, often for days, to reach the downed crews and carry them out. Toward the end of the war, the first primi- tive helicopters were used to evacuate the downed airmen. After the war ended, the Air Rescue Ser- vice was created and the first "pararescue- men" were trained. They were also known as "PJs" from the designation used on aircraft flight logs. They received some advanced medical and technical-rescue training as well as training in working in every possible environment, including jungle, high moun- tains, the Arctic and the ocean. Their main role was to rescue crews shot down behind enemy lines. They would also assist in civil- ian missions when requested. Their training has expanded to include rope and confined-space rescue as well as vehicle extrication. PJs also are NREMT paramedics with additional combat and extended-care medical training. They are equipped with a wide variety of water, all-terrain and snow vehicles, all of which can be dropped by parachute. With USAF Reserve and Air National Guard pararescue units, they are frequently involved in civilian rescue missions where their skill sets and ability to quickly reach remote areas are of great value. Up until 2000 the PJs were an entirely enlisted force with no officers. They were assigned to rescue helicopter squadrons along with pilots, crew members and air- craft maintainers. Beginning in 2000 the PJs were put into separate squadrons to become their own weapon system. Offi- cers received the same training as the PJs, except for the medical section, as well as additional training in how to deploy and lead teams of PJs. These officers are known as Combat Rescue Officers. "Becoming our own weapon system has allowed us to branch out and gain other res- cue and personnel recovery skills than when we were part of a helicopter squadron," explains SMSgt. Josiah Blanton, operations superintendent of the 304th Rescue Squad- ron, located in Portland, Ore. "I think it's been a good progression that has allowed us to gain more skill sets and enhance and enlarge our rescue mission. It gives us more flexibility to perform a wider range of mis- sions, regardless of whether we're deployed from aircraft, boats or ground vehicles. Also, now that we have officers, we have representation at major command levels as well as on battle staffs during combat operations." Training As might be imagined, candidates wish- ing to become PJs must be in excellent physical condition and pass rigorous medi- cal and physical tests to even be considered. Once they're accepted into training, the course can take up to 24 months or longer to complete. It begins with the pararescue indoctrination course, 10 weeks of intense physical and stress training. Next is the U.S. Army Airborne School for basic parachute training. This is followed by USAF combat dive school to learn scuba and underwater combat skills. After this is the USAF basic survival school, where they learn how to live PJs from the 304th Rescue Squadron using rebreathers to search a collapsed building during a tsunami drill in Oregon. PJs can be deployed by parachute over land or water.