Last Update:
Monday, June 10, 2024
Hosted by USAF PJ
Association
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Dedicated to
USAF Pararescuemen, past and present,
who go into harms way to save lives.
Their motto is "That Others May Live."
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Site Mission: Provide Pararescue History |
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Homepage for Pararescue History
Welcome to the Pararescue Associations Digital Historical Archive (PJADHA). Here you will find the history of USAF Pararescue from it's origins to present day.
This website offers an extensive history of the United States Air Force Pararescue. It covers the origins, evolution, and key events of this elite military force. It also provides information on the training, skills, and capabilities of Pararescue personnel. Pararescue has vital roles in both USAF Special Operations (AFSOF) and Conventional Search and Rescue Squadrons (AFRQS). In AFSOC PJs are assigned to Special Tactics Teams. On the conventional side of the Air Force, PJs are assigned to Rescue Squadrons (RQS).
Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only DoD elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full spectrum Personnel Recovery (PR) to include both conventional and unconventional combat rescue operations. These Battlefield Airmen are the most highly trained and versatile Personnel Recovery specialists in the world. Pararescue is the nation's force of choice to execute the most perilous, demanding, and extreme rescue missions anytime, anywhere across the globe. The 500+ PJs are assigned to Guardian Angel and Special Tactics Squadrons throughout the Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Air Force components. They operate most often as independent teams but routinely serve alongside with other US and Allied Special Operations Forces.
The Pararescue career field is broken into two groups of men. The majority of the force are Pararescuemen. The leaders of the PJ's are the Combat Rescue Officers nicknamed CRO's (phonetically sounds like "crows". The PJs and CROs are required to meet the same standards to graduate from the CRO/PJ School. CRO's and PJ's are both referred to as PJ's.
Mission
To rescue, recover, and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or
extreme duress. Whether shot down or isolated behind enemy lines; surrounded,
engaged, wounded, or captured by the enemy; PJs will do whatever required to
deny the enemy a victory and bring our warriors home to fight another day.
"Leave no Airman, Marine, Soldier, or Sailor behind" is our nation's supreme
promise and responsibility to our brave war fighters. The Air Force holds true
to this moral imperative. Personnel Recovery is an Air Force Core Function; one
of twelve functions the Air Force provides the nation. The PJs are the elite
ground forces that provide our nation with the capability to execute this noble
responsibility.
Capabilities
To execute the PR mission, Pararescue teams assault, secure, and dominate the
rescue objective area utilizing any available DoD or Allied, air, land, or sea
asset. Their qualifications and capabilities are extensive. All PJs are
qualified experts in Advanced Weapons and Small Unit Tactics, Airborne and
Military Free Fall, both High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High
Opening (HAHO) parachute operations, Combat Divers, High Angle/Confined Space
Rescue operations, Small Boat/Vehicle Craft utilization, Rescue Swimmers, and
Battlefield Trauma/Paramedics. All can fast rope/rappel/hoist from any vertical
lift aircraft to both land and open ocean rescue objectives. All PJs can perform
both static line and HALO jump operations utilizing boats, vehicles, or other
equipment from any fixed wing aircraft. In addition, 1 in 12 personnel are
tandem jump qualified and can HALO/HAHO both equipment and non-jump personnel
into the objective area.
Recent History
Since 9/11 alone, these elite warriors have executed over 12,000 life saving,
combat rescue missions. They've also eliminated and captured numerous enemy
combatants during the execution of these missions. Additionally, because of
their unique capabilities, they have been called upon to rescue over 5000
civilians worldwide during catastrophic natural disasters and other responses.
Decorations
PJs are the most highly decorated Air Force enlisted force. They've been awarded
one Medal of Honor, 12 Air Force Crosses, and 105 Silver Stars.
As of January
2012, 10 Pararescueman have been killed in action and paid the ultimate
sacrifice during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This is a beta site, meaning it is a website in development. It's source documents are from the PJ Association Digital Historical Archive (PJADHA). This archive consists of digitized Pararescue historical documents collected by the association over the past 70 years. As of January 2024, this collection consists of 134,841 files (175GB). Because of it's huge size, documents will be uploaded in small groups over a period of several months.
Like all history collections, it is not complete. That is where YOU come into improving our historical records. If you have documents that you would like to see added, then send them to our historian at historian@pjhistory.org and they will be included in the PJADHA.
From the history homepage you will
eventually be able
to view:
We will begin with medals awarded to Pararescuemen. That will be followed by an "Honor Role" for PJs killed in the line of duty. Then a list of graduates of the USAF Pararescue & Combat Rescue Officer School. Following that, we will insert a portion of available material into the other major categories.
If you find your medal is missing
email a copy of the award orders and narrative to
historian@pjhistory.org
If your
class is not listed among the graduates, email a copy of your class graduation
program.
Other sections of this site will be added as time permits. Your patience will be rewarded, so check back frequently.
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Email to Historian@pjhistory.org |
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form or medium, without the expressed written permission of the Pararescue Association is Prohibited |
