Ever thought about getting little more out of your Air Force career? Or have you ever thought about risking your life to save another? This is the mission of the Air Force Special Forces - the PJs or para-jumpers and CCT or Combat Control Technician. These men are responsible for providing emergency and life-saving services to airmen, soldiers and civilians in both peacetime and combat environments. When a plane goes down in the jungle or ocean, it is the PJs who are there to find and save the pilots and crew. Pararescuemen truly live up to their motto,"That Others May Live."
To become a PJ or CCT you must male, a proficient swimmer, meet physical standards of at least 100 points on the Physical Ability and Stamina Test (PAST). This job is open to only enlisted troops. Here are the specifics minimums to becoming a PJ and Combat Control tech:
1.5 mile run - within 10:30 (sub 9:00)
swim 500m - within 16:00 (sidestroke or freestyle) (sub 9:00)
Swim 20m underwater
Pullups - 8 (20+)
Situps - 50 in 2:00 (100)
Pushups - 50 in 2:00 (100)
Flutterkicks - 50 in 2:00 (100)
Once again - these are the minimum scores for the PAST - to be accepted into any Special Force it takes a higher score to be competitive. I would recommend being able to the numbers in parenthesis next to the minimum scores.
Once in the PJ/CCT Candidate Course, you will be challenged physically for ten weeks in Lackland AFB, Texas. The first phase is known as Team Training and is 8 weeks long. It consists of extensive physical training with swimming, running, weight training, calisthenics and obstacle courses. Educational training such as medical and diving terminology, CPR, weapons qualifications, and dive physics are also part of the Candidate Course.
After the Candidate Course there are two different pipelines to follow depending on if you want to be a PJ or CCT. Here is the PJ and CCT pipeline of training:
US Army Airborne School - 3 weeks
US Army Combat Divers School - 4 weeks
US Navy Underwater Egress Training - 1 day
US Air Force Basic Survival School - 2.5 weeks
US Army Free-fall Parachutist School - 5 weeks
PJ Pipeline Different Schools
Special Operations Combat Medic Course - 22 weeks
Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course - 20 weeks
CCT Pipeline Different Schools
Combat Control Operator Course - 15.5 weeks
Combat Control School - 12 weeks
Training is extremely challenging both physically and mentally, but if you graduate and wear the maroon beret (PJ) or the scarlet beret (CCT), you will be one of the most highly trained combat medics in the world, able to handle the most stressful situations with ease. Hats off to those who risk their lives so "That Others May Live."
*Refer to Navy SEAL article (archives) for workouts to prepare - This training is very close to BUD/S training.
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