For many of us from the conventional side of the military (or who never served at all) the FN Scar tends to carry with it a certain appeal. As a rifle designed specifically for Special Operations troops (SCAR actually stands for Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle), it’s hard not to look at the jagged […]
PJ
Where does the term ‘operator’ come from?
Operator – someone who operates. In the civilian world, that could be someone operating an excavator, a wheeled tractor, and other similar heavy equipment. Historically, the term applied to people who worked in the old-school telephone centers and operated the manual telephone switchboards that were necessary in order from someone to call another number. In […]
Loadout Room photo of the day: Pararescue dive training
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NV, UNITED STATES U.S. Air Force pararescueman gives a ready sign to the shore before beginning his mission during a diving training course, June 20, 2012, at Lake Meade, Nev. To become a pararesuceman means out-lasting nearly 90 percent of your starting class, which is the highest dropout rate of any […]
Loadout Room photo of the day: New York Air National Guard pararescue jumpers hone emergency medical skills
WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY, UNITED STATES New York Air National Guard Pararescue Jumpers and Combat Rescue Officers with the 106th Rescue Wing’s 103rd Rescue Squadron conduct medical refresher training at FS Gabreski ANG on February 27th, 2014. The training involved PJ’s and CRO’s rotating through various lanes where injuries replicated the types of wounds often seen […]
Ranger Loadout | Developing Mental Toughness
Throughout my entire military carer I was challenged both physically, and mentally. However, it was always my mental toughness that saw me through whatever hardship I was facing. I watched PT (physical training) studs wash-out of various attrition schools because they lacked mental toughness. I wasn’t the best Ranger, nor was I the worst. I […]
Loadout Room photo of the day | Pararescue in Afghanistan
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN U.S. Air Force pararescuemen, 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, secure the area after being lowered from a U.S. Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk during a mission Nov. 7, 2012, in Afghanistan. Pararescue teams assault, secure, and dominate the rescue objective area using any available Department of Defense or allied, air, land, or […]
Loadout Room photo of the day | 102nd Rescue Squadron training
WESTHAMPTON, NY, UNITED STATES Air Force Pararescue Jumpers with the 102nd Rescue Squadron simulate recovering a downed F-16 pilot during training at FS Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, N.Y., on March 25th, 2013. (USAF / Senior Airman Christopher S Muncy / released) Courtesy of DVIDS
Loadout Room photo of the day | Angel Thunder 17
TUCSON, AZ, UNITED STATES U.S. Air Force pararescuemen with the 58th Rescue Squadron prepare for aerial transport during a personnel recovery scenario at Pond Lading Zone during Angel Thunder 17 in Tucson, Ariz., May 11, 2017. Angel Thunder is a two-week, Air Combat Command-sponsored, joint certified and accredited personnel recovery exercise focused on search and […]
Loadout Room photo of the day | 102nd Rescue Squadron training
WESTHAMPTON, NY, UNITED STATES Air Force Pararescue Jumpers with the 102nd Rescue Squadron simulate recovering a downed F-16 pilot during training at FS Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, N.Y., on March 25th, 2013. (USAF / Senior Airman Christopher S Muncy / released) Courtesy of DVIDS
Excerpt from “Never Quit” by Jimmy Settle former Pararescueman
Check out this excerpt from “Never Quit” by Jimmy Settle, former Pararescueman. Chapter 9 Operation Green Feet For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to jump out of an airplane. It was the parachute on the PJ logo that initially caught my eye. The para in “pararescue” puts parachuting right in the […]