Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
Here's how the US Air Force's elite PJ special operators rescue troops in the mountains of Afghanistan
Here's how the US Air Force's elite PJ special operators rescue troops in the mountains of Afghanistan
Daniel BrownNov 13, 2018, 23:25 IST
U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen conduct helicopter hoist training Nov. 5, 2018 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.US Air Force
Advertisement
US Air Force Pararescue specialists, or PJs, are one of the most elite special operators in the world.
Consisting of about 500 airmen, PJs "rescue and recover downed aircrews from hostile or otherwise unreachable areas," according to the Air Force.
These "highly trained experts perform rescues in every type of terrain and partake in every part of the mission, from search and rescue, to combat support to providing emergency medical treatment, in order to ensure that every mission is a successful one."
"One of the challenges [in Afghanistan] is the altitude and terrain because we are surrounded by mountains," Maj. Jason Egger, 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron commander at Bagram Airfield, said in a Defense Department news release on the training.
Advertisement
"We overcome that challenge by working with the Army pilots, which gives us the capability to get to the altitude we need and insert the teams," Egger added.
Here's how PJs rescue troops in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan.
"We sit on a very short alert window, and we are able to launch within 30 minutes at all times throughout the day and night," Eggers said.
After getting a call, the PJs load into an Army CH-47 Chinook, which they often use for transports in rescue missions in Afghanistan.
"Most of the central and northern Afghanistan area is very high altitude, and that's where the CH-47s can really provide some special capability because of their ability to get to that high altitude area and insert the team," Eggers said.
In this training scenario, an armored vehicle, possibly an MRAP, was involved in some sort of accident or maybe even hit an improvised explosive device.
The PJs begin tending to the wounded, who simulated injuries for the training.
Then load them back on the Chinook, where they continue monitoring their conditions and providing first aid.
As they fly back to base.
Back at base, they unload the wounded and carry them to the field hospital, completing their training mission.
But PJs also undergo intense combat arms training as well, which is needed in certain rescue scenarios.
"The PJs and the combat rescue officers have a pretty broad skill set, and it's pretty difficult to stay sharp on all those skills," Eggers said. "So continuing to keep them engaged through training, it keeps those skills sharp throughout the entire deployment."
Watch the full interview with Eggers here, and the PJ training videos here, here and here.
