US Air Force
U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen conduct helicopter hoist training Nov. 5, 2018 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
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
"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.