Same job, many skills

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Kraushaar
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affaris
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Rescue Reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here have a new campaign to showcase their life-saving skills for two upcoming Air Force events; Air Force Week, October 26-29, 2010 and the Cocoa Beach Air Show, October 30-31, 2010.

The information campaign is kicking off the start of these festivities with the production of printed recruiting materials showing one of the many unique careers offered in the Reserve, the pararescuemen, or PJs, and the multitude of skills necessary to perform their job as rescue specialists.

Air Force week is dedicated to showcasing Airmen who make up the Air Force family. During this week, the Rescue Wing Airmen will demonstrate their water rescue techniques as they fly their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and HC-130P/N King's, front and center during several events throughout the week and weekend of Air Force Week.

As shown on the flyer, four different PJs are outfitted in completely different gear to show the multitude of skills they have to perform rescues. In one scenario they could be climbing a mountain to rescue a missing hiker, and in a very different scenario they could be freefalling from the back of a C-130 to get to someone who needs help at sea.

PJs go through extensive training to get and maintain their many qualifications. Each PJ is an expert SCUBA diver, mountaineer, marksman and parachutist. Not to mention their main job - to save a life. Throughout their careers they must obtain and maintain emergency medical/paramedic qualifications.

The 920th RQW is an Air Force Reserve Command combat search and rescue unit with two geographically separated units, one at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and the other at Portland International Airport, Ore. All three units have Reserve PJs assigned who not only serve as Citizen Airmen but also hold civilian jobs in their communities.

This is one of many of the careers offered in the Air Force Reserve.

For more information on the 920th RQW, Air Force Week and/or the Cocoa Beach Air Show, contact the 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs Office at (321) 494-0536 or log onto: Facebook/920th Rescue Wing (Government Organization).