Air Force Policy Directive 16-12 PARARESCUE

Attachments 1 and 2 not included.

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The recovery of downed aircrew members and other isolated personnel during peacetime or combat operations is of great importance to the Air Force. Successful survivor/evader recovery returns valuable personnel to friendly control, increases aircrew morale, and denies adversaries the opportunity to exploit the intelligence and propaganda value of captured personnel. The Air Force requires a well trained, fully manned pararescue force in order to preserve life and maintain an effective, global rescue and recovery capability in support of national defense strategy.

1. Pararescue is a component of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) force or part of Air Force Special Operations Command Special Tactics Teams (STS) and provides a capability Joint Force Commanders can use to recover combat aircrews and other isolated personnel in Personnel Recovery (PR)operations. Pararescue is the only DoD specialty specifically trained and equipped to conduct conventional or unconventional PR operations and is the force of choice for assisted survivor recovery. Pararescue performs as an essential air/ground interface in Air Force and Special Operations search, rescue, and recovery operations by functioning on flying status and as surface elements and teams. They provide a rapid response capability and operate in a wide range of adverse geographic and environmental conditions, day or night, on land or water, in friendly, denied, hostile, or sensitive areas. They also provide survival and evasion assistance, emergency and field trauma care, and security. Pararescue forces are capable of moving objectives (personnel and materiel) to safety or friendly control when direct recovery by aircraft is not possible.

2. Pararescue requirements are based on the following guidelines:

2.1. Pararescuemen will be qualified in accordance with AFM 36-2108.

2.2. Pararescuemen will be trained as a worldwide deployable resource capable of operations in any terrain or under any environmental conditions (both naturally occurring and induced). They can be successfully employed, day or night, in low, medium, or high threat environments.

3. The following responsibilities and authorities are established:

3.1. HQ USAF has oversight responsibility for pararescue policy and career field management. Specifically, HQ USAF/XO will establish and approve policies pertaining to the training and employment of pararescuemen, coordinate Mission Essential Tasks (MET) and measures to meet pararescue validated requirements, and publish and update the Pararescue Career Field Education and Training Plan(CFETP).

3.2. MAJCOMs will organize, train, and equip pararescue forces to meet worldwide deployment taskings; provide resources to support pararescue combat tasks; ensure pararescue programs are directed to meet qualifications IAW AFI 16-1203, Pararescue Training and Standarization/Evaluation; conduct pararescue proficiency assessment; and develop, test, and validate proposed enhancements to pararescue equipment and tactics based on validated mission needs and operational requirements documentation.

3.3. Gaining (supported) commands/units will direct by contingency plan or tasking message the mission requirements for deploying pararescue personnel.

4. See Attachment 1 for measures used to comply with this policy.

5. See Attachment 2 for a listing of interfacing publications for related policies and procedures.