Alright brothers...here is the bottom line...and I type this knowing that my fellow operators will have some input, and I'll add that input when received.

Life is hard...if you want to serve your country as a PJ or CCT or CRO or STO get ready to be tested everyday of your life...it NEVER stops...and that's a good thing.

You'll work on your own. You will work with SEALs and SF and other "JSOC" entities that don't care about your background or training...they care about the mission and what you contribute to that mission...and the Air Force only wants to know that you're trained...they EXPECT that you're trained...so be trained.

It's hard, it sucks...my whole career has been about sucking it up, proving myself, and doing proud by ST...although you probably won't make it...don't be discouraged...you tried, and that speaks volumes...but if you want to make it...be prepared to suck it up.

If you fail...drive on...if not, welcome to the suck.

You see...the guys that make it love to be tested...love the suck...love that they cannot get ahead...love that their life involves tests...always...be prepared...even Indoc, or Orientation, or AST or the pipeline won't prepare you...it's just a start for "better" things to come...and the men we want absolutely LOVE to be tested...get used to it...always...and the guys that have come before you have paved the way...don't forget them.

One must remember that ST related jobs require more...they require dedication, discipline, and I don't give a fat rat's ***** if you get out of shape in "Basic" drive on and do it, without excuses. Christ I hate when you I see posts about BMT and getting out of shape...the men we want will ALWAYS overcome little obstacles...so quit complaining...I tested back in 1984 with cals, run, and a mile swim...and I couldn't swim...I had NO CLUE what I was getting into...but I prevailed...I've got a nice cup of "Shut the F@#K up" for you...enjoy.

Tests...always...you'll be working with the elite...so be elite...be better...thats all we have...being better than those we work with...you'll have to prove yourself over and over and over...get used to it.

You have the chance to be among the absolute best in the Air Force...what is that worth? What must one do to attain that honor? It's simple...make it...bottom line. Know what you want...if you want to save lives as a rescue specialist and be a paramedic and work with SOF, become a PJ...if you want to do ATC, and call in air strikes, become a CCT...it's pretty cut and dry...have the balls to make a decision.

Our legacy is forged by greater men than ourselves...and we owe it to them to continue that legacy. Remember your history...remember the lessons learned...don't make the same mistakes.

I'll add to this post and I hope you wannabe's read this...because it's important...PJ/CCT/CRO/STO are the absolute best in the Air Force...and we owe it to the Air Force to make sure the absolute best make it...so good luck, drive on...do what it takes...and make it...I did...and years from now...when I'm old and retired...when I'm a fat little man looking back on my career...a few words will say it all..."I was a PJ"...and my friends and other generations will understand, and the elite will understand, and true men will understand...I hope you do too...you have a chance to do what most men dare not dream of...and what it takes is guts...thats all...ask yourself, do you have the guts to make it?

Good luck wannabe's...

Pararescue MSgt (Ret.) John Cassidy's input to the same subject:

SMSgt Thede certainly offered a very accurate perspective about being a member of a few unique Air Force specialties. It is impossible to dispute the rejected risks in attempting to get selected to train to become a PJ/CCT/CRO/STO and the subsequent rejected risks during the accomplishing of all the required training needed to be qualified to perform PJ/CCT/CRO/STO duties and accomplish missions. My only differing perspective is my reluctance to consider PJ/CCT/CRO/STO Air Force specialties elite. I prefer to use unique or exceptional.

Classification of applicants (new recruits) into PJ/CCT/CRO/STO involves a combined specialized screening selection and classification testing used to aid the Air Force Recruiting Service and the Air Force to determine the better quality applicants (recruits) from available recruits that tend to do well in successfully completing the required training. This level of intense physical, mental, and cognitive screening is not required for other Air Force Specialties. It is why this testing and screening is needed that makes the being there performing PJ/CCT/CRO/STO duties and accomplishing missions uniquely different from not only other Air Force Specialties but also different from many other military occupations in the other military services.

The being there serving a military obligation regardless of the military occupation brings with it the expectation the member will have the ability to cope successfully with a wide range of demands occurring in a military situation such as exposure to danger, hardship, emotional distress, harsh environments, and the handling or operation of dangerous equipment. Serving a military obligation also brings with it the member will be available for worldwide duty 24 hours a day without restriction or delay and that duties may be performed in remote areas devoid of normal outside support. It is how this expectation changes into an essential mandatory doing the mission ability that uniquely distinguishes PJ/CCT/CRO/STO from other Air Force specialties.

The Air Force Recruiting Service uses ASVAB and PAST to predict an individual’s readiness for job qualification training and the person’s interest in being there doing performing the tasks associated with the enlisted PJ/CTT occupations. In this regard the PAST applicant must successfully demonstrate doing only begins to explore potential by causing the applicant (recruit) do a self reality check pertinent to how well their interests and abilities bear out each other. The second purpose of ASVAB and PAST is to aid the Air Force in the process of identifying interested applicants (recruits) who have a reasonable probability of success in completing required training to be qualified to perform Pararescue or Combat Control duties.

The PAST used by Air Force Recruiting Service for recruiting PJ and CCT applicants is used to determine possession of physical fitness readiness to enter into training and possession of a reasonable ability to obtain a higher level of physical fitness needed to complete required training. This allows some guarantees that those being selected to proceed to the selection/indoc course have reasonable probability of completing all required training while concurrently minimizing risks of training caused injuries and failure to train caused by lack of strength, endurance and cardiopulmonary efficiency.

The Pararescue selection/indoc program screens general learning ability of the potential new trainee that can’t be determined by simple pencil and paper tests and the PAST, such as probable on-job performance in harrowing and dangerous environments, situations, and circumstances. The entirety of ASVAB, PULHES profile, PAST, medical examinations and standards for flying and special operational duty, and Indoc/selection course enables the Air Force to most cost effectively improve the matching of applicants who will successfully complete training with available doing the mission PJ/CCT positions (Officer applicants for CRO/STO have a slightly different screening process, but the results are the same).

The getting tested everyday of your enlisted PJ/CCT career never stops. The cause is another uniqueness of the PJ/CCT specialty as promotion fails to result in removal or distancing the enlisted PJ/CCT member from directly participating in doing missions. It is essential each mission have a designated and qualified Team Leader assigned to evaluate the situation on scene. For example PJ rotary wing team leaders are required to have a 5-skill level and PJ fixed wing and PJ special mission team leaders are required to have a 7-skill level. Consequently promotion brings with it higher skill level and the participating in the mission as being the jumpmaster, the dive supervisor, or team leader. It takes a good 4-5 years to educate and develop a team leader from a qualified 3-skill level.

Being PJ/CCT/CRO/STO does not require being more because of the members being elite. This being more results from the Air Force expecting those performing these duties to be trained and having the willingness and ability to meet any challenge with problem solving self-determination and problem solving self-sufficiency. The difference is not about being elite but rather about the variety of problem solving cognitive fitness, level of psychomotor speed, control, strength, endurance fitness and the affective behavioral fitness needed to deal with harrowing work environments, circumstances, and situations.

Being a PJ/CCT/CRO/STO is about delivering distinctive expertise into the ground combat environment with unequalled accuracy, responsiveness, flexibility and persistence. It’s about skilled, knowledgeable, and competent airmen who can apply the best tools, techniques, and procedures to produce a required operational capability. This is not being elite, it is having the ability to succeed where most will fail.

As mentioned, becoming is pretty cut and dry, it begins with having the balls to make a decision and then having the backbone to do the training and enduring the screening and testing. All you got to do is ask yourself if you got the guts to make it and then do the reality check by visiting an Air Force recruiter with intent to enlist and successfully do the PAST as the first step of your reality check path of less talk and more action.


I did many years ago, I was a PJ for twenty-three years and now I’m retired and looking back on my military career knowing it was worth it and willing to do it again.

Good luck wannabe’s….