For all the GTEP Pararescue enlistees who read this forum this is a just bit of advice.

Just because you pass your PAST test for your recruiter and get your slot to BMTS…DON’T STOP TRAINING!!!! I don’t know how to be more explicit. YOU HAVE NOT MADE IT!!!! YOU HAVE NOT MADE ANYTHING!!!!

About week 2 or week 3 in BMTS you will be given a PAST test on a Saturday morning. This test is typically administered by Active Duty Pararescuemen using the current PJ trainees as observers and counters. You will be expected to perform a true PAST test. This means that any skimping, cheating, or whatever was done to get you past the first PAST will bite you directly in the a**. The PJ’s and trainees WILL KNOW the rules and they WILL KNOW the form used for each of the tasks. So consider yourself warned…

My son is in BMTS with a GTEP Pararescue. Last Saturday he and approx. 50 BMTS GTEP PJ/CCT trainees were given their PAST test. Of those 50 who thought they were “guaranteed” to go to Indoc. in August; 6 quit during the PAST and another 20% failed the PAST.

Be fair to yourself. Don’t waste your time and more importantly don’t join the Air Force with the false illusion that you will just slide through Indoc. YOU WILL NOT!

Gentlemen, the term we use so often “Never Quit” is a lifestyle…it is not just a slogan to look and sound cool. “Never Quit” comes directly from the heart…the heart of a warrior. I personally presented my first sons Beret to him last December at his PJ graduation. He is living the lifestyle because he EARNED it. He and his team are still training everyday. You must dedicate your mind, body, and heart to this task if you want to attain your goal.

As I have said before … train…train harder…then when you think you are ready…train some more… you will never be done…YOU HAVE NEVER MADE IT!!!!

I love this attitude. I come from a family (well at least my dads side mostly) that has always taken the easy to do things, but Im tired of that. I WANT this. I WILL have this. I know I am no where near where I have to be to even get close to this, but If I keep training hard like I do every day, I will get this.

Inspiring, thanks for that!

Word of advice:
Work on your under-waters. In my personal opinion nothing hold's you down on under-waters except heart and desire. Be efficient with your stroke and recover on the return swim. Look left and right at your Team mates try to arrive at the wall together. Its been 18 years since I graduated OLJ ( Indoc.) but the concept "I hope" is still the same. Act as team mates, friends, loyal to each other no matter what. Talk to each other when one man is having a tough day or a tough hour. That distraction will pull his mind from the momentary pain and get him through it. Its been 13 years since my time as a PJ, but it still fires me up as much as ever. Pararescue was stand alone, the absolute best years of my life. Don't quit.
Thomas Kaeding, PJ 102 Pararescue Team

Very well said Tom,

Every person who enters Indoc should heed this advice. Your TEAMMATES and your heart is what is going to get you through each evolution at Indoc… AND… through your career as a Pararescueman.

The current class at Indoc just completed ETD. As the hours passed they relied on each other for motivation and strength. When Tom went through OL-J, he was an enormous motivator to each of us. Each Team will have such a Teammate. In his case he was the lowest ranking Airman, but as his Team Leader he helped me and the other 3 through some of the toughest times with nothing more than a good laugh. It is each mans responsibility to help the man to the left and the right, now and always. Remember...YOU are to the left and right of someone as well.

I advise any new PJ Trainees to search this site for comments by TE, PJ2PA, GuardMC, Yukon, etc. We have BTDT and we are not in the habit of glorification and speculation. We will give you the facts and hope that it helps each of you through your quest.

“Today is the last easy day”…86-03