Quick question, I'm a Uscg helicopter rescue swimmer, I'm going to lateral into ParaRescue next year once my 6 yr enlistment is up, I already have my EMT basic, so if I earn my paramedic before entry into the pipeline do I still do the 6 month AF paramedic course? Just trying to get as much gouge before putting a packet together

I suggest you do some research with an AF recruiter as there are no sister service convertible Army/Marine MOS, Navy NEC, or Coast Guard Identifier for Pararescue listed in the Air Force Enlisted Classification Directory.

Helicopter Rescue swimmer is not a Coast Guard Identifier, it is a special duty assignment position as long as the Aviation Survival Technicians (Coast Guard Identifier) sustains required qualifications to perform such duties.

Getting Paramedic before entry into the Air Force brings with it no guarantee of a prior service or other slot being there for you. I doubt it even provides favorable influence.

There is no Coast Guard to Air Force program. You are essentially trying to get in as prior service. From the enlisted classification directory:

Prior service applicants, eligible for enlistment in the Air Force and possessing a convertible skill listed on the attached conversion list, may be awarded the 3-skill level AFSC provided the applicant meets the below eligibility criteria. Documentation of formal training completion is required.

Being listed as a convertible skill waives only the completion of the mandatory initial skills course(s); the 3-skill level awarding course listed in the appropriate specialty description attachment of the AF Enlisted Classification Directory (AFECD). All other mandatory entry requirements listed in the AFECD, including attachment 4 (except for ASVAB requirements), and upgrade requirements for the applicable AFSC apply.

Appreciate the info, i'm looking fwd to taking the next step into PJ. any extra info to make a pj recruiting packet look favorable to the recruiting liason? thanks again

http://www.specialtactics.com/PSPOINTSYSTEM.pdf is the point credit that use to be used when both CCT and PJs were 40% to 50% undermanned. Not much said about it in recent years, however in the document it states "Note: Only military schools/qualifications count. EMT qualification points are not cumulative."

I always have had some reservation concerning points given for EMT and Paramedic and also the belief current EMT or Paramedic certification held by prospective students it allows to bypass or side step training.

Not one military service required any EMT-B, EMT-I, or EMT-P certification for any enlisted medic or members of occupations such as Pararescue prior to 1989. I went out and got civilian EMT certification in 1975 after becoming a mission ready PJ (graduated PJ School Jul 74) in 1974. During the interim years between 1975 and ca. 1993 when the civilian Paramedic qualification as requirement to for award and sustained award of a qualified and current Paramedic certification was becoming mandatory I sat through quite a few civilian courses and even courses run by the base hospitals and the standardization and quality of course went from dismal just teaching the tests to actually being course that required the student to actually know medical knowledge and have demonstrated effective proficiencies in treating skills and tasks.

Getting through the mandatory requirement requires the students to demonstrated effective and efficient knowledge and skill/task proficiencies in doing simulated situational demonstration performance exercises. IMO there are skills and knowledge taught in the Pararescue School EMT-B and Paramedic courses that often are not presented in civilian courses.

IMO this is why the note of “Only military schools/qualifications count” is operative in assigning points.

IMO this is why I do not advocate getting civilian SCUBA, Parachuting, or EMT certifications in hoping to improve chances of successfully getting through training. This reasoning doesn’t work primarily because the many executing medical treating in simulated physically demanding environments (situational medical exercises) is the medical equivalent to water confidence training. Consequently the instruction and training given in the EMT and Paramedic courses run by the school house often teach a few things overlooked or ignored by civilian courses.

If you're selected as a candidate the money and training time is allocated to ensure you are trained and qualified. The motto “quality not quantity” means you will be trained and qualified or you will doing another job.

BTW--The legendary helicopter rescue swimmer before the US Coast Guard had any Helicopter Rescue Swimmers.

The official U.S. Coast Guard, Seventeenth District, M/V Prinsendam Afire Gulf of Alaska; SAR Case Study, 3 February 1981 Prinsendam Case had several favorable findings or perhaps recommendations pertaining to the Air Force and specifically the acts and deeds of the two pararecuemen who found themselves on lifeboat No. 6.

Rear Admiral Robert J. Knapp, U.S. Coast Guard District 17 Commander in his signed cover letter for this study makes the following comments:

"The training and expertise of the Air Force pararescuemen was responsible for the survival of passengers in the last lifeboat. It is notable that we were forced to rely on another agency to provide these personnel. I recommend we develop a similar, trained, well equipped rescue elite."

AND

"Because of inflight refueling capabilities, the U.S Air Force H-3 helicopter was able to remain airborne for eleven continuous hours. Had this incident been further at sea our Coast Guard helicopters could not have responded. I recommend the Coast Guard actively pursue the HIFR Certification program and investigating the feasibility of equipping our present H-3 aircraft with an air to air refueling capability.

Of other historical note, the U.S. Coast Guard took action to establish its rescue elite after February 12, 1983. The first qualified U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmers were assigned to helicopter units effective March 5, 1985.

The U.S. Coast Guard for purpose of celebrating its 217th birthday compiled a list of the top ten missions in the Coast Guard's history. The M/V Prinsendam maritime rescue lists second among the top ten rescues of all time the Coast Guard accomplished between 4 August 1790 and 4 August 2007.

Here's what I would do if I were you; if you think you can complete your paramedic within your remaining enlisted then I would do it. Understand that you will be at a disadvantage during the Apprentice Course, but it's absolutely doable. We just had a CG swimmer go through the course who already had his NREMT-P and he crushed dirt medicine phase. If you DON'T think you can get it done within your enlisted then I wouldn't sweat it. Let the Air Force send you through paramedic with your teammates. It's an experience you won't forgot. I see you're in Oregon. Are you trying to go active duty or join the Oregon reserve team? I'm a former marine and I joined a guard team in order to bypass the headache of "trying" to transition to active duty from a sister service. It turned out to be one of the best choices I've ever made. I couldn't be happier. Give me a call if you have any questions. I'd be happy to help..just PM me.

awesome man, Yep i'm stationed in astoria, OR. Its been a great ride, i'm ready to take the next step in a search and rescue career. I want to go active duty. Ive been in touch with the 304th to get some job shadowing in. they have been extremely helpful.