459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
10/6/2014 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Thirty-four pararescumen from active duty, Guard and Reserve units participated in the 2014 Guardian Angel Rodeo competition here Sept. 22-27.
The pararescuemen, also known as PJs, were spilt into eight teams based on their respective units. The team who earned the most points at the end of the competition took home a win and bragging rights for the next rodeo.
"The rodeo is a great place for team building," said Tech. Sgt. Glenn Blake, ground tactics NCO in charge and a competition facilitator at the 342nd TRS. "You get so caught up in deployments and other training, it's not often you get to see the other guys you've once worked or trained with. Healthy competition is always important and the winners get bragging rights for next time."
The week-long competition, hosted by the pararescue schoolhouse, Det. 1, 342nd Training Squadron, tested the PJs on land navigation skills, high-angle rope rescues, survival techniques, medical skills, weapons operations and overall physical endurance.
"This is the kind of training the PJs get when they come through this schoolhouse," said Tech Sgt. Blair Baerny, a 342nd TRS instructor. "We're able to facilitate these events because we have the resources since we teach it all the time to the PJ students."
"This is where the schoolhouse is located," added Maj. Dan Turpin, assistant flight commander at the 308th Rescue Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla. "It's like coming back to where we were born and reminiscing with old buddies. Anytime you can do your craft and get away from the computer is great."
While the competition focused on basic PJ skills, the one thing not tested was their jumping capabilities.
PJs are known for jumping out of planes and into the wild blue yonder. However, jumping is only one mode of transportation for the PJs to get to their patient to provide care.
"We wanted to get back to basics," said Blake. "Having the jumping portion taken out of the rodeo is different. but it allows more time to focus on core skills."
"Without the basics, you're not going to be good at the advanced stuff either," added Baerny. "Practice the basics and the other stuff come too."
The competition has been successful despite not having the jumping portion.
"The instructors here didn't let us down," said Turpin. "They kept the standard high. The events have brought us back to our core competencies. My favorite event was shooting from multiple positions, reducing malfunctions in weapons systems and performing a patient extrication and drag. It was physically and technically demanding, which I enjoyed."
The rodeo was also successful for the Reserve units who participated.
"This course is particularly important from a Reserve point of view," said Turpin. "We don't get the transitions. Usually guys will stay in the same place for an extended period of time, and active duty moves around a little more. Combination of seeing guys from you sister squadrons and services, we exchange tactic techniques and procedures which helps us be better at what we do as well as rekindle old friendships."
During the rodeo, not only were the basic skills and tactics tested but so was physical endurance.
Two rodeo events catered to long distances in high elevations. The PJs conducted eight miles of land navigation at an elevation of 8,500 feet above sea level and hiked seven miles starting at an elevation of 5,000 feet up to 10,600 feet. Other events included sprints, rappelling down an 80-foot vertical cliff (and climbing back up) as well as dragging a patient to safety. A PJ's physical fitness needs to be maintained at high levels in order to carry out their mission.
"Physical fitness is core for everything our job is built upon," said Turpin. "Endurance, power and strength are all important parts of this job. What I love about pararescue is no task is ever the same. Sometimes you need more muscle, sometimes you need more brains, sometimes more endurance or sprints. Overall, well-rounded physical fitness is essential to being successful at our job and to maintain longevity as pararescuemen."
This rodeo, in its dry desert and mountainous terrain, provided a competitive environment to hone physical endurance and basic skill-sets PJs need to be successful in their careers. From learning how to save people in the snow, jungle or water, PJs continuously train to do more than skydive.
"I don't think many people in the Air Force know what a PJ is or does," said Blake. "They see us jump and fall out of sky. There is far more depth and a bigger spectrum to our duties - that others may live."
Winners:
1st Place: (active duty) 48th Rescue Squadron/68th Rescue Flight, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
2nd Place: (Reserve) 306th RQS, Davis-Monthan AFB
3rd Place: (Reserve) 308th RQS, Patrick AFB
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