All known as the U.S. Air Force Parachute Rescue Team (USAF.Pararescue -Jumper abbreviation PJ) The U.S. Air Force Special Forces consists of two major branches of the Special Flight Forces and Special Tactics Forces. Special Flight Forces brings together the elite of the flight school, they can deftly drive a variety of aircraft shuttling between the battlefield, to complete the transportation, support, cover, reconnaissance and other complex flight tasks, but also for the U.S. Joint Special Forces Command under the other special forces to provide technical support for the penetration of the air, special tactical forces is the sky as the stage, to the ground as a platform for the special operations forces, they are mainly responsible for personnel search and rescue, battlefield air cover, coordination and diversion of battlefield air traffic, and weather and meteorological assessment. Among these special tactical forces, the parachute rescue force (Parachute-Jumper) is the most famous. It is mainly responsible for wartime crashed aircraft pilots search and rescue mission, rescue personnel should have a high degree of medical care ability, but also to have a special forces members of the hard quality, in order to protect the safety of pilots in the danger of the enemy behind the scenes.
The history of parachute rescue teams can be traced back to World War II.
In August 1943, a C-46 transport plane carrying more than 20 personnel crashed near the China-Burma border because of mechanical failure, and 21 of them parachuted out of the plane before it crashed into the dense jungle along the border. To rescue these surviving crew members the same method had to be used to get rescuers into that area, which was the only option at the time. Lt. Col. Fleckina and two other paramedics volunteered for the mission and were able to locate the survivors. They were assisted by local partisans, and the injured crew members received prompt medical attention at the partisan camp. The training disciplines for parachute rescuers evolved, developed, and were refined with the advent of parachute rescuers in World War II. During World War II, the main emphasis was on parachute infiltration, land positioning and navigation, as well as emergency life-saving training in the field, etc. After World War II, parachute rescue training became a set of systematic compilation of training subjects and tutorials, and the content was standardized and improved: in the 1950s, the 2156th Air Force Parachute Rescue Team first carried out parachute rescue training in the nature of special operations, and began the related long-term in Florida. In the 1960's and 1970's, the training emphasized the timeliness of field rescue and the enhancement of professional skills, while emergency parachute rescue from marine platforms was incorporated into the training curriculum. In 1975, the Parachute Rescue Training School (PRTS) replaced the previous Special Medical Rescue Orientation Training Center (SMEOTC), and the main goal of the training was to increase the survival rate of the personnel. In the late 1980's, the Parachute Rescue Training School curriculum was divided into specific, detailed sections, and in 1988, the Parachute Rescue curriculum was divided into six separate branches, including Medical Operational Tasks, Advanced Combat Casualty Care, Surgical Management of Air Transportation, Surgical Management in the Field, Team Management, and Tactical Enhancement. To become a qualified parachute rescue officer, one must successfully pass all six courses. 1989 saw the introduction of internal medicine emergency management into the parachute rescue course, which undoubtedly helped to improve the ability of operators to deal with emergencies. In the team management training, it was emphasized that the commanding captain needed to master the accurate operation and use of satellite mobile communication devices, while the team operation had to master the use of rapid transport vehicles or other means of delivery, which was fully confirmed and tested through the Panama military operation, and after entering the 1990s, parachute rescuers had already possessed the integrated capabilities of rapid infiltration, temporary relief, and rapid relocation in the frontline combat zones. In 1992, the parachute rescue personnel's curriculum included training in night operations to ensure that the personnel could carry out all-weather missions. At the same time, the training on the use of personal weapons and equipment was raised to a whole new level, and the simulation training on the battlefield was strengthened, as well as the training on the operation of all kinds of weapons by the operational personnel; in 1993, the Global Positioning System (GPS) was introduced into the curriculum, which made the parachute rescuers like a tiger with additional wings, and they could quickly locate and search for the rescue targets, and at the same time, make the best operational rescue plan based on the location of the terrain. Every parachute rescuer is trained in a specialized technical tactical school.
To become an Air Force parachute reserve cadet, you must first pass a rigorous and systematic selection test. Recruitment must be active duty male U.S. military personnel, their physical fitness requirements are in a day to complete a 1.5-mile time-limited long-distance running, 1,000m time-limited swimming and 25m snorkeling should test, as well as the introduction of the body up to the direction of the sit-ups, push-ups, and other comprehensive physical fitness test. Each project has set a minimum bottom line, only to meet the minimum requirements to become a parachute rescue preparatory students, then waiting for them will be more systematic and grueling training subjects.
The trainees first undergo about 10 weeks of intensive physical training in Texas to give them the physical fitness to complete their training, and to eliminate those who are not mentally and physically fit. After completing the intensive physical training, the trainees participate in seven weeks of training at the Army Special Airborne School and the Army Tactical Diving School, which focuses on developing the operator's ability to infiltrate behind enemy lines and how to pick up rescued personnel. They will then complete Air Force Basic Survival Training and Free Parachute Training, which builds on the foundation of their previous training and lays a foundation of skills for future parachute rescue training. Thereafter, they will begin a 42-week systematic training program that includes a 22-week Special Operations Medical Care course and a 20-week Parachute Rescue Care Specialist course. Air Force Special Tactics training will continue throughout the program to ensure that they have the tactical and special operations fundamentals to face emergencies during emergency rescue evacuations behind enemy lines.
The number of Air Force parachute rescue team members is only a small part of the entire Air Force special operations personnel, but they are responsible for the world's emergency rescue mission. The parachute rescue unit is divided into 3 parts, one part is categorized as the 352nd Special Operations Wing, stationed at Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom, belonging to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command in Europe's air force, which has a 321st Tactical Squadron as the parachute rescue squadron, and a part of it is categorized as the 353rd Special Operations Wing, stationed at Okinawa Air Force Base in Japan, belonging to the Pacific Special Operations Command's Air Force, with a 320th Tactical Squadron for parachute rescue missions, and a portion classified as the 720th Special Operations Wing, stationed at Hurricane Burt Air Force Base, Florida, with a Special Tactics Brigade, which serves as a complement to, and hub for, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces around the globe. All parachute rescue teams are subject to both the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command and the Air Force Special Operations chain of command. The Air Force Special Flight Forces provide two types of tactical flight vehicles for parachute rescue units: transport helicopters for short-range, low-altitude infiltration and transport aircraft for long-range, high-altitude infiltration missions.
Short-haul, low-altitude infiltration transport helicopters are generally served by the MH-53J/M Pave Ember III/IV and the MH-60G Pave Hawk. Among them, the paving microlight's carrying capacity, endurance, nighttime recognition and navigation capabilities have excellent combat performance, and the model can be ad hoc according to the specific task of modification and replacement. Both sides of the fuselage are equipped with light fire support system, which can meet the corresponding low-altitude support suppression firepower required for enemy transportation and rapid infiltration and evacuation. The helicopter is equipped with radar avoidance system and terrain recognition system, which can make the best choice for the pilot in bad weather conditions. The aircraft can be refueled in the air to improve endurance, and its landing site can be the deck of the ship and other simple environment, thus meeting the needs of the Air Force parachute rescue team in a complex mission environment. Pave Hawk helicopter is in the U.S. Army's current Black Hawk helicopter on the basis of improvement and technology updates and the launch of a new generation of special-purpose combat helicopters, models smaller than the Pave Microlight, but the function is not similar, more suitable for the implementation of rapid infiltration and transfer of evacuation tasks in the rear of the enemy area, and the landing site of the requirements of the lower for the implementation of the special flight tasks in urban environments. The Pave Hawk helicopter also incorporates new technologies in navigation and anti-tracking, allowing it to evade tracking and raids by air defense fire in more airspace conditions.
Long-distance high-altitude infiltration missions using the transport aircraft generally for the C-5 and C-141 transport aircraft, both transport aircraft can provide long-distance endurance aerial refueling capabilities, at the same time, undertake for the air force special flight operations forces transport special mission helicopters to transport the task of transporting, for example, pave the way to the Hawk helicopter can be quickly Assembled and disassembled by the C-5 for long-distance transportation, the overall transportation and deployment time will be shorter than the time consumed by the helicopter itself to complete the same distance flight and aerial refueling.
The basic procedure for a parachute rescue team to carry out a mission is as follows: a pilot on one side sends out a distress signal after a crash, and the parachute rescue team members use the signal to determine the pilot's location and use the helicopters to rapidly approach the target. If the landing conditions in the area behind the enemy are permissible, a low altitude landing can be carried out to quickly release the parachute rescue personnel inside the aircraft to complete the rescue and transportation tasks at the fastest speed. In the absence of a suitable landing area, the choice of low altitude drop parachute cables, parachute rescue personnel to quickly parachute into the territory, in the other special operations helicopters in the air under the cover of fire, the use of the rope on the personnel and other targets to implement a rapid rescue, in order to complete the task in the fastest possible time.
Considering the air force parachute rescue personnel in the rescue process may be with the enemy forces exchange of fire, so each parachute rescue personnel in addition to carrying the necessary medical emergency rescue items, but also equipped with a full range of man-portable combat gear and weapons. Parachute rescue personnel use high-speed crash helmets and parachute special helmets as personal rappelling protection devices. High-speed crash helmets have the advantage of light weight, good impact protection, comfortable to wear, favored by the Air Force special operations personnel, but not bulletproof. The parachute special helmet is improved on the basis of the pilot's helmet, simplified the pilot's helmet communication device, removed the oxygen breathing apparatus, retrofitted with a general purpose mirror bridge used by the night vision device, which can improve the ability to fight at night. Into the 1990s, the U.S. Eagle Industry Tactical Equipment Company (Eagle Industry) especially for the Air Force special parachute rescue personnel developed a set of multi-functional parachute rescue special manpower equipment. The kit's bag is set at the waist and abdomen, so that it can better accomplish the rappelling action. The large-capacity, universal-size magazine pouch can carry eight magazines holding 30 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition or six 40mm grenades at a time. The back of the rig is designed with a quick-disassembly, multi-purpose tool kit that stores medical supplies and can be removed when not needed. Air Force parachute rescue personnel in action mostly use the M4A1 carbine and M203 grenade launcher combination of single weapon, this is to take into account in the rescue process they may be engaged with the enemy, in order to ensure the smooth and rapid evacuation of the casualties, both the need to have a rifle point of killing firepower and need to have a rifle grenade surface coverage firepower and the issue of the rifle. During the Vietnam War, members of the parachute rescue team had to ride in airplanes almost every day through the jungles of Vietnam, braving the heavy anti-aircraft fire of the North Vietnamese forces, to go to the rescue of downed U.S. pilots and Army units in need of emergency evacuation. The U.S. Air Force awarded 19 Air Force Crosses during the Vietnam War, 10 of which were awarded to members of the Air Force Parachute Rescue Unit. Parachute rescue unit members in addition to undertake the task of rescuing the crash personnel, there is a special task: rescue NASA astronauts returning to Earth. March 16, 1966, astronauts Armstrong and Scott in the Gemini 8 spacecraft failure during the flight, the two decided to give up the flight plan, driving the spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean forced landing. Due to the suddenness of the incident, NASA did not have a comprehensive rescue plan, so it adopted an interim rescue plan, ordering the U.S. Air Force parachute rescuers stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa to rescue them. The helicopter with three rescuers appeared on time near the landing site, parachuted quickly into the ocean and activated the buoyant floatation device according to the plan, and stayed with the two astronauts until a Navy destroyer arrived at the scene three hours later. To this day, parachute rescuers still work with NASA on returnee search and rescue efforts, and it has become a mandatory part of their training program.
The Air Force Parachute Rescue Team's prowess was well-documented in 1989 during Operation Just Cause. During military operations against Panama, members of the Air Force Parachute Rescue Team utilized light and fast vehicles to transport a large number of wounded, most of whom were members of the main force who had been wounded during the capture of the local airfield in Panama. It was their quick and decisive treatment that saved the lives of these wounded.
During the first Gulf War, Air Force Parachute Rescue and Navy SEAL Special Forces cooperated in personnel combat search and rescue missions (CSAR, Combat Search And Rescue), primarily to ensure that U.S. pilots and other Multinational Force pilots conducting air strike missions in Kuwaiti and Iraqi airspace could escape in an emergency in the event of a shootdown and be rescued. At that time, the Navy SEAL Special Forces deployed some of their personnel to be responsible for the rescue of pilots after they fell into the water, while the rescue work on land was completely handed over to members of the Air Force Parachute Rescue Team. They had rescued the navigator of a downed F-14 fighter jet in highly dangerous enemy-held territory and were also responsible for providing humanitarian aid to Kurds in northern Iraq.
At the end of August 1993, a parachute rescue team followed the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope, a peacekeeping operation. on Oct. 3, a Blackhawk helicopter crashed in enemy-controlled territory, and two teams of search-and-rescue crews immediately rode in the Blackhawk helicopters to the site of the incident, where, upon arrival, they set up a temporary line of defense to protect the pilots from the already-arriving Ranger Special Forces, while climbing into the deformed and damaged helicopters and the Ranger Special Forces. At the same time, the rescuers climbed into the deformed and damaged cabin to provide temporary surgical treatment for the two crew members who might survive. Due to the exceptionally strong firepower of the Somali militia, several parachute rescuers and crew members were trapped inside the wreckage of the aircraft, but the highly trained parachute rescuers, taking into account the circumstances, quickly stabilized the injured crew members and, together with the temporary line of defense outside, protected the crew members until the arrival of the follow-on rescue convoys. After the incident, the parachute rescuers were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Cross for their outstanding performance. Their actions proved that parachute rescuers, under wartime conditions, not only have excellent emergency treatment capabilities, but also can take on tough tactical combat missions.
In 1995, the United States sent a parachute rescue team to the Bosnia and Herzegovina region successfully rescued the F-16 pilots trapped for several days, the rescue operation at the time caused a world-wide shock and sensation, many countries were surprised to see the United States theater coordinated search and rescue technology of the complete framework and specific tactical synergy of the advanced places and advantages. Trapped for several days, the pilots were tracked by extremely accurate location signals and quickly evacuated from behind enemy lines under the cover of parachute rescuers in just a few minutes.
In 2001, the U.S. military began to fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, parachute rescue team got a new round of tasks. 2001 November 2, a U.S. military helicopter due to bad weather in the landing process suffered serious damage, the crew life-threatening. The U.S. military command ordered the parachute rescue team members to take two helicopters to evacuate the pilot and crew out of danger to prevent the enemy, who was familiar with the terrain, from getting there first. However, one of the rescue helicopters also suffered serious mechanical problems due to bad weather, which resulted in four injuries, and the other helicopter had to abandon the original plan, and after trying a number of ways, finally succeeded in rescuing the rescue helicopter's crew. At the same time these parachute rescuers were informed that their rescue target had been completely destroyed by combat aircraft dispatched by the U.S. Navy.
During the second Gulf War in 2003, the parachute rescue team members were involved in the Lynch rescue operation, which ended successfully. Parachute rescue units at the time were on standby as contingency handlers for ground rescue units. They acted as the last resort for the psychology of other operatives, giving them the confidence and belief in success.