How to Get Ready for Air Force Special Warfare and Pararescue

The slow pace of change in the military often is compared to the long process of turning around an aircraft carrier. However, the Air Force has been making rapid changes to the way special operators are recruited, prepared, assessed and trained.

The evolving Air Force Special Warfare (AFSW) program has taken best practices from other Special Operation Command units and developed its own ground-breaking systems to make a better special operator.

Here is a question from a young man who has noticed the changes over the past four years as he looks to join as a pararescueman.

Stew,

About four years ago, I considered joining the Air Force Pararescue program out of high school. However, I decided to go to college before joining the Air Force. Now I am ready physically, but I have discovered things have changed based on what the recruiter is telling me today.

My questions are:

What does my journey look like now as I take the Special Warfare Open Enlistment program as a recruit? How do I earn a position into PJ training and has that training pipeline changed as well? Thanks for your advice over the years - Phillip

Thanks for your note and good job for waiting to join until you are actually ready. Things have changed in the battlefield airmen designation, the open enlistment recruiting process and the preparatory phases added into the Air Force Special Warfare pipeline.

The good news is that the Air Force Special Warfare community is looking for older and more mature candidates to fill its very demanding Air Force specialty codes (AFSE). The training pipeline has changed since you originally looked into the process of joining an Air Force pararescue. If you want to become a pararescueman (PJ), you still can by performing well on pre-basic physical ability and stamina tests and during the AFSW prep course and the AFSW assessment and selection.

When you fill out your "dream sheet," you will get to put into writing that you prefer to continue training in the PJ pipeline, and you will find out whether you made it after assessment and selection.

I spoke with MSgt. Blout (CCT), Special Warfare Preparatory Course superintendent in Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, about the recent changes. From the AFSW Training Wing:

"The Air Force's Special Warfare Training Wing has refined its training program for Airmen attempting to enter the Tactical Air Control Party, Special Tactics/Guardian Angel (STGA) weapons systems, in an effort to create more well-rounded future operators. Guardian Angel is comprised of Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen, Special Reconnaissance (SR) and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialists and uniquely trained support personnel dedicated to the Air Force core function of Personnel Recovery."

My recommendation is to assess yourself and see how you do on the Air Force PAST. When you are crushing that test, go to your local Air Force Special Ops recruiter. Blout also said, "Recruits will be tested and evaluated prior to basic military training [BMT] by operators/mentors and have to qualify to be part of the AFSW Open Enlistment Program."

Doing well on the PAST is the first way to get your foot into the door. Consider these official PAST events as a job interview that will pay off for you to perform from day one. "When you ship to BMT, you will be joined by other Air Force Special Warfare Open Enlistment recruits in your Air Wing and receive specialized workouts to help you maintain your fitness level for the upcoming challenges at the Air Force Prep Course," Blout said. "You will have to ace the PAST test again as well as take three Air Force operator fitness tests while at the Prep Course. Then, your goal of becoming a PJ depends on your performance at selection and assessment, board interview, peer rankings, instructor recommendations, and your dream sheet preferences."

Blout confirmed the training pipeline as well. Here is the pipeline from BMT to serving as a pararescueman. The first half of the pipeline is the same for the other AFSE's in the AFSW open enlistment until it is time to learn the specifics of the job in the Air Force:

Assessment phase: Begins with your recruiter and PAST before shipping to BMT.

BMT: 8 weeks, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland

Air Force Special Warfare Prep Course: 8 weeks, JBSA-Lackland

Special Warfare Assessment and Selection Course: 4 weeks, JBSA-Lackland

Special Warfare Pre-Dive Course: 4 weeks, JBSA-Lackland

Special Warfare Combat Dive School: 5 weeks, Panama City, Florida

Army Airborne School: 5 weeks, Fort Benning, Georgia

Military Freefall Course: 5 weeks, Yuma, Arizona

SERE Training: 3 weeks, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

Pararescue EMT-B Course: 7 weeks, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

Pararescue EMT-P Course: 30 weeks, Kirtland AFB

Pararescue Apprentice Course: 22 weeks, Kirtland AFB

The Fitness Tests You Need to Be Well Prepared For On This Journey

From start to finish, this pipeline will take you 18-20 months, barring any delays in school dates or injuries.

There will be many objective grading points throughout Prep and A&S, but these are the two tests you should be able to crush on a bad day.

See PAST minimum standards and recommended scores to be competitive

Your specific preparation matters when training for any special operations profession. You cannot rely only on your athletic history to get to and through selection and the training pipelines like Air Force Special Warfare.

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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