IF: Rescue (50-56)

I was in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 until 1992 where I worked as a Munitions and Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Maintenance Staff Officer. Because I was responsible for munitions storage I came in contact with most of the operational units on the bases where I was stationed.

The Air Force has two remarkable missions (that I had frequent contact with) aside from the standard fly and fight: Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Rescue/Recovery. This illustration is of a PJ (pararescue specialist) securing an injured pilot awaiting transportation. The PJs are really remarkable people. Like EOD, they are often the kind of people going toward trouble when others are running away from it. They are remarkably fit because they have to be prepared to go in and rescue stranded or injured people in every environment, usually under fire, and often without regard to their own safety. They are skilled marksmen and highly trained.



I had a friend that I went to munitions officer school with, who then went on to become an EOD officer. He was an amazingly regular guy, not prone to bravado. Anyway, here's to all of those remarkable people going in harms way to save others.