GEAR UP! USAF: PARA JUMPERS (PJ) - USAF: PARA JUMPERS (PJ) - USAF: PARA JUMPERS
044 WWW.AI-MAG.COMBOOTS ON THE GROUND
We are jumping some 36 years in time to
have our Pj's "Boots on the ground" at the
start of the Iraq war where the coalition
dominated the skies above Iraq, but planes
and helicopters were targeted by ground
forces, which scrambled The US Air Force
Combat Search and Rescue teams. PJ's would
have had to go into the same hostile territory
to rescue and medically treat the downed
crew. The PJs are part of what's called the
Guardian Angel Weapon System, which
includes combat rescue officers and survival,
evasion, resistance and escape specialists.
Pilots, aircrews and their machines.The PJs are the only unit designated to rescue
and recover U.S. personnel trapped behind
enemy lines. These units take on other special
duties that they do not talk about, but their main
mission is to save and bring people home safe
and sound.
Starting with the oblivious, the Iraq conflicts
timeline was the days before Multicam where
US troops still wore US Tri Colour desert
camouflage, which you must know by now, is
one of our favourite camouflages of all time and
if you didn't where have you been for the past
14 years! If you’re feeling really brave you could
also try out a US Green or Tan flight suits which
were also seen.
The interesting thing about PJ's of the time
and other special forces is that their tools of
the trade were custom made for the tasks they
performed so you didn't see PJ's wearing Crye
JPS and fast helmets in fact completely the
opposite. When it came to the PJ's insertion of
choice (helicopters) they had to have kit that was
not only functional as a fighting medic (I'm sure
I have just insulted PJ's the world over) holding
their ammo, but also their medical gear. The
cramped space of the helicopters cargo hold also
played a big part in the gear they used.040-047 PJS.indd 44 29/05/2018 11:51