Physical Fitness Requirements from the U.S. Airforce

USAF Pararescue Physical Ability and Stamina Test

The USAF Pararescue is the special forces unit of the Air Force. Those pararescuemen, also called PJs, are mainly in charge of rescuing military personnel in all kinds of situations. They also serve as medics at times.

Motto: "These Things We Do, That Others May Live"

Established in: "1946"

PJ Creed:
It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save life and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts.

To be able to join the unit, one must be between 17 and 39 years old and a U.S. Citizen. To apply, the candidate can be already AirForce or be a Civilian. In case that a Civilian is trying to join, he has to complete Basic Military Training. Furthermore, they need to pass technical training as well.

Chart Standards P.F.T. Pararescue (P.A.S.T.)

#	Exercises	Pass	Good	Great	Gold
1	Underwater Swim	Pass / Fail Event. 25 meters need to be mastered.
2	500 Meter Swim	- 10:07 min	- 9:30 min	- 8:30 min	- 8:00 min
3	1.5 Mile Run	- 10:10 min	- 9:30 min	- 9:15 min	- 9:00 min
4	Pullups	+ 10 reps	+ 14 reps	+ 17 reps	+ 20 reps
5	Sit-Ups	+ 54 reps	+ 65 reps	+ 80 reps	+ 90 reps
6	Pushups	+ 52 reps	+ 65 reps	+ 80 reps	+ 90 reps

The Physical Fitness test, called P.A.S.T. has to be accomplished within 3 hours in one day. The test starts with 2 underwater swims in the length of 25 meters. This is followed by a 500-meter swim, which can be accomplished with freestyle, breaststroke, or sidestroke. The only rules to this swim are that the candidates are not allowed to either touch the end of the pool nor touch the bottom of the pool. Swim goggles are allowed. The recruit then has 30 minutes to get ready for the next event. There is a 10 min break after the run around the track. Pullups need to be performed within a minute, without any break, and are followed immediately by 2 min Pushups and 2 min Situps.

Physical Requirements - Other Units

All other available units, click here
JW Formoza	Navy Seals	S.B.S.
COMSUBIN	MARSOC	JW Formoza
Minentaucher	JakDo	GIGN
GRUMEC	MARSOF	Seal Team Six
Commando Marine	Recon Marines	Kampfschwimmer
For MsigWarrior Blog, click here

Indoc, Superman School - Selection Phase.

To make it to the training phase, the candidates need to pass an 8-week course. The first 5 weeks consist of daily routines of 4-5 hours of calisthenics, water confidence training, runs, team exercises, and weight training. Water confidence training consists of regular swims, deep-dive exercises, treading water, knot tying underwater, drown proofing, and more. After the first 5 weeks, the candidates enter AirForces' hell night, called extended training day. This means that the candidates will go through 20 hours of continuous training and exercises under muddy conditions.

Pararescue Fitness Test Video

Charcteristics of a PJ-Operator

To graduate from Indoc, Assessment, and Selection, candidates need to bring various characteristics to the course.

1. Positive Attitude
2. Integrity
3. Physical Fitness
4. Mental Toughness
5. Teamwork Abilities
6. Integrity
7. Selflessness
8. Morals
9. Intelligence

Pararescue PAST Test

Further Information AirForce PJ

Once Hell Night is finished, the pre-dive course starts which lasts 4 weeks. The candidates will still be tested rigorously with even more intense training. Yet, they are now considered a different level of candidates, as they have successfully mastered Hell Night. This phase will be followed by a Combat Dive Course, Airborne School, Free-Fall Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) training, Basic and Advanced Medical Emergency Training, and finally, the Pararescue Apprentice Course, where advanced combat skills and strategies are taught.

The attrition rate is very high during the whole process. Only about 10% will make it through the course to become PJ's.

PJ's stand for Para-Jumpers