Page 11 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, Oct 5 2018

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2nd Lt. Robert Guest
Pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron Portland, Oregon, provide medical attention to Airman 1st Class James Pe- drie, PJ Rodeo volunteer, for a simulated gunshot wound Sept. 19 at the PJ Rodeo in San Antonio. The PJ Rodeo promotes camaraderie, provides networking opportunities, and serves as additional training for competitors.
Rodeo
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Steve Vassar, who was an Air Force PJ from 1967 to 1969. Vassar was medically dis- charged in 1969 and lost touch with people in the PJ community until he attended the PJ Rodeos. “There are four or five people here I haven’t seen since the sixties,” Vas- sar said, “but, meeting them here, it’s like I just saw them yesterday.”
The event is organized by the Pararescue Association, a nonprofit organization which strives to provide an extended community for PJs and their families, preserve the PJ heritage and spirit of the career field, and commemorate the memory of all service members across the career field who have given their lives in the defense of freedom.
Local Air Force members were brought in as volunteers and to help coordinate events. Competitors journeyed from across the Air Force to take part in the event.
The PJ Rodeo does more than provide camaraderie and networking opportuni- ties. It also serves as a source of additional training for competitors.
“We’ve been shooting and jumping and practicing our tactical medicine. Every time you do that stuff, you get better at it,” said Staff Sgt. John Ansley, Fowler’s teammate. “Later we’ll all talk about how we went through each of these medical scenarios. The other teams are going to have differ- ent ideas and different techniques. I think there will be a lot to learn.”
Winners were announced during an award ceremony Sept. 21.
Courtesy of afnews.mil
Pararescuemen perform battlefield trauma skills Sept. 19 during the PJ Rodeo at Travis Park in San Antonio. The PJ Rodeo is a friendly, but tough competition, tai- lored to test the skills, tactics, techniques and procedures employed by today’s U.S. Air Force pararescuemen. Every two years, active-duty, Air Force Reserve, Air Force Guard, and retired PJs gather to honor the legacy of pararescue, and to remember and celebrate teammates who gave all.
2nd Lt. Robert Guest
Pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron provide medical attention to Air- man 1st Class James Pedrie, PJ Rodeo volunteer, for a simulated gunshot wound.
Johnny Saldivar