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Thunderbolt NEWS April 29, 2016 7
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Airman seeks to rejoin pararescue team despite loss of leg

by anything that I need.” Wounded warriors “It’s just nding a ‘new normal’ for all the
JEREMY GERLACH Pararescumen serve in one of the most and pararescuemen things I was able to do with two legs before,”
Staff Sgt. August he said. “I’ve just been nding ways to get
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Public Affairs physically demanding elds in the armed O’Neill, right, and everything done.”
forces, with the journey from basic training to Staff Sgt. Nick Ro-
In July 2011, Staff Sgt. August O’Neill, a joining an operational unit spanning almost billard prepare to That minor annoyance turns into a bigger
pararescueman, was sent to rescue a group of two years, according to the technical training deliver the Air Force challenge during pararescue training, where
Marines pinned down in Afghanistan when course guide. Wounded Warrior O’Neill will have to depend on his ingenuity
enemy insurgents opened re on his team’s Program flag Feb. and adaptability to meet the other demands
helicopter. Seeking a ‘new normal’ 26 during the open- to the job.
O’Neill said he isn’t expecting any special ing ceremony of the
A round bounced off the helicopter’s door, treatment as he trains over the next few 2016 U.S. Air Force “Anything from picking up a patient —
tearing through both of O’Neill’s lower legs months to demonstrate his mission readiness. Trials at Nellis Air where I can’t just roll down on a knee and
and critically wounding his left. Over the next “I wouldn’t want to do this job if I couldn’t Force Base, Nevada. lift them up — I have to nd a different way
3 1/2 years, doctors performed 20 surgeries O’Neill is training to to brace myself to get people up and move
as they tried to save the limb. recertify for duty as a out,” he said. “Everything is challenging, but
pararescueman after it’s just a matter of nding out how to do it.”
O’Neill nally told doctors to remove his the loss of his leg due
left leg last year, but he remains determined to wounds suffered in As if navigating this “new normal” wasn’t
to continue his career as a pararescueman. Courtesy photo Afghanistan. enough, O’Neill said his training has been
grueling.
“I haven’t looked back since,” said O’Neill, meet the same quali cations as everybody
who’s training with the 342nd Training else, because that would put the people on my “It’s tough mentally and physically,” he
Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lack- team at risk,” he said. “You’re only as strong said. “You aren’t pushed to your limit —
land, as he prepares to requalify for assign- as your weakest member, so if I can’t keep up you’re pushed beyond that — to the limits
ment to a pararescue team. with them, that means they’re carrying me, that the instructors know you can reach.
and that’s not something that I want.” There are so many quali cations you need
“I knew I wasn’t done doing this job,”he said. to keep up with that you can’t do so without
Pararescue isn’t an easy job for any Air- Living with a prosthetic is a minor annoy- being mentally prepared.”
man, let alone one who’s had their leg ampu- ance in terms of his daily routine, O’Neill
tated just above the knee. But O’Neill believes said. He doesn’t sleep with the leg on, for One thing, at least, hasn’t changed for
he’s still up to the task. example, so he has to hop to the bathroom O’Neill since returning from his injury.
“There are going to be issues that come or the refrigerator when he wakes in the
up here and there,” he said. “But I’m sure I’ll middle of the night. “I don’t like running,” he said, laughing.
make it back on a team. Just like anybody “I’ve never been a distance runner and after
who hasn’t been in their job for a long time four years of not running, it’s still dif cult,
… I basically need to make sure everybody but I can still run. It’s not as pretty as it
else knows that I’m capable of doing the job, was before, but I’m able to at least get the
and … I need to make sure I haven’t lost job done.”

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