2025 AIR FORCE RESCUE ASSOCIATION AWARDS | | |
The Air Force Rescue Association award ceremony is October 12th, held in conjunction with the Air Rescue Association Symposium, beginning October 9th, in Ft Walton Beach at The Island Resort. Many awards to be given.
Ten of our Air Force PJ and CRO Brothers (named below) from the 38th RQS, Moody AFB will be recognized and honored for their participation in the 2025 Air Force Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year. HooYah! Airborne! Rescue!
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- Richard T. Kight Award: Maj Lucas T. Duncavage, AFSOC / 20th Special Operations Squadron
- Rescue Squadron of the Year: 57th Rescue Squadron, ACC
- Rescue Maintainer of the Year: SSgt Dylin E. Hartman/ 71st Rescue Generation Squadron
| | Air Force Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year | | |
71st RQS - Bandage 48 / HC-130J Mission
- Major Matthew Helton (Bandage 48) - Combat Systems Officer
- Capt Griffin Landrum (Bandage 48) - Copilot
- Capt Jonathan Romanko (Bandage 48) - Pilot (Aircraft Commander)
- SSgt Dylin Hartman (Bandage 48) - Flying Crew Chief
- SSgt Caitlin Sexton (Bandage 48) - Special Mission Aviator
- TSgt Jacob Brown (Bandage 48) - Special Mission Aviator
- SrA Zachary Haverlah (Bandage 48) - Flying Crew Chief
- Major Scott Rupp (Flight Doctor) - Was Maj (S) at time of mission
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41st RQS - Jolly 41 Flight / HH-60W Mission
- Capt Grace Biagetti (Jolly 42) - Copilot
- Capt Piper Ritchie (Jolly 42) - Mission Pilot
- Capt Andrew Rosenthal (Jolly 41) - Flight Lead
- Capt Joshua Stilwell (Jolly 41) - Copilot
- TSgt Joseph Szczech (Jolly 41) - Special Mission Aviator
- TSgt Steven Wilson (Jolly 42) - Special Mission Aviator
- SSgt Logan Souliere (Jolly 41) - Special Mission Aviator
- SrA Benjamin Spivey (Jolly 42) - Special Mission Aviator
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38th RQS - Viking / PJs & CROs
- Capt Fitzhugh Lee (Viking Fixed-Wing) - Combat Rescue Officer
- 1 Lt Thomas Kling (Viking Rotary-Wing) - Combat Rescue Officer
- TSgt Michael Blair (Viking Fixed-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SSgt Brandon Deckard (Viking Rotary-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SSgt Evan Lau (Viking Rotary-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SSgt Ramsey Flynn (Viking Fixed-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SSgt Chase Valliancourt (Viking Fixed-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SrA Austin Smith (Viking Fixed-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SrA Jeffery Nassif (Viking Fixed-Wing) - Pararescueman
- SrA Baron Floyd (Viking Rotary-Wing) - Pararescueman
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Department of Air Force Letter / Citation
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You are invited to the Memorial dedication for Medal of Honor recipient, William H "Bill" Pitsenbarger. This Memorial is located at Miami Memorial Park, in Covington, OH, where Bill Pitsenbarger and several other PJs were laid to rest.
The dedication date is set for October 15, 2025, 10:30 AM, Miami Memorial Park, 7875 N. Crescent Rd, State Rt 48 (USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway) Covington, OH. The keynote speaker is CMSgt David Milsten, USAF Pararescue, retired.
There are four USAF Pararescue Airman laid to rest in this cemetery, and one who plans to be buried there. This cemetery is located in Covington, OH, along the USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway (State Rt 48). The following PJ are:
- William H. Pitsenbarger
- James R. Norton
- William 'Tom" Large
- William Eby
- Chipper Williams (has burial plot in this cemetery)
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I need a headcount of those who plan to attend the Memorial Dedication. This is for planning purposes and for the reception the Pararescue Foundation is sponsoring after the dedication, which will be a Covington's Eagle.
Please email or text me your name if you plan to attend the dedication ceremony. For questions and for a headcount, text or call me with your name to 920.284.4879t.
| | The hotel most PJs are staying at is the Comfort Suites, 1800 Towne Park Dr., Troy, OH 45373. Phone 937-552-2622. The hotel is a 13 minutes drive from Covington, OH, where Bill Pitsenbarger was laid to rest and where the Memorial dedication will take place. When making a reservation, tell them you are for the Pararescue Foundation event. | | |
It is possible we will encounter a poser at the Memorial Dedication. The poser, Maccabeus 'Mac" Morris, no relation, is in his 70's and currently resides in Troy, Ohio.
If we encounter this, or any other poser at the Memorial Dedication, we'll need to confront him, and if he's wearing a beret, he WILL NOT leave with it. Depantsing him is always an option. I'm just sayin'.
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ALASKA AIR GUARD SAVES FIVE | |
Alaska Air National Guardsmen with the 176th Wing carried out three separate rescues on Monday, saving five people across more than 550 miles of Alaska.
The first mission involved a hunter experiencing a medical emergency about 220 miles northeast of Fairbanks. Guardian Angels parachuted to the site to provide immediate care, and the hunting party, including the distressed individual, was flown to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Later, the Guardsmen responded to a downed aircraft southwest of Anchorage. Two passengers with minor injuries were safely transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
The third mission involved two hikers stranded on a steep rock formation near Bear Mountain, just southwest of Seward. Due to the terrain, Guardian Angels were deployed via hoist, rescuing the hikers and bringing them to safety in Seward.
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On September 10, the Pararescue Foundation proudly hosted our "Steak Night Fundraiser", an evening that brought together friends, families, and supporters of the Pararescue community. The event was a tremendous success, with tickets selling out well in advance.
Below is a link button to the Pararescue Foundation Steak Night Fundraiser photos. We had great food and drinks, good company, awesome prizes, and firearms too.
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CALIFORNIA AIR GUARD JUMP MISSION | |
A Guardian Angel pararescue team from the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, recently stabilized a Filipino mariner aboard the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship Grand Vega after reports that the mariner had stroke-like symptoms.
The two-day search and rescue operation took place about 700 nautical miles off the California coast. U.S. Coast Guard District 11 relayed the alert in coordination with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, or AFRCC. The Grand Vega was crewed primarily by Filipino mariners.
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| | PJ Lost in the Month of October | | |
HU-16 hit by artillery on rescue mission / North Vietnam / 10/18/1966
- TSgt Sean M. Barton - Killed in Line of Duty
Mountain Climbing Accident / Kathmandu, Nepal / 10/13/2024
- SSgt Robert P. Koecher - Killed in Line of Duty
HH-3 Crash into Mountain / Korea / 10/22/1973
Mountain Climbing Accident / Idaho / 10/08/2019
HH-60 Crash / Near Osan AB, South Korea / 10/06/1994
HH-60 Crash / Near Osan AB, South Korea / 10/06/1994
- XXX John Whipple - Died on Duty
Heatstroke / Philippines / 10/XX/1951
| | Above information was compiled by Bob LaPointe, PJ, Retired. | | - click here for PJF resiliency webpage - | | Resiliency & Other Events | | |
Peter Kraines Memorial Golf Tournament - Whispering Pines, NC
- The Country Club of Whispering Pines
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Pitsenbarger Memorial Dedication & Luncheon - Covington, OH
- Miami Memorial Park
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PJF Resilient Warrior - Operator & Spouse Retreat - Gettysburg, PA
- Leadership & Freedom Center
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PJ/CRO Graduating Class 2025-03 / Spouse's' Day - Albuquerque, NM
- Friday, December 19, 2025, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
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PJF Backcountry Colorado Ski Retreat - Colorado Springs, CO
- 10th Mountain Division Huts
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PJF Wellness retreat for USAF Guardian Angel Leaders - Geyserville, CA
- Monday, May 4, 2026, 10:30 AM to Friday, May 8, 2026, 11:30 AM
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Point of Contact: Colleen McBratney at 210-364-2280 or colleen.mcbratney@pj.foundation to inquire about registration or ask any questions.
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Pararescue Foundation (PJF)
| | NOTE: For transparency sake, we’ve just completed and filed our 2024 IRS 990. And, we’re about to publish our 2024 Impact Report. Both documents can be found at the bottom of our website page. | | ALAKSA AIR GUARD RIVER RESCUE | | |
Alaska Air National Guard members with the 176th Wing rescued three rafters Aug. 28 after their raft flipped over on the Kichatna River.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened the mission in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
The 176th Wing accepted the mission and flew about 100 miles northwest of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels on board.
According to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, when the individuals’ raft flipped over, they became separated at different locations on the river. That required the Pave Hawk crew to execute three separate hoists.
The HH-60 crew retrieved the three individuals through windy, overcast conditions at a higher altitude than normal. High-altitude hoists often reduce rotor wash, avoid obstacles or terrain and provide the hoist cable with sufficient clearance to safely lower and raise personnel without endangering the aircraft or those on the ground.
The hypothermic rafters were transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center and released to medical professionals on the ground.
The hoist-capable HH-60 is an ideal asset for rescue operations because its powerful engines, advanced avionics and precision hoist system allow crews to safely extract individuals from dangerous or hard-to-reach environments.
The three rafters contacted the Alaska State Troopers by activating the SOS button on their inReach satellite communication device, ensuring accurate transmission of their location and status.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center emphasized the importance of carrying these devices for emergencies in remote parts of the state for anyone traveling across these areas.
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We are collecting photos of all PJs (those with us and those who have passed) in some type of uniform for an online album and historical purposes. Email me your photos with names of those pictured with 'PJ Photos' in the subject line. Even if you cross-trained or switched services, send those photos too. Team photos are welcome. I'll cleanup and optimize the photos as needed. I would like names of those in the photos. The photos will be in the public domain and free to copy or download. Thank you.
I will add photos as I receive them. There may be a week or two process time. Send as many as you want. Email them to me at Jim@Morris.net with "PJ Photo" in the subject line. Thank you.
| | Rescue HC-130J Electronic Warfare | |
These pictures offer the best look to date at an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue aircraft (CSAR) carrying an Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod. Originally developed to simulate enemy electronic warfare attacks during training and testing, Angry Kitten has been evolving into a system that could help protect friendly aircraft from those threats during real combat missions. Pairing HC-130Js and the pods is now being eyed as part of the answer to an increasingly vexing question of how to provide adequate CSAR coverage for future operations in and around heavily contested airspace.
Pictured is the HC-130J Combat King II with the Angry Kitten pod flying around Point Mugu, California, on September 11. The aircraft in question belongs to the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing, which is based at Moffett Federal Airfield, situated some 275 miles to the northwest. HC-130Js can support CSAR missions in various ways, including by helping to deploy pararescuemen, refueling HH-60W Jolly Green IIs and other helicopters, as well as Osprey tilt-rotors, in mid-air, and acting as airborne command and control nodes.
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| SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER | - scan or click QR code above - | This newsletter is available to anyone and everyone, not just PJs. No dues, no membership required. You can sign up by scanning the QR code or clicking on it. We publish monthly, we publish Special Editions when warranted and obituaries when we lose a brother. If you would like to contribute content to the newsletter, please see the last section of the newsletter at the bottom of the page. Thank you. | August and September Newsletters | | AIR FORCE SPECIAL WARFARE | | - click on above graphic - | | Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR) comprises highly trained, ground combat forces specializing in applying airpower in challenging environments. These Airmen are organized into Pararescue (PJ), Combat Control (CCT), Special Reconnaissance (SR), and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) career fields. They integrate air, space, and cyber power with special operations and conventional forces to provide global access, precision strike, and personnel recovery capabilities. | | |
Mission:
- AFSPECWAR's core mission is to enable the application of airpower in austere and contested environments.
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Career Fields:
- Pararescue (PJ): Experts in combat search and rescue, providing medical expertise and recovery capabilities.
- Combat Control (CCT): Experts in air traffic control and terminal attack control, facilitating the movement of forces and equipment.
- Special Reconnaissance (SR): Conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations, gathering intelligence and assessing battle damage.
- Tactical Air Control Party (TACP): Integrate air and ground operations, guiding air strikes and coordinating fire support.
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Training:
- AFSPECWAR personnel undergo rigorous physical and mental training, including specialized skills like diving, parachuting, and survival training.
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Integration:
- AFSPECWAR works closely with both conventional and special operations forces, often operating in the most demanding and challenging environments.
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Evolving Role:
- AFSPECWAR is continuously evolving to meet the demands of modern warfare, including integrating cyber and information operations.
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Selection Process:
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AFSPECWAR utilizes a rigorous assessment and selection process to identify individuals with the necessary physical and mental attributes.
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AF Special Warfare Information:
AF Special Warfare Video:
| | Not Just for Widows Anymore | |
Bob Hope Village, a.k.a., Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) is a 501c3 nonprofit retirement community for widows of Airman and retired married enlisted Airmen, with exceptions possible.
Military families understand the life of service. You dress sharp, you report on time, and you stay ready to deploy on a moment’s notice - all for the country you love and the people that you care about. When retirement comes, you and your family have earned the chance to pass the torch, kick back and enjoy the lifestyle of retirement along the beautiful Florida coast. As a not-for-profit retirement community, Air Force Enlisted Village offers a proud and patriotic retirement lifestyle for veterans and surviving spouses.
Nestled along the beautiful Emerald Coast of northwest Florida in Shalimar, it is an active, friendly, fun-filled retirement community, giving you a worry-free lifestyle in a fantastic location within earshot of Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. From independent living unit to assisted living and memory support, it give military families the easy-breezy retirement you’ve earned.
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Disclaimer: I reside in Bob Hope Village, a.k.a., Air Force Enlisted Village
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Victory Village is becoming a reality. It will be situated across from the Air Force Enlisted Village in Shalimar, Florida. It is a 501c3 nonprofit veteran senior living community with resources and services tailored to meet the financial, physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs of its residents. This blended community will be comprised of wounded warriors and their caregivers, the surviving spouses of retired enlisted Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians, and retired enlisted couples.
To best care for our nation’s heroes and defenders - those who have sacrificed nearly everything, Victory Village will bridge the gap between medical and wellness needs. It’s our duty to ensure these aging service members receive complete support with a specialized continuum of care that will include the following services and amenities:
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- Multiple friendly communities and neighborhoods
- A multidenominational chapel that welcomes all faiths
- A community center with engaging events and activities
- An exercise center with a pool and fitness equipment
- Green spaces, walking paths and communal areas
- Innovative health and wellness services and therapies
- Concierge retail services and more
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A Tapestry of Diversity
Pararescuemen, Pararescue Airmen or PJs if you will, come from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all races and cultures, all 50 states and from some allied countries. PJs are United States Air Force Special Warfare Airmen who conduct personnel recovery and combat search and rescue operations missions for the U.S. military and its allies behind enemy lines, in hostel and contested areas around the world and in civilian communities.
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As highly trained special operators, PJs generally work in small teams or attached to SEAL teams, Army Ranger units and Army Special Forces A teams. PJs also supported NASA missions, and have recovered astronauts after reentry, and supported astronaut rescue and recovery from Space Shuttles emergency reentries and open water ditching.
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This is the official newsletter of the Pararescue Brotherhood, soon to include the USAF Special Warfare Brotherhood. It is self funded developed and published for the Pararescue Brotherhood by a retired PJ. It was developed to replace and fill the void left by the PJ AIG when its intent changed. This Newsletter is a nonpartisan, apolitical, non-bias, non self-serving and non self-promoting newsletter.
This newsletter is available free of charge to anyone - no membership, dues, etc., required. We have about 3000 subscribers; mostly PJs and a lot of CCT. We also have many TAC-Ps, sister service special operators, a lot of support personal, etc., and some future PJ along with some LEGs.
If you have something you'd like to share with Brotherhood in the Newsletter, pass something along to the Brotherhood, share a special interest story, connect with a long-lost military Brother, promote a military event, etc., email me, the editor, at Jim@Morris.net with 'PJ Newsletter' in the subject line. All is subject to review.
Are you are a writer, artist, cartoonist, etc.? We will include your content subject to review. If you are a published author of something military related or of something that is beneficial to the community, send us the information for review and we will help promote it.
| | HooYah! Airborne! Rescue! | | |
Disclaimer: The visual appearance or written content in this newsletter does not imply an endorsement.
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