Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Special Warfare Operators Compete for Title as Top Pararescuemen By Dale Greer,
                123rd Airlift Wing
 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Special Warfare operators across the U.S. Air Force are in Louisville this week to vie for the title of top pararescuemen during the 2023 PJ Rodeo. The biennial contest, hosted this year by the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, will see 30 pararescuemen from as far away as Japan compete in two-person teams to demonstrate skills in precision parachuting, marksmanship, technical rescue and tactical medicine. Events have included parachute jumps from an altitude of 5,500 feet and a “high-angle” ropes scenario in which participants scaled a building to reach an injured Airman, said Senior Master Sgt. Blair Baerny, a Kentucky Air Guardsman and chairman of the 2023 Rodeo. “Our PJs started that competition at street level, then climbed 60 feet before traversing a highline rope suspended between two buildings to reach a simulated patient,” Baerny explained. “The Airmen then performed a medical assessment, packaged the patient for transport and lowered him safely to the ground.” Pararescue is one component of Air Force Special Warfare, and PJs are some of the most highly trained personnel in the U.S. military. As certified emergency medical technicians, they can parachute into hostile or challenging environments in the world’s most remote areas, provide life-saving medical care and evacuate injured personnel for more advanced treatment. “Pararescue is the premier rescue force in the Department of Defense,” Baerny said. “If you’re in trouble, we’re the guys who come to get you.” The Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron is regularly engaged in military operations around the globe, from disaster recovery efforts in the United States to combat operations overseas. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, unit personnel established and operated a helicopter landing zone on a highway overpass in New Orleans, helping evacuate nearly 12,000 citizens. In 2017, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, the squadron deployed 18 personnel to the Houston area to rescue 336 citizens stranded by flood waters; and 23 Airmen to the Virgin Islands to provide air traffic control for 636 rescue aircraft, evacuating 1,286 U.S. Citizens from the Dutch island of St. Maarten. Last year, Air Guard PJs rescued 19 citizens after flooding devastated Eastern Kentucky, using high-line ropes to cross flooded areas and move evacuees to helicopters. The 2023 PJ Rodeo is facilitated by the Pararescue Association, a non-profit veterans group comprised of Special Warfare Airmen. It is held every two years in conjunction with the group’s reunion activities. This year’s reunion concludes Sept. 9.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Kentucky Air National Guard
 2023 PJ Rodeo
 123rd Special Tactics Squadron
 
 Ecuadorian Military Leaders Visit Kentucky Air National Guard
 By Dale Greer,
  Kentucky National Guard Posthumously Honors World War II POW
 By Dale Greer,
  Kentucky Air Guard Training Fosters Multicapable Airmen
 By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton,
  More
 Maryland, Virginia Guardsmen Are Regional Best Warriors5/13/2024West Virginia’s 167th Wing Conducts Readiness Exercise5/10/2024New York Army Guard Hosts Regional Best Warrior Competition5/10/2024 View more Guard News »
 Georgia Army Guard Joins DEFENDER 24 Exercise in Sweden5/8/2024
Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 Begins in Heart of Mongolian Steppe5/8/2024
Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Guard Bureau Chief Promotes Partnerships at Defense Services Asia Exhibition5/12/2024

Kentucky National Guard Partner Ecuador Receives C-130H5/6/2024

North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil