Can the schooling in the pipeline be transferred over into college credits?
Yes, you will get college credits through the community College of the Air Force where you can attribute those credits to an associates degree in Personnel Recovery.
During the 50 meter underwater can you kick off the wall? If so, can you kick off both during the beginning and half way, reason I ask is because I only have a 25 meter pool?
Yes, you get one kick off the wall either at the beginning or half way depending on which pool you’re at.
Would you say A&S would be comparable to the physical training aspect of high school athletics in any way?
If you are currently in high school I would recommend you join the swim team, cross-country team, and wrestling team since those are what I have seen benefit people the most in this kind of training out of high school.
Does the “2mm” or “5mm” nylon dive boot size matter? Or is it just preference?
Whichever you can get that is cheaper will work, it's just there as a sock for your fin to prevent blisters.
Are the boots you have listed on your website under equipment tall enough? The Lowa Men’s Zephyr GTX Mid TF hiking boots or are the “mid” too low?
Depends on what you like. I have worn those in uniform for a long time. Also, just remember most people have field boots and garrison boots. When you are in the field, you unblouse your boots.
Which gets a higher level of medical training, PJ or SEAL medic?
Depends on the SEAL medic. A lot of them are going through civilian contractors and coming out with TCCC certs. Some are getting their paramedic certs as well. ALL PJs are National Registered paramedic certified and do advanced procedures. And it has been my general observation that as a fresh 3 level PJ you are more trained and more confident doing all medical procedures.
Do you need to have attended a service academy or an ROTC program to become a CRO?
No, you do not need to do those. You can go to OTS after getting your degree and go CRO.
Are your programs scaled differently for PJ vs CRO? Or are they the same?
They are the same since both PJs and CROs go to the same selection. I do have the different past standards as the goal in the pass the PAST program, but all the workouts are the same.
Would the Air Force take prior Navy with tattoos if I want to do a Special Warfare job?
Yes, they will. Look at AFI 36-2903 for the specific tattoo regulations. Generally speaking, tattoos are ok unless they are on your head, neck or hands. Nothing derogatory either. The best thing to do is get with a USAF Special Warfare recruiter through Airforce.com.
I’m currently a Rescue EMT-B. Would it be wise AND worth the extra 1.5 years to receive my EMT-P cert prior to joining?
No, you will get it paid for and it will take half the time once you make it to PJ school. I would recommend focusing on passing the past and hitting the old Indoc grad standards.
I work in EMS and have a weird schedule so I wouldn’t be able to all 6 workouts of your programs every week. Are your programs still doable with my schedule?
First, you will have access to the programs through my app and then you will have access for a full year. Second, there are lots of firefighters doing my program, it definitely requires you to be committed. You can find the time to do them, because other people are doing it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It honestly comes down to how committed you are to improving your current level of fitness. If you miss more than 2 workouts a week, I recommend redoing the entire week, and I can always reset for you.
I was wondering if you have any info on water confidence courses you can take?
There is water confidence included in all of my workout programs. But if you want a pure breath holding course, you might be able to do a performance free diving course.
I’ve been struggling with the egg beater tread, are there any good tips or progressions I that should do?
It is difficult and sometimes frustrating, however you can practice on the land laying on your back, then move into the water and hold the wall, then move off the wall and use some type of floaty to hold you up, then ditch the floaty. Also if this doesn’t work and you cannot get it down, you can grind through using a giant stride/flutter kick variation.
Do you have any advice for improving your 500m - 1000m swim times?
One thing that helped me was alternating with hand paddles and fins. It really helps you feel what movements will help you propel yourself in the water. Also a big thing people miss is working on reducing your time on the wall during turns.
I was wondering about your experience of making it through indoctrination, the pipeline, etc. Did you struggle a lot, and where? Also, did you stand out or were really great at one thing or another?
The hardest part for me was waking up in the morning and starting the day, because I knew once I started I could just gut it out… but taking myself out of a comfy bed to get beat up was difficult.
What is your take on being in a relationship that involves kids, while trying to train and become a pj?
Everyone is busy, you are just going to have to prioritize your time well. It's definitely not the easiest thing to do, but it can be done. Remember that training to become a PJ is really the start of your future PJ career.
Were you ever exposed to climbing on more than a training level?
There was a mission where there was a potential for it during a rescue I did out at Zion, but the helo ended up being able to fit in the canyon.
Which would you recommend if you wanted the most deployments, Guard or Active Duty?
In recent history the active units are deploying a lot more frequently then the Guard or Reserve Units. As a Rescue Squadron PJ you will deploy almost once a year or every 18 months with an entire team, in the STS side of it, it will be less often. In the Guard or Reserve there are opportunities to deploy, but more often then not you are not deploying as a team.