The AIG, March 13th UPDATE

The AIG, March 13th UPDATE - 2020

Published: Fri, 03/13/20

PJ Association.com

The AIG, March 13th - 2020

"Once a PJ, Always a PJ"

"Please share with your network so everyone is signed up for the AIG, we are stronger in numbers"

"Pits would go"

Pararescue Family and Friends!

Due to concerns about Novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic, we held an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors to discuss potential affects on this year upcoming Pararescue Rodeo and Reunion.

Our plan for now is to continue to monitor and watch how the spread of this virus progresses so we have better information to make any decision on how to proceed with our event. The hotel and other event providers are focused on dealing with current events and the resulting situations and are not focused on an event that is still 7 months out. That is slowing their response to our needs for final pricing and scheduling of events. Therefore, we will continue with the opened registration for the hotels , but are delaying registration for the Reunion and Rodeo events until we can better project if this ongoing pandemic will affect our reunion.

With that said, event registration should have nothing to do with the planning and scheduling your room at the hotel. At this time we hope you will reserve rooms so we can gauge interest and see how we are progressing to meeting room goals. For those with concerns about flights, they can be purchased at a later date once we understand the true scope and affects of the pandemic. For now let’s show the world who and what we are, we hope you will book your room. Stay strong, we are looking forward to seeing you all in Reno this September 23-27th for another awesome gathering of PJ’s, CRO’s and their families.,

President, PJA

Bill Watson

I’m very excited to announce the next honoree for our upcoming Memorial Day event at the Mt Soledad National Veterans Memorial: Staff Sergeant William Hart Pitsenbarger was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew on almost 300 rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots. On April 11, 1966, he was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. Before his death he helped save over 60 men in the battle. He was initially posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Most recently, Staff Sergeant Pitsenbarger was memorialized in the movie “The Last Full Measure”: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go8zI2sytEc

One of his best friends from initial pararescue training, Neil Black, will also be speaking on his behalf. Major Arthur Neil Black enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on January 16, 1963, and was trained as a pararescueman. On September 20, 1965 his helicopter was shot down over North Vietnam and he was taken as a Prisoner of War. After spending 2,703 days in captivity, Lt Black was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was one of three enlisted POWs that received Presidential commissions when they returned, after having been commissioned by the POW Camp leadership in Hanoi. Neil entered Undergraduate Pilot Training in August 1973 and completed C-130 Hercules training in November 1974, and then served as a C-130 pilot until March 1979. Neil later attended Russian Language School from December 1981 to December 1983 before serving as an Air Operations Officer with the U.S. Military Liaison Mission to the Soviet Forces in East Germany from January 1984 until his retirement from the Air Force on February 1, 1987.

The event will be hosted at The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial on 25 May from 2 – 3 pm. This Memorial is one of the most unique veterans’ memorials in the United States and stands high on La Jolla’s Mt. Soledad, offering panoramic views of San Diego, the Laguna mountains, the Pacific Ocean and Mexico. It is the only Memorial that honors veterans, living or deceased, from the Revolutionary War to the current war on terrorism, with an image of the veteran. More than 5,200 individual veteran tributes, embedded on black granite plaques, are mounted onto 11 curved walls honoring our United States veterans. The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial was originally conceived in 1952 by American Legion Post 275 of La Jolla, California. These annual ceremonies host over 1200 in our audience, and feature many amazing presentations and performances including: live music by Marine Band San Diego or Navy Region Southwest Band, the Marine Recruit Depot (MCRD) Color Guard presentation of the colors, MCRD Rifle Team conducting a 21 Gun Salute, and the Missing Man Formation Fly Over conducted by aircraft from the San Diego Salute Formation Team.

The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial is located at 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South, La Jolla, CA 92037 and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, contact: Phil Kendro, Event Committee Chairman and Trustee, Mt Soledad Memorial Association
(619) 787-9923
phil.kendro@gmail.com

www.soledadmemorial.com (858) 459-2314

PJ Reunion & Rodeo Reno NV UPDATE:
Reunion Registration is COMING soon, Get your rooms!

PLEASE SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES

PJ Reunion

Events are being finalized with the hotel * some things are subject to change

Everything we need to know is listed here, Registration will follow soon.

Warning Order: There are only 7 months before the kickoff for the 2020 Pararescue Associations’ PJ Reunion and Rodeo. We are preparing the Reno NV area for your arrival/invasion, and we need to know who is coming… GET YOUR ROOMS, we manage cost with rooms count, call TODAY…

Hotel Room Reservations are available now!

A block of rooms have been reserved for us at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in beautiful Reno, Nevada.

The Hotel is within a few minutes of the airport, so a rental car is not needed

unless you want to see the area, or you want to visit offsite PJ Rodeo Events.

Reserve your hotel room at

https://pjrodeo.com or
https://pjassociation.com, or
https://book.passkey.com/event/50034127/owner/16854/home

Or, to reserve by phone, call, 1-800-648-5080 before 8/21/2020, and ask for the PJ Association Room Block, or use the Group Res ID PJA20.

PJ Rodeo - September 21st - 25th, 2020

PJ Reunion - September 23rd-27th, 2020

Event Overview:

Ice Breaker Social, Hospitality Deck Socials, VA Assistance Teams, Guest Speakers, Motorcycle Excursion, Zumba, STAR Vendor Trade Show, PJ Rodeo Awards Ceremony Banquet, Country Western Dancing in the Hotel, Social Painting with some twists, Escape Club Adventure, and much, more are being planned, and plenty of events in town and at the Hotel. Bike Week

In addition to these events the PJ RODEO competitors will be participating in scored events with many of the events located at the hotel, in view from the Hospitality Decks and other hotel areas. Everyone, including our FAG's (Former Action Guys), enjoys watching the current warrior force in action.

Member and Competitor Registration:

PJ Association Members and Competitors must register for the 2020 PJ Rodeo and Reunion. Additional Schedule of events can be found at

https://pjrodeo.com or https://pjassociation.com,

Reunion registration for members will be announced soon and made available at the PJ Association website, following finalized pricing from the Grand Sierra Hotel. The reunion event line-up is shaping up to be the best-ever PJ Rodeo and Reunion!

Member Registration:

Links to be published soon at: https://pjassociation.com

Competitors: Team Registration:

Competitor team register now at: https://www.pjrodeo/compete

PJ Rodeo Sponsors - Visit https://pjrodeo.com or email

bill.watson@pjassociation.com to sponsor and support this great event.

Sept 23 / Wed - Registration, Ice Breaker and Social

1pm-5pm Registration Open

VA Assistance table (Doug Horka)

6pm-8pm Ice Breaker / Opening Ceremony PJ Demonstration Poolside,

Be there…

9pm-12pm Hospitality room events * Other events TBD

* event games

9-11pm Axe throwing Competition - Steve West $

Sept 24 / Thur - Registration, Poolside events Serenity Deck with the

Rodeo Competitors

10am-3pm Registration - Other events

10am-12pm Dr’s Galloway - Health and Wellness Seminar

9am- 4pm High Angel Rope Course-pool side with competitors

Serenity Deck Social -

* Lots of things too do at this Hotel and the area

* Concerts and events in town and the local area

2 - 3pm Wine Tasting $25 each (first 50)

5:30- 7:30pm VIP Sponsor’s and Competitors Only Social

5:30 - 7:30pm Hospitality room open

8pm - 11pm *The “Last Full Measure” Film Special Event

Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of this final Tribute…

Sept 25 / Friday - Monster Mash Pools side at the hotel, Rodeo Awards Ceremony, and Other Special Events

*Times TBD

10am-12pm * Workshop with Sue Pighini https://www.suepighini.com

* other speakers TBD Troy Arce?

2 -3pm Wine Tasting $25 (first 50)

10-3pm STAR (Special Tactics and Rescue) Vendor Show

5:30pm-8pm Rodeo Awards Event

8:30 pm-10:30pm Painting with Friends, Join us for an unforgettable 2 hour evening painting with friends in Reno! You bring a smile, we handle the rest! First 100! $30 each.

8:30 - 12pm Hospitality Room Open

Sept 26th / Saturday

9am–12pm General Membership Meeting

12:30pm-4pm Motorcycle ride; Tom Beranek - wscr1085@comcast.net for info and participation, Also, see Street Vibrations Fall Rally http://roadshowsreno.com/sv_fall.php

5:30pm-9pm Reunion Maroon Ball Banquet – wear something Maroon

Following the Banquet…

10pm-12pm Hospitality Room Open

Sept 27th / Sunday

Departures and good byes.

*Evening events, dates and times subject to change/Other events TBD

*2020 PJA Reunion “Last Full Measure” Movie Notification
The PJ Association is presenting an exclusive showing of “The Last Full Measure”, the extraordinary 2020 film highlighting Pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger’s and the determination to have his Air Force Cross upgraded to the Medal Of honor of Honor The “Mud Soldiers” of Charlie Company, the Big Red One, and their wives and Pits’ PJ Brothers struggled for over 30 years to honor this hero who saved lives by sacrificing his own in the battle of Abilene, the bloodiest conflict of the Vietnam War.

An Overview of the Film: “Last Full Measure”

The director and writer, Todd Robinson, and executive producer, Sidney Sherman, spent 20 years working to bring this film to the big screen. The Honorable Witt Peters, former Secretary of the Air Force (who played an important role in Pits’ MOH) will also be given the honorarium of PJ brother.

A one-time memorable group photo will be taken after the movie with our honorary guests, so bring your berets. You don’t want to miss out.

When: Thursday, September 24, 2020. Time and Location TBA.

Q & A after the movie with the following:

• Todd Robinson, writer and director of LFM
• Sidney Sherman, executive producer of LFM
• Travis Aaron Wade, producer and actor of LFM
• Witt Peters, former Secretary of the Air Force
• David Milstein, PJ onsite during Pits’ battle
• Harry O’Bierne, PJ onsite during Pits’ battle
• Some of the surviving members of Charlie Company, Big Red One - the “Mud Soldiers”
• John Pighini, PJ advisor for the LFM
• Possibly, a mystery guest (More information coming from VP John Pighini)
Be part of the Largest Photo gathering of PJ's and CRO's ever...for the History books

Call to Order - Get your rooms reserved

We need the room count up to meet our goals-get on it

Registration is being finalized

All you need to make reservations and schedule are set

Reunion dates

September 23-27th, 2020 Reno NV

Room Reservations

Sponsors can e-mail us now to reserve your spot.

bill.watson@pjassociation.com

A block of rooms have been reserved for our group at the Grand Sierra Resort. Call 1-800-648-5080 before 8/21/2020 to book your reservation. Ask for the PJ Association Room Block OR use the Group Res ID PJA20.

Reunion dates are September 23-27th, 2020

Rodeo dates are September 21-25th, 2020, Call if you have questions

https://book.passkey.com/event/50034127/owner/16854/home

Special Event with the Last Full Measure

Don't miss this last opportunity to be a part of the Making of...

(More information coming from VP John Pighini)

Be part of the Largest Photo gathering of PJ's and CRO's ever...for the History books

PJ Rodeo Events Summary – (subject to change)

Sep 20/Sun – Travel Day
Sep 21/Mon – 1st Skills Test Shooting events
Sep 22/Tue – 2nd Skills Test Water and Medical work at Lake Tahoe
Sep 22/Tue – Competitor Social
Sep 23/Wed – 3rd Skills Test, Jump Day and Opening Ceremony
Sep 23/Wed – Reunion Opening Ceremony
Sep 24/Thu – 4th Skills Test, High Angel Rope Work
Sep 24/Thu – Sponsor Appreciation
Sep 25/Fri – Monster Mash Skills
Sep 25/Fri – Awards Ceremony
Sep 26/Sat – PJA Business Mtg
Sep 26/Sat – PJA Banquet
Sep 27/Sun – Travel Day

Pararescuemen/CRO's, family members and friends of Pararescue…
The 2020 PJ Rodeo and Reunion is the best place to be September 21st – 25th.

Rodeo

September 21-25th, 2020

It takes a lot of work to put these on so please help, We are very short with help in Reno and will need anyone that can to step up. If you or anyone you know are coming in early, please email us...

Coming in early, let us know, volunteers are needed.

How to navigate the website and access your Membership

Click Here!

Coming Soon,

Keep your eyes on the PJA Store

Special thanks to our sponsor that helped make the Graduation Family day a great success. Without them, we could not pull this off. The families, Staff and Graduates say one of the best things they get in NM.