It was always interesting for me to hear the stories of how guys found their way into Air Force Pararescue.  Comprising less than 1% of the Air Force, Pararescue is a small, almost obscure organization that doesn’t recruit and doesn’t seek publicity, so is not widely known.  In order to join it, a guy first had to somehow discover it.  It was kind of like an unofficial step in the selection process.

    Many of my buddies learned about Pararescue only after they’d enlisted.  One guy I know very well joined the Air Force only because the Navy recruiter was at lunch when he went to sign up; if it wasn’t for that quirk of fate, he’d have been a sailor.  A few guys knew a little about Pararescue prior to enlistment, but none of us had the full story.  Somehow the right guys ended up there though; either they found Pararescue or Pararescue found them.  That’s how it was.           

   I was one who had a little bit of warning.  I had seen PARARESCUE printed on an Air Force brochure, in the middle of a long list of job titles, somewhere between JET ENGINE MECHANIC and RADIO OPERATOR.  I asked my recruiter about it and I remember clearly what he said: “Those guys jump out of airplanes with med kits, but the training is really tough - they run everywhere and they do pullups every time they go in and out of the barracks.  A few guys from here tried it, but none of them ever made it, so just forget about that.”   

    “Jump out of airplanes with med kits.  The training is really tough.  Forget about that.”  When I heard that, my life went in whole new direction - I knew that was what I was meant to do...

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

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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 (Special Tactics and Rescue) 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.  There is a big Bike Week in town too.

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), will enjoy 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