USAF pararescue and combat control....both look like awesome carrers but which one gets more ';direct action';

as in combat....





thanks alotUSAF pararescue and combat control....both look like awesome carrers but which one gets more ';direct action';
As a former PJ way back in the early 80's....I can say the combat controllers will see more action. Back then both went through the same ';weeding out'; training. 90% of my class quit. Started with 30 or so and graduated 5. The roles have changed from what I understand even moving the schools out of Texas. For what their current roles are I couldn't say. Don't expect to go in and be either, I don't think its something you can just join the AF and be promised that job. Most guys cross trained from another career field. I started as a cop.USAF pararescue and combat control....both look like awesome carrers but which one gets more ';direct action';
Your kinda talking about 2 different things. Combat controllers got the most action in the early part of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now PJ's get most of the action. Combat controllers are going to go in and do air strikes and blow something up without anybody knowing before hand. And if all goes well they egress out without anyone knowing they were there. But if they get caught - they will be in one hell of a fire fight wayyyy behind enemy lines. PJ's on the other hand are sent in for various reasons - one being a fire fight broke out and they need more help, especially medically trained personnel - but also they are usually part of a quick reaction team that helps to go secure areas. So like if a helicopter goes down they are dropped in and provide cover to the team and usually just stand around and tell locals to keep moving - kinda like crowd control.
PJ's don't usually get direct action, they don't typically seek to engage the enemy, they are pararescue with the toughest training in the military, combat controllers get direct action because they are foward air controllers to call in air strikes for infantry or spec ops they are always on the ground with the special forces and engage in combat with them


for all intents and purposes they are infantry
Well first of all....what is your motivation? It sounds to me like you might be an action junkie. I do not mean to insult or appear disrespectful but you may be pursuing these careers for the entirly wrong reasons.


Pararescue is a job that involves being on standby to provide rescue support for downded aircrews. The training is as intense as any in any branch of the military. It is often overlooked because it does not get the hype and the coverage of many of the more glamourized branches of the military...i.e. Navy Seals, Green Berets etc. Pararescue people are not directly involved in ';combat'; ops because their focus is rescue and not target acquisition and elimination. Conbat Control is really just front line Air Traffic Controllers...intense training as well but no direct ';combat';


So if you are a true ';junkie'; I wouldn't go after either....join the Navy and try to become a seal......oh and BTW.....good luck....90 % wash from Pararescue...about 80 % from seals......and so on
Infantry in the Army and the Marines receive the most ';direct action';.





PJ/CCT are not conventional warfighters, they are Air Force special operations.
both para rescue mission is to get downed piolets behind enemy lines. combat control calls in airstrikes