Ep 397: Why Your Lazy Ass Won’t Make It Through Selection with Coach Edge

[@nathanhursey6779]

I’ve recently just got into working out and trying to eat good. Y’all’s podcast are great motivators! I can’t join cause I have a Crohn’s disease but yalls special warfare mindset is great for a lot of things.

[@Kevin-o9h1z]

It's always changing with dive haha. The two classes before me were all PJ but before that it was still CCT and SR. Mine was the last class of just PJ's. The very next class after me it went back with CCT and SR. This was just in July - September of 2024. I'm sure in a couple classes it will be back to just PJ students again.

[@Kevin-o9h1z]

also if you are reading this and training for the pipeline, highly suggest the 18A fitness program. I did it before I went A&S after SWCC (had a break for baby leave) and was in amazing shape that had me excel in A&S even going in with a back injury. Two courses away from my beret now!

[@AaronLoveHateClub]

How’s a CCT not know what to do when there’s a bear attack? What do you have that radio for? Get the a-10s in there and do your job.

[@vettevegas]

😂 Word. 30mm is a good choice, unless you wanted a rug.

[@markpekel4517]

#1 RULE of Zombie Land is CARDIO. 🏃

[@ethanluttrell]

I bought a standing desk for the added time on feet.

[@Holy-Herb]

I'd just like to appreciate all 3 of the core guys and all the guests they have had on. Recently been looking into join the USAF. SOF looked interesting and after hearing all the episodes I have listened too, I believe you guys will set me up for success when I enlist in 2025.

[@johcaone]

Ref timeline 17:38 thru 18:45 regarding all selection programs back in the day. An explanation is needed as to why all those different assessments existed, especially the unnecessary (pointless) redundant entry into occupation screening and selection assessment followed by the must be screened assessed and selected for assignment to unit requirement. While physical strength and abilities is an unavoidable essential element of selection and assessment there is just as essential the need to assess and select on basis of cognitive flexibility and behavioral adaptability. During the years being referred to, within the Air Force, only PJ and CCT had the most robust inclusive physical ability, cognitive flexibility, and behavioral adaptability entry into AFSC assessment and selection program. The existence of this extent of this career spanning is the strong overlap link between occupation capability and mission capability necessities. This linkage is the reasoning for the crawl, walk, and run stratification of the current Initial Fitness Test, Candidate Fitness Test, and Operator Fitness Test. The lack of a career occupation-specific fitness standard for AFSCs such as TACP or special weather AFSC parachutist duty assignments (conventional and special operations) caused terms such as SOF-TACP to appear as AFSOC deemed it a MAJCOM requirement that they screen and select those TACP being assigned to AFSOC units. At the time TACP had no required occupation-specific fitness standards or tests for entry into AFSC or for assignment to unit purposes. There was no actual entry into AFSC assessment and selection screening course or assignment assessment and selection requirement other than that being imposed by AFSOC. The AFSOC assignment to unit assessment and selection was modeled after the Army units being supported which typically meant being equivalent in purpose as the Army Ranger Indoctrination Program (1975) which evolved to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (2009) and/or the initial Army Special Forces screening and selection assignment to unit program (1952) that evolved to the current MOS-specific Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1988. Whether coincidence or not, the year 1988 is when the Pararescue Indoc Course became the Combat Control and Pararescue Indoc Course. It is also the year pre-ranger school preparatory courses were appearing both in the Air Force (USAF Security Forces-sent most of the Air Force students) and the Army. Within the Air Force Pararescue has the longest continuous existence of an entry into occupation specific assessment and selection program. Records are incomplete, but earliest attrition record is 1955 that simply discloses in a typical class of 800 men despite greatest care in selecting candidates, 200 could be counted on to washout from the original 800, with only a very few being selected. It should be noted this data was prior to 1963 requirement of SCUBA qualification being an entry into AFSC training requirement. From January 1966, two years after the PJ Indoc course was established: 2500 Basic Trainees interviewed for the forthcoming class, 16 found qualified to enter training, with current attrition rate only 12 or less will be awarded the AFSC. Qualified to enter training included passing the initial candidate fitness test, initial physiological training which included for PJ student candidates the Navy diver’s oxygen tolerance test, and initial Aviation Class III, parachutist, and diver medical certifications. It also included swimming ability and water confidence assessments.

[@nobodyimportantexceptontue7068]

😂😂 i enjoyed this.

[@OK-otic]

In my 20s, I was a major runner, because I didn't have access to a gym. So I took running and martial arts very far everyday, but then my fitness stagnated for five years and I had to start fitness all over from scratch. I had access to a gym and so I immediately started on my most glaring weakness: pull ups. My pull ups are ok now, but I am way more chill and work more with weights. It's hard to get motivated for running because that is basically ALL I did. 😔

[@theentiresovietunion]

was a bodybuilder about 4 months ago and i started training for CCT this training and any cardio is kicking my ass i would rather just have a nice bench day

[@OnesReady]

Wouldn’t we all!🤣

[@vettevegas]

When I was at Lackland a lifetime ago, I remember the PJs running everywhere (I mean everywhere!), while carrying a 40' x 4"diameter braided hemp rope (and singing) Those guys all looked like solid Apache warriors. That was 40yrs agò. Thats who I want if I was going into combat. Run everywhere!

[@robertmiller300]

Wouldve clicked for the title alone.

[@vettevegas]

10mm Glock for Bear in Alaska. Hardcast bullets. Several taken with 10mm this last year.

[@johcaone]

During 1978 the 71 ARRS Pararescue Team, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska turned in all .44 and .357 magnum revolvers for short barrel pistol grip folding stock 870 Remmington shotguns with 8-round magazine tube extension. A charging Grizzly in a confined space needs bit more stopping power than a pistol/revolver provides. Assigned 71 ARRS PJ Team 1977-1980.

[@vettevegas]

Agree a 12ga Brenneke slug is outstanding. So is a 300winmag+. But the gun you have on you (with hardcasts, not HPs) is better than the long-gun leaning against the tree 5yds away. Bullets have changed since 1970s, and it's also nice to have 15 rounds to try to make effective shots on what amounts to hitting a 900lb bouncing basketball with claws coming at you at 35mph from 20yds.

[@vettevegas]

​​​​@@johcaone I sure envy you being a PJ in Alaska. WHAT an adventure! I grew up and later served on Elmendorf. Plenty of bears on the base property itself! 😮 And Fort Richardson. Encountered a Mother with 2 cubs at around 20yds around the back of the runway near Six Mile Lake. She (luckily) ignored us after we climbed on a conex.

[@johcaone]

The issued 870 shotgun I carried on rescue missions in Alaska was never beyond arms reach and was as assessable as the .44 Mag or .357 Mag revolver holstered on my side before the switch was made. The same can be said when I was off duty carrying my personally owned 870 while hiking about in Alaska. You still need composure in the unexpected oh-s..t moment to hit that charging bear.

[@johcaone]

@@vettevegas Mostly Black Bears were encountered on the Ft Richardson training ranges. If there was a Grizzly or Brown Bear roaming the area I never heard of it. (added) Just recalled a PJ, I believe it was Rick Terry, found himself face to face with a Black bear one night when he crawled into a hide space. Wasn't there, but he probably scared the bear as much as the bear scared him. The PJs were mostly worried about the pack of gone wild domestic dogs roaming the ranges back then. My assignment at the 71st was the most adventurist regarding civilian rescue missions and special missions. Special mission included a catch a falling star mission flown out of Johnson Atoll for a few weeks and being a member of the High Altitude Rescue Team (worldwide deployable 12 man high altitude mountaineering expedition team). The operational capability provided by the DOD-USAF HART was a designated by name 6-8 man team (all-PJs) world-wide deployable within an 8-hour notice having the capability to conduct high-altitude mountaineering operations on snow, ice, and rock at elevations up to 22 thousand feet above sea level for a self sufficient period no less than twenty days. Purpose was inclusive to rescue and recovery of special weapons, classified devices, etc. I was the primary medic while other were rope leaders, HF Comm, etc. Air Force Now 113 was filmed by a PJ (required learning a lot about film and filters (correct for ultraviolet light spectrum, etc). The team commander/Leader, SSgt Lapointe did the filming used and it actually gained recognition from the civilian film documentary industry. SSgt LaPointe due to his achievements and contributions also gained recognition as one of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year (1978). Bob LaPointe and I have a long history of being teammates and Friends. During 1984 thru 1986 Bob LaPointe (he was the NCOIC) and I were members of the 23Air Force Mobile Training Team. This team was tasked to training and qualify all 480 PJs at the time to be military freefall parachutists (HALO) and use of high glide ratio parachute systems. A few years late Bob while assigned to the PJ School (1550th TTS, Kirtland AFB. NM) developed and implemented the first Pararescue Team Leader Course. I was one of the four PJs (RSOLL-ground special mission and fixed and rotary wing Team Leader certified) brought into in a TDY capacity to go through and validate the course.

[@Optimus1234Prime]

Maybe I missed it but can someone give me a timestamp for the part about the calf raises?

[@SneakerRedemption]

I missed it too tons of great information but missed that part

[@RiddickDDR]

What does bodywork mean?

[@OnesReady]

@@RiddickDDR all mobility work- stretching, scraping, cupping, tissue massage, etc etc. - A

[@RiddickDDR]

@OnesReady thank you

[@johnmarkleach9627]

Aaron, BREVITY.

[@OnesReady]

@@johnmarkleach9627 John, NO. - A

[@vettevegas]

Aaron gives good rant. 😂

[@deckerjake438]

Haven’t finished the episode yet but can you answer this: What does your physical standards look like 2-4 years post pipeline? AKA do you keep the pipeline standards?

[@OnesReady]

The standards are the OFT (Operator Fitness Test). 🍑

[@deckerjake438]

@ thank you