Expert: Rod Powers - 12/7/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr. Powers. I don't know if you can shed any light on the subject for me but someone suggested I message you. I am considering the Navy Seals & Pararescue. Some benefits of Seals seem to be larger entry bonus; 40k as aposed to PJ's 13K. Air Force supposedly has better quality of living as well as four year minimum enlistment to seals six. Seals get more varied missions and wider range of combat skills. PJ's get medic training which seems like it would make you more valuable after military service. Both seem to be elite though many say Seals have tougher indoc. The air force will give me a contract for PJ's right away where the navy recruiter said I have to sign up with another rating with an addendum that I will do buds if I pass pst. I am trying to figure out which is best for me. Do you know if there is an option in SEALS to become a medic as well. That training interest me but doing strictly medivac type missions might not be as interesting as some of the SEAL missions(not that saving life is in any way a bad thing). Sorry this is so long. Any direction you can provide is much appreciated. Is there any fallacy in any of the info I have so far? Thanks much! Chris

ANSWER: Hi Chris,

Up until a year (or so) ago, in order to apply for SEAL, one would first have to be qualified (go to "A-School" and be trained) in a rating (job) that the Navy considered a "source rating" for the SEAL "special duty." There were several source-ratings for SEAL, and one of them was the rating of HM (Navy Hospitalman -- see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/hm.htm). A year (or so) ago, the Navy declared SEAL to no longer be a special duty assignment, but rather it's own rating (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/seal.htm), and so a specific source rating is no longer required.

Now, every SEAL team has one member who has received medical training who is considered to be the "doc" of the team. Before the change, that SEAL member would have been a person who had the rating of HM. These days, unless the SEAL Team commander already had someone on their team who was HM qualified, he/she would select a member of the team to be trained in medical duties. You can't get a "guarantee" for this. It's up to the SEAL Team commanding officer, depending on the needs of the SEAL Team you're assigned to. In other words, the "boss" of your Team decides who gets medical training, who gets radio/communications training, who gets heavy-weapons training, etc., in order to round out the requirements of his team.

If you decide to try out for the SEAL Challenge Program, which requires you to select a rating just in case you don't meet the requirements for BUD/S, I would recommend that you select the HM rating. That way, if you fail to qualify for BUDS/S straight off, or if you are eliminated from SEAL Training, you would then go to A-School as an HM, and -- if/when you tried again for SEAL later, you would already have the HM training, and chances are you would be selected as your SEAL Team's "Doc."

As for Air Force Pararescue, they don't just do Medical Evacs. If you get an assignment to the Air Force Special Operations Squadron at Hurbert Field in Florida (right next to Eglin AFB), you'll be assigned to a unit with other Pararescue and Combat Controllers who get sent on Special Ops missions that have nothing to do with combat rescue (pretty much the same kind of Spec Ops Missions that SEALS, Rangers, Marine Recon, and Army Special Forces do). At any given time, about 30 percent of the Air Force's total Pararescue and Combat Controller population are assigned to a Special Operations Squadron at Hurbert Field.

Even if assigned to a combat rescue squadron, Pararescue members are often individually  "tapped" to deploy for different types of missions. I spend three years as the First Sergeant (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theservices/a/firstsergeant.htm) of the 48th Combat Rescue Squadron, based at Holloman AFB, in New Mexico. I bet you didn't know that every single time a space shuttle launches, or lands, there are between 10 and 15 Pararescue members deployed to various locations throughout the world, "just in case." Not to worry, I didn't know it either until I spend time as the First Sergeant of the Squadron. That's just one example. My Pararescue members were constantly being "tagged" for deployment for various missions (special ops and otherwise), throughout the world.

A SEAL will tell you they are "tougher" and "better trained" than any Pararescue, Combat Controller, Ranger, Marine Corps Recon, or Army Special Forces. A Pararescueman or Combat Contoller will tell you they are "tougher" than any SEAL, Ranger, etc. In other words, every single special operations-type person believes they are the best trained, and toughest. For details, see my article about Special Operations Forces at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/jointservices/a/specialops.htm.

Truth is, they're all "tough," and all "well-trained."

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at http://usmilitary.about.com Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http:usmilitary.about.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you sir, great information! It is sounding like Pararescue may be the way to go, for me. They also have a minimum enlistment of four years as apposed to SEALS six. Not that I won't want to stay longer but at least I have the option. I am going in at 32 so I am not as young, at least chronologically, as many of the guys. I did receive an age waiver though.

As far as SEAL medics go, you cannot get a guarantee but I am guessing you can make your preferences known. I would assume a good commander would take into account your strengths as well as the TEAMS needs. For example, they probably would want someone on the com who is a cool, calm communicator in the heat of things. I do wonder why the Navy gives such large bonuses as compared to other branches. Not that money is the most important thing. If it was I probably wouldn't be choosing the military :-).

So it sounds like the PJ's and SEAL medics have the same medical training, 18D? Actually I was aware that PJ's had some kind of role with space shuttle launches. My brother, who went through indoc and scuba, told me about this.

Thanks again for your wealth of knowledge and taking the time to share it.

Sincerely,
Chris Reynoso

Answer
Hi Chris,

You received an age-waiver for *active duty* Air Force enlistment at the age of 32?????

If so, I'm very, very, very surprised. The Air Force rarely gives active duty age waivers for non-prior service. The normal non-prior service *active duty* age limit for Air Force enlistment is age 27 (see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/enlstandards.htm. If you received an Air Force *active duty* age waiver, at the age of 32, with no prior service, you would be the first such case I've heard of in the past 10 years.  You may wish to double check this with your recruiter to make sure you're not enlisting in the Air National Guard or Reserves.

As far as SEALS go, of course your can make your preferences known to your Team commander. The commander is going to make decisions based on what is best for the team. In other words, if the team already has a "doc," and is missing someone with comm training or special weapons training, then guess what additional training the commander is going to decide to consider for you?

PJs, SEALs, and Army Special Forces (18D) do not undergo the same medical training. Each of the services have their own medical training programs, based on the particular needs of that service.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com