News>Pararescue Airmen battle was 'no day at the beach'
Story at a Glance
• Nine pararescue Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing competed in the annual Battle of the Beach physical competition. • The initial half-mile ocean swim was cancelled due to tide conditions. • The pararescue career field requires Airmen to be proficient in several high-risk skill sets to include SCUBA, sky diving and mountain climbing to name a few.
Photos
Air Force Reserve pararescueman Senior Airman James Kirsch, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., crawls through the sand during a physical challenge on the beach in Daytona Beach, Fla., April 14. Kirsch was one of 60 athletes and military personnel who entered the challenge as part of hisongoing training to meet the tough physical standards of being a pararescue Airmen trained to save lives on the battlefield. The Battle of the Beach competition started as an annual event six years ago. Nine Airmen from the 920th RQW participated. (Courtesy photo)
Nine Air Force Reserve pararescue Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. participated in the annual Battle of the Beach competition April 14. They were among 60 participants who competed in a difficult physical challenge in the soft sand of Daytona Beach, Fla. to work on their team building skills as part of the toughest career in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Adrian Durham)
The bear-crawl buddy drag was one of the relays that pitted 30 teams of two against one another in the Battle of the Beach competition in Daytona Beach, Fla. April 14. Nine pararescue Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., competed in the challenge as part of their ongoing physical training. The pararescue career field is one of the most physically and mentally demanding careers in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Adrian Durham)
Pararescue Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., participated in a difficult physical challenge called Battle of the Beach in Daytona Beach, Fla., April 14. The buddy-carry relay was one of many that tested their physical strength and stamina. During it they had to race 25 meters in the soft sand while carrying their teammate. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Adrian Durham)
Pararescue Airmen and support personnel from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., put together a recruiting display to reel potential Airmen interested in becoming pararescuemen. The pararescue career field two-year training schedule has a high fail rate therefore recruiting is an important aspect of it. (Courtesy photo)
4/16/2012 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., -- Not all time spent on the beach is relaxing.
Nine pararescue Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's920th Rescue Wing competed in the annual Battle of the Beach physical competition that tested their strength and stamina in the sand of Florida's spring break capital, Daytona Beach, April 14.
"It's a good morale and team builder," said Master Sgt. Joseph Traska, 920th Reserve pararescueman competitor and Volusia County Beach patrol officer.
Traska was among sixty competitors who hit the beach running. The initial half-mile ocean swim was cancelled due to tide conditions, therefore a half-mile run was the first event followed nine other events:
1. half-mile ocean swim with fins and side stroke, no wetsuits allowed (cancelled)
2. return to the beach and complete 100 pushups and 100 situps
3. 50 yard low crawl relay
4. 100 pushups and 100 situps
5. 25 yard bear crawl-finish together
6. 100 pushups and 100 situps
7. 50 yard sand bag carry relay (25 pound bag)
8. 100 pushups and 100 situps
9. 50 yard buddy carry (25 yards each)
10. 100 pushups and 100 situps
Battle for the Beach was established by Rob Wallace, a veteran triathlete and personal trainer. Entering competitions like this enhances training for pararescue Airmen. The pararescue career field requires Airmen to be proficient in several high-risk skill sets to include SCUBA, sky diving and mountain climbing to name a few, therefore physical conditioning is a constant requirement.
Since it takes two years to train an Airmen to become a pararescueman in the Air Force Reserve and the fail rate is 90 percent, recruiting for athletic men to join them is part of the challenge.
A group of supporting Airmen from the 920th joined forces with the competitors hoping to reel some potential recruits during the day with pararescue special rescue equipment on display.
For more information on joining the 920th RQW in pararescue or any other field, contact recruiting at (321) 494-3003.
For more information follow the 920th RQW on Facebook and Twitter.
