Seven of 24 candidates advance after Combat Rescue Officer Phase II screening

355th Wing:

"DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Twenty-four Combat Rescue Officer candidates faced a week of grueling physical challenges, demanding water-based exercises and high-pressure evaluations during CRO Phase II screening. The physically and mentally taxing events pushed candidates to their limits, testing their endurance, resilience and ability to keep performing when conditions became difficult.

After a demanding week of intense physical and mental evaluations, only seven of the 24 candidates who began CRO Phase II screening earned selection to continue in the Combat Rescue Officer training pipeline. More than three-quarters of the candidates did not make the cut.

“You have to ensure that the force that is going to undergo these missions is never going to quit, and the whole idea of never quitting starts on day one of their training,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Sterr, the Air Force's 38th combat rescue officer and CRO hiring authority.

The screening evaluates more than physical performance. Cadre assess candidates' decision-making, composure under adversity and ability to lead others when circumstances become difficult. This process helps identify individuals who can meet the demands of the career field while strengthening the combat rescue community's future leadership pipeline.

Sterr said the screening helps cadre identify the traits candidates need before entering the career field. In combat rescue, details that might seem minor during training, can carry life-or-death consequences during an actual mission.

“You can see it in their demeanor; they learn things here, like attention to detail,” Sterr said. “If you pay attention to the smallest details, it's going to pay off. You're going to ensure success. You're going to make sure your goggle straps are fastened correctly on your head in a pool setting; you will ensure that the rope is fastened correctly when you're hanging from a helicopter.”

Physical ability alone was not enough. Evaluators also looked for candidates who put the team ahead of their own performance and recognized when someone beside them needed help.

“Team before self, there's not a single one of them that's actually thinking about themselves,” Sterr said. “They're constantly looking to their buddies, seeing who needs assistance.”

That instinct can have serious consequences in combat rescue. Teams operate in dangerous, unpredictable environments, often under severe time constraints. Every member must be prepared to depend on others, make sound decisions and act when someone's life is at stake.

“In our mission, we don't have time to sit and think,” Sterr said. “Rarely do we have time to come up with courses of action, so in this case, they're going to have a sense of urgency to get the mission done from training through to the actual missions in combat.”

Chief Master Sgt. Joshua Brown, pararescue career field manager, said the screening exposes candidates to challenging situations before they enter the formal training pipeline, giving cadre an opportunity to evaluate their physical capabilities, character and leadership potential.

“We want to make sure that they always have the utmost integrity to do the right thing when nobody is looking,” Brown said. “We're looking at leadership characteristics. Are they suffering in silence, or are they looking to their left and right and reaching out to help teammates?”

Brown emphasized that recognizing when others need help is just as important as overcoming individual challenges. Combat Rescue Officers will be responsible for leading personnel through demanding environments, where the ability to put others first is a responsibility, not simply a leadership quality.

“The biggest thing with this type of screening is putting them into these challenging situations before they enter the pipeline,” Brown said. “If they're selected here, they're going into a common assessment and selection against other Air Force Special Warfare candidates. We want to make sure they have what it takes so that when it comes to that point, they're not going to struggle with the responsibility of leading.”

In the Combat Rescue community, developing that next generation of leadership is more than filling positions. As operational demands evolve, the Air Force must continue building a force capable of adapting, making decisions under pressure and executing personnel recovery missions in an increasingly complex world.

For the seven candidates selected, screening was only the beginning. The road ahead will demand the same discipline, attention to detail and commitment to their teammates that brought them this far. Their selection marks the beginning of a demanding journey toward becoming the leaders entrusted with one of the Air Force's most consequential responsibilities, bringing others home."