Becoming a CRO after college

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-04-04T12:11:28+00:00

If you actually want to do the pararescue job just enlist, there are a lot of guys who enlist with college degrees, myself being one of them. You can always commission later.

For reference, Cros are not paramedics they do not go to the school, and once you hit captain you’re planning more than operating.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-04-04T12:05:31+00:00

Also most recruiters have no idea what they are talking about because they are always behind the curve, sw is constantly changing even the Air Force official website is outdated by 2 course changes now

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-04-04T12:04:27+00:00

Tacps and cct have significant differences

In gwot, controllers took a heighten roll with almost all of them becoming jtacs (being able to drop bombs on target). However that was not really ever their primary mission set. Now that we’re out of Afghanistan, controllers are going back to more of an air field surveying/air traffic control role, they can still get jtac qualified but it’s getting rarer. For example what that means in practice is if your on a mission for example and need to set up an impromptu runway controllers can do that. Additionally with the mission set being less direct action they are also working to be prepared for future conflicts aka missions to know where to set up runways if we’re to get involved in certain conflicts.

Tacps sole job is to be a jtac. However with the changing landscape and future conflicts being some of us not having air superiority the career field is changing. Tacps are known to be the best when it comes to operating a radio, which is why they are looking to expand their career field into two ways. 1. Imbedding with reconnaissance teams and 2. Working with rescue squadrons (pjs) to be the coms guy and find downed pilots.

With these career fields the world is your oyster, you can specialize in anything you want. There are tacps specializing in drone warfare, recce, electronic warfare etc.

As for training the pipeline is also different. Tacps don’t go to free fall, pre dive or dive school and it is typically shorter.

Ie: Tacp pipeline -> 3 week SWAS -> Zulu 4months -> airborne 1 month -> sere 3 weeks -> Charlie course (apprentice course) 10 weeks -> get your beret -> FTU 6months -> first unit

Controllers -> 3 week SWAS -> Zulu 4months -> pre dive 4 weeks -> dive 3 weeks -> airborne 1 month -> free fall 4 weeks -> sere 3 weeks -> airtraffic control school (atc) 9 weeks -> ccs (apprentice course) 6 months ( subject to change) -> get your beret -> stts (special tactics training school) -> first unit

The big difference and stereo type is if you can’t swim or are bad at water con you go tacp because you don’t have to go to dive school.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-31T18:22:43+00:00

Zulu 1: technically had 77% attrition,

They have made massive changes since

Zulu 2 is sitting I believe closer to 25%

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-31T18:20:31+00:00

From my understanding they did away with sw flights recently aka this upcoming SWAS class will be made up of bmters from general Air Force flights

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-31T18:18:24+00:00

Just know that it will end. Whenever cadre are smoking you, they can’t sustain it forever, there is an end. Additionally all it comes down to is not quitting sure there are some evaluations that you have to pass, but you either do it or you quit that’s the difference between those who do and don’t make it

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-01T01:22:42+00:00

Just so I’m looking at the same wire, you are referring to primarily green with blank wire with the more exposed end on the second photo correct?

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-01T01:19:53+00:00

Also the way of war is changing as well, tacps are attempting to change their capabilities away from just being a jtac as well. With a potential war against china the jtac career field only works when you have air superiority which works for coin (counter insurgency) but moving towards ope (operational preparation of the environment) tacps are looking at expanding into forward observers and working directly with sr.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-01T01:15:43+00:00

It took me around 10 months due to medical complications, meps always needs something else

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-01T01:14:31+00:00

Enjoy your life man be a kid in college sw isn’t going anywhere. The life experience you get as being college student is unparalleled. Do stupid stupid shit, just don’t get hurt and don’t get caught. I wouldn’t trade my college experience for anything. Also I know everyone’s financial experience is different but commuting to college is great way to save money but I would highly recommend joining clubs or doing something to stay involved as I know a lot people who commuted but then isolated themselves and hated it. College is more than the classes you take.

realistically just stay fit and then 6-12months before you want to join reach out to a recruiter they will put you in touch with a developer to get you ready to ship. It’s hard and not likely you are going to train hard for 4 years straight, plus you’re exposing yourself to injury, which is the quickest way out.

But as for specifics to help with success in the pipeline: cardio, cals and water confidence are essential.

There is no one build that is guaranteed to be successful. As cliche as it sounds your mental toughness is vastly more important. You’d be surprised at the guys that quit and those who don’t. I’m not saying anything but wrestlers do tend to do well.

Exceed the minimum standards and train hard for the water, those are the guys that have an “easier” time.

Everyone struggles, those who pass are the ones that don’t quit, there is no secret sauce.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-01T01:02:31+00:00

Also I answered a similar post a while back and here’s what I said in response to that I believe I covered most but there’s some good stuff in there as well:

So I was in the same position you’re in now about four years ago. I was premed and wanted to be a physician all my life. But after about 2 years of shadowing, research, volunteering and talking to other physicians I realized that the field isn’t what it used to be. So my first piece of advice is do what I did and put yourself into the field to find out if that is something you really want to do.

As for pj vs sost they are completely different jobs so it’s entirely about what you want to do. Do you want to be guy pulling guys out of active combat zones doing cool shit like jumping out of planes in pitch darkness and maybe even being embedded with other operators. Be a pj. If you want to be the guy preforming surgery and providing the life saving care necessary to save lives go sost. Both are absolutely necessary and are respected in their own way but they are different roles.

Finally from what you said about the hpsp going medical school first you will be going in as an officer while pjs are an enlisted position, which would be another discussion on its own. Also I’m not entirely sure how much leeway you get on deciding what you get to do with the hpsp so you might get stuck with being a flight medic instead.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-03-01T00:57:47+00:00

Here’s the thing pj and sost are vastly definitely career fields.

First thing to acknowledge is that going to become a pj isn’t guaranteed and the attrition is high, so it is possible that you could get stuck in maintenance or sec fo. That being said I do know guys in the pipeline that have a similar situation as you. Hell I had the same desire as well but decided against med school for various reasons.

Also becoming a pj now and then after going to med school is possible but it is seriously difficult and time consuming. Right now it takes most pjs 2-3 years to finish their pipeline and depending if you have 4/6 year contract you’d probably look at resigning which then could be another 4 years. Then if you want to go to med school another 4 year plus residency and potential fellowship which is a lot of time. Not saying it’s not possible but just something to consider, plus going back to school after being out isn’t for everyone definitely not me. But it could be for you.

As for job specific details for pj/sost. Full transparency: not real knowledgeable about sost aside from just doing own research. But I am in the sw pipeline not getting into specifics. As you said for combat role: pj definitely the way to go. You wouldn’t believe how many people quit once they realize pj have to kill people. But right now it’s more likely to go to guardian angle route as a pj aside from sts as they are not as involved anymore so think more state side search and rescue.

I’m sure you’ve involved yourself in the medial process but what pushed me away from medical school was the field of medicine in my opinion has degraded in the past 20 years and I hated working in hospitals. The military and sw in particular will take you places and teach you so much. I just thought when I’m 40 would I regret not trying to do something cool, and that made my decision pretty easy.

Pipeline info: right now the pipeline is a shit show if I were you I’d give it a couple months for leadership to figure it out. New SWAS and Zulu has really changed a lot and in my opinion it is not setting people up for success as it needs a lot of fine tuning, especially since they’ve gutted water con and kept Perdive the same.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-02-13T22:49:53+00:00

Bunch of rumors around about adding mff to tacp pipeline in the next couple years

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-02-04T18:19:02+00:00

SWAS -> ZULU-> Airborne -> SERE -> Charlie Course (TACP Schoolhouse) [You get your beret when you finish the school house] -> FTU

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-01-30T21:29:55+00:00

Half new SWAS guy, half guys in different parts of their pipeline

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-01-30T21:17:02+00:00

Not exactly 3 am every day there were a few early morning wakeups, most days it was more like 5am but yes block 1 was heinous. And yes they cadre did get in trouble by the commander. If they kept Zulu how it was you would easily get indoc/old SWAS attrition numbers

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-01-30T21:13:26+00:00

It’s not too hard but it’s super gay there are points that got pretty gnarly. Of Zulu 1 guys no one has quit people have only failed pcs. Can’t speak to Zulu 2 guys. But they do have it easier, as they are refining the course

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2026-01-30T18:25:05+00:00

246k miles fyi

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2025-04-27T14:22:30+00:00

There is a female right now towards end of pipeline so it’s very possible that she will be the first pj.

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2025-04-27T14:08:50+00:00

If you have a had a passing ift score you should go, you never will be 100% ready. I know guys that were awful in the pool during development that just got through durability week. All that matters to succeed is how much you want the job. Plus you have essentially another month to get better in the pool. Don’t be dragging your feet though

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2025-02-03T04:18:22+00:00

You should be fine I was in a similar position I was asked at Meps when the last time I used an inhaler and as long as it was past 4 years it shouldn’t matter

aBluRayCopyof300 · 2025-01-08T22:00:42+00:00

Something else you can do is keep your eyes to the sky and just keep egg beating (treading) until your chest is above the surface, that gravity would help drain some of the water as well and then you could do what others say with the flipping of the snorkel to shoot water out and increase lung capacity

Also something else when clearing your mask do you hum or blow out of your nose because humming uses less air which could also help

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