Here's how the US Air Force's elite PJ special operators rescue troops in the mountains of Afghanistan

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Here's how the US Air Force's elite PJ special operators rescue troops in the mountains of Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen conduct helicopter hoist training Nov. 5, 2018 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

US Air Force

U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen conduct helicopter hoist training Nov. 5, 2018 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

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US Air Force Pararescue specialists, or PJs, are one of the most elite special operators in the world.

Consisting of about 500 airmen, PJs "rescue and recover downed aircrews from hostile or otherwise unreachable areas," according to the Air Force.

These "highly trained experts perform rescues in every type of terrain and partake in every part of the mission, from search and rescue, to combat support to providing emergency medical treatment, in order to ensure that every mission is a successful one."

"One of the challenges [in Afghanistan] is the altitude and terrain because we are surrounded by mountains," Maj. Jason Egger, 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron commander at Bagram Airfield, said in a Defense Department news release on the training.

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"We overcome that challenge by working with the Army pilots, which gives us the capability to get to the altitude we need and insert the teams," Egger added.

Here's how PJs rescue troops in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan.

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"We sit on a very short alert window, and we are able to launch within 30 minutes at all times throughout the day and night," Eggers said.

"We sit on a very short alert window, and we are able to launch within 30 minutes at all times throughout the day and night," Eggers said.

After getting a call, the PJs load into an Army CH-47 Chinook, which they often use for transports in rescue missions in Afghanistan.

After getting a call, the PJs load into an Army CH-47 Chinook, which they often use for transports in rescue missions in Afghanistan.

"Most of the central and northern Afghanistan area is very high altitude, and that's where the CH-47s can really provide some special capability because of their ability to get to that high altitude area and insert the team," Eggers said.

Read more about Chinooks here.

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And then fly to the rescue site.

And then fly to the rescue site.

At the site, PJs fast-rope down to the ground to get the troops in need.

At the site, PJs fast-rope down to the ground to get the troops in need.

PJs can also insert from higher altitudes, and therefore train in high altitude jumps from fixed-wing aircraft.

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In this training scenario, an armored vehicle, possibly an MRAP, was involved in some sort of accident or maybe even hit an improvised explosive device.

In this training scenario, an armored vehicle, possibly an MRAP, was involved in some sort of accident or maybe even hit an improvised explosive device.

The PJs begin tending to the wounded, who simulated injuries for the training.

The PJs begin tending to the wounded, who simulated injuries for the training.
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Then load them back on the Chinook, where they continue monitoring their conditions and providing first aid.

Then load them back on the Chinook, where they continue monitoring their conditions and providing first aid.

As they fly back to base.

As they fly back to base.
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Back at base, they unload the wounded and carry them to the field hospital, completing their training mission.

Back at base, they unload the wounded and carry them to the field hospital, completing their training mission.

But PJs also undergo intense combat arms training as well, which is needed in certain rescue scenarios.

But PJs also undergo intense combat arms training as well, which is needed in certain rescue scenarios.

"The PJs and the combat rescue officers have a pretty broad skill set, and it's pretty difficult to stay sharp on all those skills," Eggers said. "So continuing to keep them engaged through training, it keeps those skills sharp throughout the entire deployment."

Watch the full interview with Eggers here, and the PJ training videos here, here and here.

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