Here's what happens when Air Force Guardian Angels perform high altitude jumps

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Here's what happens when Air Force Guardian Angels perform high altitude jumps

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Guardian Angels high altitude low opening jumps over Afghanistan 2018

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The US Air Force recently released a bunch of photos of Guardian Angels performing high altitude low opening jumps over Afghanistan.

Guardian Angels are a team of "Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen [or PJs], Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Specialists," according to the Air Force.

In other words, PJs are the enlisted special operators who perform rescue missions, while the combat rescue officers are the commissioned officers who oversee the team, an Air Force spokeswoman told Business Insider. The other airmen on the team helps with staff work, air crew equipment, and so forth.

While the US' involvement in Afghanistan, going on 17 years, has been criticized by some as a game of "whack-a-mole," the photos and video are pretty cool.

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Check them out below:

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The pictures first show a Guardian Angel team from the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron preparing for the high altitude low opening jump next to a C-130J Super Hercules.

The pictures first show a Guardian Angel team from the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron preparing for the high altitude low opening jump next to a C-130J Super Hercules.

High altitude low opening jumps, or HALOs, are when parachutists jump from a high altitude and open their chute at a low altitude, a technique used by the military that minimizes risk to the troops from enemy fire. 

PJ's have "conducted over 12,000 lifesaving, combat rescue missions since September 11th, 2001," according to the Air Force.

Including buddy checks on each other's parachutes.

Including buddy checks on each other's parachutes.
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Once in the air, they wait until they're over the drop zone.

Once in the air, they wait until they're over the drop zone.

Before they jump, a pararescueman jumpmaster monitors the drop zone.

Before they jump, a pararescueman jumpmaster monitors the drop zone.
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Then they go.

Then they go.

Hurling themselves down from thousands of feet up.

Hurling themselves down from thousands of feet up.
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Free falling for awhile...

Free falling for awhile...

Before they open their chutes.

Before they open their chutes.
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Eventually floating through the yellow smoke, which indicates the landing zone.

Eventually floating through the yellow smoke, which indicates the landing zone.

Then their feet are safely on the ground.

Then their feet are safely on the ground.
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You can watch a short video of the same unit performing the jump a few weeks prior below:

 

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