My reason for not including them earlier is that I don't consider them to be part of the ground force "Warriors". They are not part of teams that kick in doors or train others to do so, they don't hang out with infantrymen and get steel delivered on the heads of badguys, they wait in the wings until those folks and their aircrews need their help. While they may not shoot badguys in the face as a primary job, their critical mission of conservation of the force is a true combat multiplier for the USAF and the SOF they support.[/quote]

I definitely consider PJ's as warriors of the highest level. First, Pararescue are combatants, not medics. They are trained in all measure of small arms, some heavy weapons, explosives, and precision marksmanship. I was the weapons/explosives safety officer of my squadron, and participated in some of their training evolutions. They also direct fire with the miniguns and ma deuces in the helicopters. My generation of PJ's included several that were on the Son Tay raid, Mayaguez rescue, numerous sorties into NVN, Laos, and Cambodia. One AF Cross winner in the squadron, (there were three) was left on the ground in NVN after searching for a survivor, and the HH-53 was shot down. Google SMSGT Duane Hackney. I'd certainly consider William Pitsenbarger a combatant of the highest order. Later, Tim Wilkinson, and Scott Fales were part of the combined Ranger SFOD-D team in the Gothic Serpent action in Mogadishu, Jason Cunningham won the AF Cross at Robert's Ridge in Afghanistan. They don't enter combat to engage the enemy, they enter combat when the engagement has gone south. I also had the pleasure of shooting with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron members while doing a workup for a JSOC mission in the mid eighties. This included the operators of the then classified teams of SOF, and they all cross trained in each other's mission specialties. My point is that all of the SOF forces are SPECIAL, and unique in their excellence. I happen to have worked with all of them, but I knew PJ's the best, and their capabilities and initiative are equal to anyone I have ever witnessed.