Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Pararescuemen to the Rescue!

Buy In My Sights HERE


DEBBIE: We’re here to announce the release of our next book in the 1Night Stand Pararescue series.
LAURA: Oh! Love those Pararescuemen. Soooo hot!
DEBBIE: LOL Yes they are.
LAURA: Colin, Bobby, Zeke, Kyle, and Jason. The team in this series is awesome. The series started with Bobby in Second Chance.
DEBBIE: I just love that story. Colin and Emily’s story dealt with some deep emotional issues.
LAURA: It did. I know I had my tissue box out with that one. This release is Bobby’s story with In My Sights.
DEBBIE: Bobby is sooo hot!
LAURA: Oh yeah! And he and Siobhan change each other’s lives.
DEBBIE: And that leaves the other team members.
LAURA: Zeke, Kyle and Jason. Yep…and we’re working on Zeke’s story right now.
DEBBIE: This one is definitely taking some interesting twists and turns.
LAURA: Well, we can’t become predictable. Sheesh!
DEBBIE: LOL Right.
LAURA: But what we can do is share a bit about our team and what it takes to become a Pararescueman.
DEBBIE: Yes, we can! J

"Pipeline" Training
   After completion of six weeks of Basic Military Training, we spend the next 17 months training at the following schools:

•The PARARESCUE/Combat Control
Indoctrination Course
10 weeks, Lackland AFB, TX
•US Army Airborne Parachutist School
3 weeks, Fort Benning, GA
•US Army Combat Divers School
4 weeks, Key West, FL
•US Navy Underwater Egress Training
1 day, Pensacola NAS, FL
•US Air Force Basic Survival School
2 and a half weeks, Fairchild AFB, WA
•US Army Military Freefall Parachutist School
5 weeks, Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ
•Special Operations Combat Medic Course
22 weeks, Fort Bragg, NC
•PARARESCUE Recovery Specialist Course
20 weeks, Kirtland AFB, NM

Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only DoD elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full spectrum Personnel Recovery (PR) to include both conventional and unconventional combat rescue operations. These Battlefield Airmen are the most highly trained and versatile Personnel Recovery specialists in the world. Pararescue is the nation's force of choice to execute the most perilous, demanding, and extreme rescue missions anytime, anywhere across the globe. The 500+ PJs are assigned to Guardian Angel and Special Tactics Squadrons throughout the Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Air Force components. They operate most often as independent teams but routinely serve alongside with other US and Allied Special Operations Forces

Mission
To rescue, recover, and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or extreme duress. Whether shot down or isolated behind enemy lines; surrounded, engaged, wounded, or captured by the enemy; PJs will do whatever required to deny the enemy a victory and bring our warriors home to fight another day

Capabilities
To execute the PR mission, Pararescue teams assault, secure, and dominate the rescue objective area utilizing any available DoD or Allied, air, land, or sea asset. Their qualifications and capabilities are extensive. All PJs are qualified experts in Advanced Weapons and Small Unit Tactics, Airborne and Military Free Fall, both High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) parachute operations, Combat Divers, High Angle/Confined Space Rescue operations, Small Boat/Vehicle Craft utilization, Rescue Swimmers, and Battlefield Trauma/Paramedics. All can fast rope/rappel/hoist from any vertical lift aircraft to both land and open ocean rescue objectives. All PJs can perform both static line and HALO jump operations utilizing boats, vehicles, or other equipment from any fixed wing aircraft. In addition, 1 in 12 personnel are tandem jump qualified and can HALO/HAHO both equipment and non-jump personnel into the objective area. As required, all PJs can jump in with and utilize extrication devices to remove war fighters or civilians trapped in wreckage or collapse structures. PJs also utilize the latest subsurface technology to locate and recover submerged equipment or personnel.

Recent History
Since 9/11 alone, these elite warriors have executed over 12,000 life saving, combat rescue missions. They've also eliminated and captured numerous enemy combatants during the execution of these missions. Additionally, because of their unique capabilities, they have been called upon to rescue over 5000 civilians worldwide during catastrophic natural disasters and other responses.

Decorations
PJs are the most highly decorated Air Force enlisted force. They've been awarded one Medal of Honor, 12 Air Force Crosses, and 105 Silver Stars.

Their motto, "These Things We Do, That Others May Live," affirms Pararescue's dedication and commitment to saving lives and self-sacrifice. As of January 2012, 10 pararescuemen have been killed in action and paid the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pararescue Creed “ It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, that others may live.

DEBBIE: The dedication these men have toward everything they do just amazes me. I truly believe it has to be a calling and not just a job. They don’t do it for the glory or recognition. Sadly, one of the members of a special ops team from my daughter’s base was killed in a motorcycle accident this past month. It turns out he was also a good friend of my co-workers husband. Small world since the base is in Florida and we are from Vermont. He and my daughter never knew each other yet they both grew up with-in a thirty mile radius in Vermont and were both at the same base in Florida. Anyway, my whole point to this was that this man never told his parents or his brother, who is also in the military, about the three bronze medals he’d been awarded over the years.  That was a man who didn’t do the dangerous things he did for glory, but for love.
LAURA: No wonder these guys seem like superheroes….it’s cause they are! Look at all that training!! How could they not hold superhero status after all THAT??
DEBBIE: So, anyway, I hope we’ve done justice to the hero’s of our series and that in some small way they reflect the real life, everyday hero’s that not only exist in the military, but all those people that are out there trying to make their small part of the world a better place to live.

In My Sights blurb:
Six months ago, Siobhan Cantrell’s world was changed forever by a sniper’s bullet. The incident transformed her from a secure confident woman to a recluse, afraid to leave her own home. When her friends urge her to re-enter the world of the living, they suggest Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand dating service. Nervous, she signs up and learns the company is renown for in-depth background checks and safe encounters. So, how dangerous could it be?

Sergeant Bobby Martin has witnessed Madame Eve’s magic firsthand. His teammate found true love through her service. Still a skeptic but giving in to peer pressure, the Air Force Pararescueman signs himself up. When he meets Siobhan, his doubts flies out the window—unfortunately bullets start flying in them. Determined to protect her from a sniper that won’t give up, Bobby vows to keep her safe. As their chemistry ramps up, so does the sniper’s attempts.

Can Bobby keep Siobhan alive, or will the killer catch them in his sights? 

19 comments:

  1. I've never heard of these! I assume they're like the UK's SAS - well they sound like it. What fodder for a story - yours sounds great!

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  2. That is so interesting! I love the characters, it's good to know more about how they got there

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    1. Thanks. Kate. It really is amazing all they go through just in training alone.

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    2. Thanks, Kate. I love the character's too!

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  3. I love that they're known as "PJs". True heroes. Also fascinating to me that you're collaborating on the books!

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    1. Thanks, Taryn. Laura and I work very well together. It's sometimes scary, we will be thinking the same things.

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    2. Wait...I was just about to say that.

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  4. Awesome information. Wow and all that training and education. thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Vicki! It's fun adding in bits and pieces of their training into the stories. They are an amazing group of guys for sure!

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  5. Wow, your right. These men and women truly are heroes. Such dedication! I'm glad you're both writing this series to bring the Pararescuemen to the forefront.

    Congrats on your latest release! I love Second Chance. I look forward to reading In My Sights and the rest in the series. :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Jessica! We are having such fun writing about these guys!

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    2. Hey Jess! :-) And we're already hard at work on the next story!

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  6. I saw the word "Para" on DP's Facebook page and came right over! This sounds great! Adding it to my TBR list :)

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  7. Sounds great.Definitely adding it to my list.

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  8. Thanks for the information about PJs! I've read other books with Pararescuemen heros and thought they were interesting. I'm adding this to my To Buy list!

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