{"id":12179,"date":"2019-02-20T20:07:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T20:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/20\/this-is-why-the-corps-is-partnering-with-elite-air-force-pararescue-jumpers-in-africa-and-europe\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:27:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:27:25","slug":"this-is-why-the-corps-is-partnering-with-elite-air-force-pararescue-jumpers-in-africa-and-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/20\/this-is-why-the-corps-is-partnering-with-elite-air-force-pararescue-jumpers-in-africa-and-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"This is why the Corps is partnering with elite Air Force pararescue jumpers in Africa and Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Any response by Marine forces based out of Europe to a crisis in Africa would have to overcome the tyranny of distance and time, meaning help could be a long way off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with the speed and long-distance capabilities afforded by tilt-rotor aircraft like MV-22 Ospreys, it can take hours for help to arrive in the Africa Command, or AFRICOM, area of responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took nearly 23 hours for Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team<\/a> Marines responding to the 2012 Benghazi, Libya, attack to arrive in Tripoli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marines and U.S. government personnel are at risk operating in this austere and vast geographical environment, as it could take hours for wounded civilians or Marines whisked off a chaotic battlefield to arrive at a higher echelon of hospital care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That also means responding to downed aircraft, rescuing pilots or personnel can be a laborious task fraught with complex hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To ameliorate this challenge, the Corps is now partnering with elite Air Force Guardian Angel Pararescue Jumpers, also known as PJs.<\/p>\n\n\n\t