On Saturday, October 3, seven pax + three cadre gathered in Louisville, KY for the return of The PJ Ruck.
For 8 hours we rucked, swam, and rescued our way through F3 Louisville’s second annual ruck challenge designed to pay tribute to the U.S. Air Force’s elite Pararescuemen.
With 2025’s successful inaugural event under our belt, the PJ ruck cadre set out to make this year’s event even more challenging (and meaningful)
This year’s equipment list:
In addition to mission-essential equipment such as maps, medical supplies, collapsible litter, ropes, and other technical rescue equipment, each participant was issued a laminated photo of a fallen Pararescueman who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Whether the PJ fell in combat, during peace-time rescue missions, or in training, they would be remembered.
As in 2025, this year we began with pool competency at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center – the same pool where PJ’s from Louisville’s very own 123rd Special Tactics Squadron train.
Our PJ veteran, Tony, gave participants an introduction to underwater knot tying and oversaw multiple evolutions in both the shallow and deep ends of the pool.
Each man gave 100% effort and pushed to the edge of their comfort zone.
Upon our exit from the pool, pax learned proper procedures for how to help if they ever encountered a serious motor vehicle accident before first responders had arrived on scene. Cadre Patrick instructed what information to relay to 9-1-1, the use of bandages, proper application of tourniquets, and spine stabilization.
After skills training came the mission brief. Two F-15 pilots had been shot down over enemy territory in nearby Cherokee Park. Our mission was to locate, stabilize, and transport them to a helicopter landing zone (HLZ) for medevac before they could be taken prisoner by enemy forces.
With two downed pilots to locate, the team had to cover even more ground than before. They navigated to and investigated various last-known-positions, hide sites, and a suspected aircraft crash site.
Eventually the team located the first injured personnel (IP) strung up in a tree and went to work getting him down and providing medical treatment.
With enemy rapidly closing in, the team hustled to locate the downed F-15’s WSO and make it through the challenging terrain that stood between themselves and the HLZ.
The pax pushed the pace and made it to the rendezvous with 10 minutes to spare.
Returning for a second year, the team from Columbus Indiana Huey was once again very generous in their support of The PJ Ruck.
Dustoff.
Mission accomplished.
We ended the night with memorial push-ups in honor of the Pararescuemen whose photos we carried with us.
In addition to honoring America’s PJ’s, we raised more than $800 for the Kentucky Special Operations Foundation. If you would like to give, you can find the fundraiser HERE.
Check out the 2026 PJ Ruck video recap here:
TOML!
