Inside the 24th Special Tactics Squadron — The Air Force’s Secret Tier One Unit

About this video

Mike Ritland interviews a former Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) who recounts his journey through the PJ pipeline, from boot camp through the two-year training process including INDOC selection, combat dive school, airborne, freefall, medical training, and PJ school. The guest describes the different career paths available to PJs (rescue squadrons, special tactics units, and guard/reserve), his deployment experiences following 9/11, and his eventual selection to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at age 22.

Key takeaways

• According to the guest, the PJ training pipeline takes approximately two years and includes multiple phases: a grueling 10-week INDOC selection, combat dive school, airborne, freefall training, paramedic certification, and final employment training at PJ school
• The guest recounts three distinct career paths for PJs: rescue squadrons focused on aircrew recovery, special tactics units embedded with special operations forces, and guard/reserve units conducting high-risk civilian rescues
• The guest describes being selected for the elite 24th Special Tactics Squadron at 22 years old and deploying to Afghanistan shortly after 9/11, noting that the unit was traditionally reserved for senior operators

Episode details: published November 8, 2025 · 657.9K views · 22:54 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

← Previous: Mike Glover on Dealing With Loss & Managing PTSD · Next: The Op That Took Down Noriega — And Unleashed Something Far Worse →

All Mike Ritland videos · Mike Ritland profile · Mike Drop (official site)