SEAL Pararescue Combat Deployments with Chad McCoy | Mike Drop- Episode 79

About this video

Ritland interviews Chad McCoy, a retired Air Force pararescueman (PJ) who served 23 years with 18 at Naval Special Warfare Development Group and CAGG across 17 deployments. McCoy recounts his journey from growing up as an Army brat in Hawaii through the PJ training pipeline, explaining the selection process, medical training, and operational differences between rescue squadrons and special tactics units. The conversation covers his early career before 9/11 and sets up his transition to special operations.

Key takeaways

• McCoy describes the PJ training pipeline as approximately two years long, including a grueling 10-week selection course (indoc), combat dive school, airborne, SEER, free fall training, and medical training before final integration at PJ school
• According to McCoy, PJs operate in three distinct career paths: rescue squadrons focused on aircrew recovery, special tactics units embedded with special operations forces, and Guard/Reserve units conducting civilian rescues
• McCoy explains that his most challenging aspect of selection was running despite his surfing background giving him pool competency, and that real operational proficiency required years of on-the-job training after graduation

Episode details: published December 10, 2021 · 418.1K views · 2:53:03 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: SEAL Teams to Orange County Cop with Travis Kennedy | Mike Drop - Episode 78 · Next: Force Recon to Legacy FC Champion with Chad Robichaux | Mike Drop - Episode 80 →

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