THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE

[MEP]

New book out called "That Others May Live" it's about the 22 year career of a USAF PJ in the National Guard in NY.. Great book..

[pn]

I got it, but I'm sorry to say that it was a little disappointing. Jack Brehm comes across like a decent, honest man, like countless others who spend a life in service. I found the reading to be pretty slow, though: the book felt like a chronology of events, rather than a look inside SMSGT Brehm's head. Compared to books like Combat Swimmer and Bravo Two Zero it was definitely on the dry side.

The SEAL/SF/Ranger-bashing didn't help much either. I realize that the second author was just trying to sell a few books by playing up the trash-talk angle, but it detracted from the experience nonetheless.

-pn

(AF types: RELAX. My opinion only!)

[MEP]

I didn't see any bashing.. I know he talked about SEALs and SF but it was more of a comparative then anything. I think the book was written for people that don't know much or anything about PJ's. It wasn't action packed like the books you mentioned but it wasn't about combat, it was about the life and career of a National Guard Active Duty Pararescue Jumper. I thought it was interesting because it gave a very real and human account of his career. Plus SMSgt Brehm is still in uniform so he couldn't spill the beans... 8-)

[gear_guru]

I really got to ask...what beans? He is a CAF PJ. What we normally refer to as cornfield rescue. Not trying to down waht he does but it isn't exactly special operations and if you don't believe me, just ask someone in the CAF.

[MEP]

What do you mean gear guru CAF PJ? I'm thinking Canadian Air Force PJ? right? wrong?
What I mean by beans it that he in currently in and if he had something juice to tell he wouldn't or couldn't. Just becaues he never went on a hell raising behind enemy lines rescue doesn't dimish what he did.. he went thru a lot of tough training preparing for something that he hasn't been called on to do.. and I don't think what he did was cornfield rescues. He gave examples of incidents that happened in his career and never tried to be something he wasn't.

[gear_guru]

CAF=Combat Air Forces...folks with jet engined airplanes...this is ACC, USAFE and PACAF. Tthere is also the MAF=Mobility Air Forces and AFSOF or more commonly AFSOC.
If you will read what I wrote, I didn't try to cut the poor guy off at the knees because he is in the CAF, it is just that they don't do much in the way of CSAR. The CINCs always call on SOCOM to fulfill that role because the CAF refuses to dedicate the proper resources to the CSAR mission. Hence, the CAF rescue guys do alot of civil SAR. This is referred to in the PR business as cornfield rescue.