The sun was setting on the Mediterranean, casting a golden glow over the harbor as a superyacht floated serenely in the distance. An executive, pressed for time and eager to avoid the logistical maze of traditional travel, had opted for a more audacious plan. Instead of landing at the FBO, enduring a grueling five-hour journey by car, plus an additional unknown transport time of a local boat to his vessel, he made an unforgettable entrance.
After landing at the FBO, the executive boarded a sky van, accompanied by his Pararescueman (PJ). With gear meticulously prepared and every contingency planned, they took off. At 10,000 feet, the PJ secured the client to a tandem harness, double-checked the equipment, and bumped fists, signaling both were ready to go. The green light came, and together, they leaped into the evening sky.
Seconds before touching the water near the yacht, the PJ flared his precision parachute system, ensuring a safe splashdown. Once in the water, the PJ guided the executive to a waiting jet ski, expertly navigated the transfer, and ensured they were aboard the yacht within minutes.
What could have been a complex, time-consuming ordeal with many other players and variables on the ground turned into an efficient, seamless, and exhilarating journey. From skydiving coordination to ensuring safety in the water, every step was executed flawlessly—a routine day for the PJ’s unique skill set.
Why Pararescuemen Are the Ultimate Guardians
Pararescuemen combine the tactical precision of elite military operators with the empathy and expertise of advanced rescue and medical specialists. Their unique synergy of skills—spanning urban tactics, technical rescue, water proficiency, parachuting, and advanced medical care—positions them as invaluable assets for executive protection, austere medicine, and risk mitigation.
At the core of their capabilities lies an unwavering dedication to their team. Selflessness and mastery of their craft to support one another form the foundation of who they are. This unit-driven ethos translates seamlessly to their clients, bringing a family atmosphere of trust, professionalism, and excellence to every engagement.
The SOF Concierge Medic
Special Operations Forces (SOF) are renowned for their exceptional skills and operational precision. Pararescuemen (PJs), as members of this elite community, bring unparalleled medical expertise and tactical adaptability. Their role as SOF medics is not just to respond to emergencies but to prevent them—they anticipate risks, devise contingency plans, and execute with uncompromising professionalism.
Pararescuemen are certified Nationally Registered Paramedics (NRP) with advanced training in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Prolonged Field Care (PFC). These qualifications empower PJs under the correct medical oversight and direction to:
- Stabilize and Treat: From splinting fractures and stopping massive bleeding to tailoring a medical bag specifically to their client’s personal needs, PJs deliver immediate, tailored care as a standard.
- Provide Advanced Interventions: Their expertise encompasses airway management, trauma stabilization, mobile ultrasound, and the precise administration of IV fluids and critical medications.
- Coordinate Escalations: When higher-level care is required, PJs leverage meticulously crafted PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) plans to ensure fluid transportation to hospitals or specialized facilities, minimizing delays and complications.
- Medical Training: PJs can provide medical training to clients’ staff, including house staff, and security staff from first aid, basic life support, airway management, and hemorrhage control, and helping provide medical treatment that could be tailored to clients’ medical threat assessment based on clients’ discretion.
Why This Matters for Executives
In the fast-paced world of high-net-worth individuals, time is invaluable, and discretion is essential. PJs offer a caliber of medical care and logistical expertise uniquely suited to the lifestyles of executives in diverse settings:
- Residential Leisure: Whether at home or during vacations, PJs safeguard the health and well-being of clients and their families, addressing medical concerns on-call and in complete privacy.
- Events and Social Gatherings: During high-profile events or exclusive functions, PJs provide a discreet safety net, seamlessly blending into the environment while remaining vigilant and prepared to respond to any situation.
- Sporting and Adventure Activities: For clients engaging in high-risk activities or adventurous hobbies, PJs offer immediate medical readiness and have the skills to participate alongside their clients, providing safety and camaraderie shoulder-to-shoulder.
Whether managing medical situations behind the scenes or crafting contingency plans for unforeseen events, PJs embody a calm yet commanding presence. They keep their clients protected, confident, and focused on their priorities, free from distractions or unnecessary exposure.
Austere Medicine and International Travel
Pararescuemen thrive in the world’s most remote and challenging environments, offering tailored support for international travel, adventurous lifestyles, and unexpected emergencies. Their advanced skills provide specific solutions to client’s unique needs:
- Prolonged Field Care (PFC): In areas without nearby hospitals, PJs can stabilize and treat injuries or illnesses for extended periods, by using advanced medical technology such as point-of-care ultrasound, advanced medications that are usually reserved for hospital use under physician supervision, ensuring safety and comfort during critical moments. Additionally, they coordinate their rescue operations, eliminating reliance on unvetted local resources or delays in emergency responses.
- Helicopter Hoist Rescue: Ideal for clients exploring mountainous terrain or remote islands, PJs are trained to perform precision hoist extractions, ensuring rapid and safe evacuation in challenging environments. Whether assisting with recreational adventures or urgent rescues, this capability offers unparalleled peace of mind.
- Dive Masters: Besides underwater rescue, PJs can supervise recreational scuba diving trips, ensuring the safety of clients and their families. They also support asset recovery, such as locating lost valuables or equipment in marine environments.
- Mountaineering: PJs provide advanced technical rescue capabilities when clients venture into rugged or high-altitude terrains. From mitigating risks during alpine excursions to performing high-angle extractions, they ensure safety without limiting adventure.
- Parachuting: PJs can jumpmaster and skydive with their clients and offer tandem skydiving expertise for those seeking unique recreational experiences or access to remote destinations. Whether descending next to a private vessel, exploring uncharted landscapes, or jumping in supplies, they ensure every mission is executed precisely and safely.
In conclusion, Pararescuemen go beyond protection, offering a unique blend of medical proficiency, tactical agility, and personal trust. They stand as pillars of confidence, empowering clients to explore life’s possibilities without compromise. For executives seeking a unique blend of professionalism, precision, and care, a PJ offers more than safety—they welcome you into their elite unit.
About the Authors
Co-Author Anthony Goulart, founder and CEO of XPJ, established the company as a ‘unit after the unit,’ where veteran Pararescuemen showcase their unmatched skills in the private sector. Leveraging 10 years of experience as a Pararescueman, Anthony has guided XPJ to become a trusted provider of elite rescue, medical, and risk management services. For the past three years in the private sector, he has excelled in executive protection, tailored training programs, and life-saving medical evacuations.
Co-Author Michael Guirguis, MD, is an Emergency Room Physician and Reserve Sheriff Deputy for San Bernardino Sheriff Air Rescue, with extensive experience in pre-hospital care. Along with his role as a multi-state licensed working EP professional, he is the Founder & Chief Medical Officer at Raven Medical Support Group, which provides consulting, medical direction, and oversight for private family office and corporate executive protection programs, and Chief Medical Officer for XPJ, contracting SOF Pararescumen Paramedics to augment the medical needs of EP teams.