Tough Test

Combat Rescue Officers held the training that separates wannabes from those who can become CROs recently at Fairchild AFB, Wash., observing 18 active and reserve airmen—who may be officers, enlisted in a commissioning program, or AFROTC cadets—during a week of “intense physical, mental, and psychological training,” reports journalist SSgt. Larry Carpenter. The Phase 2 testing weeds out applicants who probably could not make it through the full 13-month CRO training program. Before entering Phase 2, the applicants must pass a medical qualification screening process. As tough as Phase 2 is, it’s only the “crawl” portion of the program’s crawl-walk-run concept, says Capt. Chadwick Sterr, CRO selection program manager.