The process of becoming a "PJ" is known informally as "Superman School". At almost two years long, the training pipeline is among the longest special operations training courses in the world. It also has one of the highest training attrition rates in the entire U.S. special operations community, at around 80%.

Pararescue trainees are first required to complete United States Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, then they are required to pass the Special Warfare Preparatory Course and Special Warfare Assessment and Selection at Lackland AFB (replacing the previous Pararescue Indoctrination Course). Following that is a long string of courses including Combat Dive School, Army Airborne, National Registry for Paramedic, Survival (SERE-C), and Military Free-fall Parachutist. Upon completing the aforementioned, a pararescue trainee is required to then complete the Pararescue Apprentice Course, which combines all the prior skills and adds a few more. Once a Pararescueman has completed the pipeline, he is assigned to a Rescue or Special Tactics team as per the needs of the Air Force. Graduates assigned to Rescue Squadrons will receive on-the-job operational upgrade training. Graduates assigned to Special Tactics Squadrons attend portions of Advanced Skills Training at the Special Tactics Training Squadron along with Air Force Combat Controllers in order to complete most of their operational upgrade training.
• Special Warfare Preparatory Course (SW Prep), Lackland AFB, Texas (8 weeks)
This course is designed to give candidates the best possible chance of getting through selection. They are coached in collegiate-level strength/conditioning, running, swimming, nutrition, physical therapy, and other specialties. This course is currently only for Non-Prior Service aircrew, while Prior Service aircrew attend a condensed two-week course.

Indoctrination Course (currently A&S) Training Gear is essentially made up of a high volume face mask, a silicone snorkel, rocket fins and booties. The mask and snorkel are key throughout training, being used in water confidence training such as water inserted into the mask throughout the training, simulating the effect of being underwater regardless of whether submerged or not. Mask and snorkel recovery is a key portion that is tested on, in which the trainee has to recover the mask and snorkel from the deep end of the pool, "clearing" the mask of water while still submerged and "clearing" the snorkel of water as well. These two can be referred to as key training tools. Items such as rope and booties can be used to further increase the intensity of water confidence training.
• Special Warfare Assessment and Selection (A&S), Lackland AFB, Texas (4 weeks)

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It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save life and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things we (I) do, that others may live.

Originally titled "The Code of the Air Rescueman", it was penned by the first commander of the Air Rescue Service, (then) Lieutenant Colonel Richard T. Kight and is also still used by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC).
This tradition arose during the Vietnam War, at which time the most commonly used USAF helicopter was the CH-3E, nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant due to its enormous size and olive drab exterior. The tradition came about when pilots, navigators, enlisted aircrew, or other military personnel were in need of rescue. After these personnel were rescued, they would proceed to receive the temporary ink-stamped "tattoo" of the green feet on their buttocks due to the fact that the Para Jumpers "saved their ass."
The term "Para Jumper" is a retronym of the initials "PJ" which represent the Military Duty Identifiers; P =Parachutist and J= Diver, that were used on an Air Force Form 5 (Aircrew Flight Log) to identify anyone who is on board in order to jump from the aircraft. Pararescuemen originally had no "in-flight" duties and were listed only as "PJ" on the Form 5. The pararescue position eventually grew to include duties as an aerial gunner and scanner on rotary wing aircraft, a duty now performed by aerial gunners. Currently, aircrew qualified Pararescuemen are recorded using aircrew position identifier "J" ("Pararescue Member") on the AFTO form 781.
The maroon beret worn by Pararescuemen and Combat Rescue Officers was authorized by HQ USAF in 1966 and is the second beret to be authorized for universal wear, after the U.S. Army Special Forces Beret. The beret symbolizes the blood sacrificed by fellow Pararescuemen and their devotion to duty by aiding others in distress.
The flash is a variant of the original Air Rescue Service emblem that was designed by Bill Steffens and implemented in 1952. The significance of the original ARS emblem is described as follows:

The angel holding the globe is emblematic of protection and rescue from danger. The red robe is significant of the valor with which the Air Rescue Service carries on its humanitarian mission. The blue shield is indicative of the sky which is the field of operations and the golden light represents a ray of hope for those in need of the Air Rescue Service.

• Ramón Colón-López, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC), was one of the first six airmen to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal in 2007. He was also an interim Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School at Kirkland AFB. He would later serve as 4th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Jason Cunningham, Senior Airman, was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for actions on 4 March 2002, during the Battle of Takur Ghar. Technical Sergeant Kerry Miller's Silver Star was upgraded to the Air Force Cross for actions as the Combat Search and Rescue Team Leader on 4 March 2002, during the Battle of Takur Ghar.
• Scott Fales, Master Sergeant, was a recipient of the Silver Star for his heroic action in the Battle of Mogadishu, Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993. In addition Retired Air Force Master Sgt. and pararescueman Scott Fales received U.S. Special Operations Command’s highest honor when he was awarded the 2012 Bull Simons Award in Tampa, Florida, 23 May. Fales was also recognized by the Jolly Green’s Association performing "Rescue of the Year" twice in his career and in 1992 he was one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airman.
• Wayne Fisk, Technical Sergeant, earned a Silver Star for his role in the Son Tay Prison raid in November 1970, and another Silver Star for participating in the SS Mayaguez rescue in May 1975. During the Mayaguez rescue, Fisk was the last U.S. serviceman to personally engage the enemy in Southeast Asia. Other medals earned during his five tours in Vietnam include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal with 17 oak leaf clusters.
• Duane D. Hackney, Airman Second Class, was awarded the Air Force Cross for actions while recovering a downed pilot in North Vietnam, on 6 February 1967. He is also the most decorated enlisted man in the history of the U.S. Air Force with 24 awards for valor and more than 70 awards and decorations in all.
• Jon K. Hoberg, Technical Sergeant, earned a Silver Star for his role in the Son Tay Prison raid in November 1970.
• Larry W. Maysey, Sergeant, was awarded the Air Force Cross for actions in a night recovery of an infiltration team in which several recovery aircraft—including his own—were shot down in Southeast Asia on 9 November 1967.
• Josh Appel, Captain, and Christopher Piercecchi, Technical Sergeant, were the pararescue team who recovered Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and his Afghan rescuer from a village the SEAL had sought shelter in. Luttrell had been seriously wounded and the rest of his team were killed in a firefight with Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings. Several days later, they also retrieved bodies of Luttrell's teammates. Appel later worked as an emergency room physician. Piercecchi received the Pat Tillman 2011 scholarship and also completed medical school, eventually specializing in thoracic surgery.
• William H. Pitsenbarger, Airman First Class, was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during the Vietnam War. His medal was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

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