This research paper addresses the question of Air Force Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) validity in a world dominated by irregular warfare. Following the cancellation of the CSAR-X acquisition program in 2009 the DoD tasked the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) to study whether Air Force CSAR represented a single service/single mission capability that could be replaced by similar/duplicate capabilities found in other services. The author studied the question by researching joint publications, DoD Directives and sister service documents on personnel recovery. He then discusses the Air Force's CSAR doctrine and TTPs using some historical examples to illustrate the unique capabilities found in the Air Force. Finally, he details why the Air Force's capabilities are so important to recovering isolated, missing, detained or captured personnel. Concluding remarks urge the DoD to maintain the current joint PR structure with no changes. In order for Air Force CSAR to remain a viable combat capability into the future, CSAR-X should be fielded as soon as possible to replace the aging fleet of HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
