When I left the MEPS station to go to Lackland AFB for basic training, the guy on the flight with me there and the whole time in basic with our group went to PJ training. They really are hardcore. They are an interesting group to watch train too. The have the CH-53 and usually an attack helo or two along for support and air cover if needed. They go in pretty well armed, but still, to hang out in bad guy land in a helo. You just told every goober with a rifle or RPG where you are.
Not the job I wanted. But then, I wasn;t crazy about combat comm either. I remember my first TDY deployment. We were out in the middle of nowhere in one of those third world toilets. It was hotter than hell and even more humid. We were humping the boonies and I thought to myself, "What the fuck is this? I joined the AIR FORCE for crying out loud. This is the job for the Army or the Marines!"
All in all, it wasn't too bad. I got to deal with extreme weather, huge freakin bugs and some bad guys that were animals. I have never worked so hard, sweated so much or been shit-your-pants scared in my life. But I can also say we played with some cool toys, shot some bitchin weapons and saw places and things that most people never will, and some that you could never dream of.
And when it came time to play, we drank hard, laughed til we peed and lived it up like there was no tomorrow. We had to, because that was always a possibility that was never spoken of, but kept in the back of your mind.
Perhaps I am being a bit philosophical about it now, after 20 years, but the biggest fear that I remember was letting my buddies down when the shit hit the fan. We all had jobs to do and were all scared shitless, so maybe that was the main fear because we were all afraid. The true measure of a warrior is what happens to him when the bullets start singing by. Some of the toughest talking guys turn to mush while the timid quiet ones end up surprising you.