INSIDE COMBAT RESCUE

Recently, I stumbled onto a new series on the National Geographic Channel on cable TV called INSIDE COMBAT RESCUE. I was both engaged and repulsed at the same time. It was so realistic. I am not one to cry easily but it brought tears to my eyes when I realized even more what some of our young men and women go through in the military during our wars overseas!

The elite Combat Rescue members of the U.S. Air Force, Pararescuemen, or PJs, have one mission: rescue American or Allied forces in extreme danger. Whether their targets are shot down or isolated behind enemy lines, surrounded, engaged, wounded, or captured by the enemy, PJs will do whatever necessary to bring those in peril home. For the first time in their history, the PJs allow camera crews to cover their missions in Afghanistan. Inside Combat Rescue is the story of the lives of these elite airmen.

I was so happy to see that "for the first time in their history, the PJs allowed camera crews to cover their missions in Afghanistan" because it shows an alternative to the usual spoiled, self-indulgent and self-focused worlds of so many young adults in our country on TV. These young men and women are disciplined, focused, competent and determined to risk their lives in service of others in some terribly harsh conditions. There they were dealing with amputations, lost limbs and major blood losses, not "gaming," sports, drugs and music! 

I was moved to tears by their courage and capabilities on one hand and repulsed by the terrible waste of lives they were trying to save on the other! I was made aware that I too have given my life in service of others, but they made me realize how ridiculous my whining about how busy I am seem so silly and trivial! 

What is so powerful about this show is that it is not filmed in some Hollywood Studio. This is not some Rambo glorification of macho violence! It was filmed in a real war and in real battle situations! It shows real heroism by real young American adults in the tragic world of war! It glorifies self-sacrifice and heroism, not violence and war! It shows the tragedy of war and the terrible waste of young lives that wars consume! 

It's hard to watch, but I wish there were more shows like it! I think it would inspire more of our youth than the constant wasteful self-indulgent diet they get on TV of music, sports, drugs, waste and romantic silliness! 

This series is not something you watch for entertainment! It forces you to wake up and look at the tragedy of war and the tragedy of the losses of young lives that wars cause! It is so shocking in spots that you may not be able to watch a whole episode!  On the other hand, it is so inspiring that you may come away proud of what some of our young adults are doing with their lives these days! It goes to show you that they're not all "gaming" addicts living in mama's basement into their thirties!