<P> 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). </P> <P> 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 ." </P> <P> 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 . </P> <Ul> <Li> Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger was awarded the Air Force Cross posthumously for his actions during the Vietnam War . His medal was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor . </Li> <Li> Technical Sergeant Jon K. Hoberg earned a Silver Star for his role in the Son Tay Prison raid in November 1970, </Li> <Li> Technical Sergeant Wayne Fisk 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 . </Li> <Li> Airman Second Class Duane D. Hackney 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 . </Li> <Li> Sergeant Larry W. Maysey 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 . </Li> <Li> Technical Sergeant Tim Wilkinson was the first recipient of the Air Force Cross since the Vietnam War for his actions during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu . Wilkinson was portrayed by Ty Burrell in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down which chronicled the events of the Battle of Mogadishu . </Li> <Li> Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for actions on 4 March 2002, during the Battle of Takur Ghar . </Li> <Li> Tech Sergeant Alden "Rick" Smith of the New York Air National Guard was lost at sea during the events chronicled in the Sebastian Junger book "The Perfect Storm" after the helicopter he was in was unable to refuel and had to ditch in the ocean . </Li> <Li> Master Sergeant Scott Fales 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 . </Li> <Li> Staff Sergeant (and former U.S. Army Ranger) Wil Willis was the star of a Military Channel show entitled Special Ops Mission and later served as the host of Triggers: Weapons That Changed the World on that same network . Both shows aired only 6 episodes of a single season . Wil Willis has also appeared as a weapons expert on History Channel's Top Shot . </Li> <Li> Chief Master Sergeant Ramón Colón - López 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 Kirtland AFB . </Li> </Ul>

What does pj stand for in air force