Ep 587: PJ to A-10 Pilot… Then DUDE44 Happened
Ep 587: PJ to A-10 Pilot… Then DUDE44 Happened  
Podcast: Ones Ready
Published On: Mon May 18 2026
Description: Send us Fan MailPeaches, Trent, and Jason Attinger—aka AT—are back in the team room for one of the most legit combat rescue conversations we’ve ever had.AT didn’t just talk about rescue… he lived it. Former United States Air Force Pararescue operator. Commissioned officer. Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot. And now one of the guys helping preserve the Sandy mission when the military needs it most.This episode goes deep into DUDE44—what happened, how combat search and rescue actually unfolds in denied territory, what a Sandy really does, why the Hog still matters, and why America better not forget how to recover its own.Then the boys get into pilot boards, Guard hiring, A-10 extension drama, acquisition failures, and who’s actually going to carry the rescue mission forward when the Hog finally retires.Bottom line: aircraft matter… but it’s still humans willing to stay in the fight that bring people home. ⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 Tasty Gains, Prep Gear & Candidate Advice 04:00 Vegas Stories & Real Men Stepping Up 08:00 Meet Jason Attinger 10:00 From PJ to Officer to Hog Driver 13:00 Is AT the Reason the A-10 Is Still Alive? 16:00 Why Combat Search and Rescue Is Back 19:00 What a Sandy Actually Does 23:00 DUDE44 Alpha—The First Rescue 29:00 The Hog Takes Battle Damage 34:00 DUDE44 Bravo—48 Hours Behind Enemy Lines 41:00 Watching DUDE44 Unfold in Real Time 47:00 When Everybody Finally Came Home 53:00 The Whiskey Toast 56:00 A-10 Extension to 2030 01:00:00 Who Replaces the Sandy Mission? 01:04:00 Why Defense Procurement Is Broken 01:08:00 OA-1K, F-16s & Future CAS 01:11:00 How to Get Hired as a Guard Pilot 01:13:00 PJ or Pilot—Which Meant More? 01:15:00 Final Thoughts—Humans Win Wars🎯 Call-to-Actions:👍 Like if DUDE44 gave you chills 🔔 Subscribe for real operator stories 💬 Comment—should the Hog keep flying past 2030? 🌟 Leave a review if this one hit home 🪖 Join the Ones Ready Membership 👕 Check out onesready.com for merch 💥 Share this with somebody who thinks rescue is outdatedSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page:  HERERegister for our Operator Training Summit:  OperatorTrainingSummit.comFind an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.comCollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code:  ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code):  ATACLeteDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code:  ONESREADYDFND Apparel...