Airborne school?

Question

I'm in the army (ait) and Im try to decide if going to airborne school would be a good Idea..... I know they do allot of running, and more running, but what else (besides the jumps) do they do? I'm not so confident in my running skills. At this point I've only ever ran 3 miles.....I know it would be a challenge, and I know It's not for EVERYBODY..just give me a little insite..please and thank you!

Answer 1

Aside from Running, the first day they give you "break area" procedures, where they smoke you during your "break". It is just to try to weed out the weak. Pull ups, sit ups all the good stuff. You have 3 phases, 1)ground week, where you practice exiting an aircraft mock up (it is on the ground) and practice your PLFs (parachute landing falls). 2)You haveTower Week where you practice more PLFs from a device calle the Swing Land trainer. You slide off a platform about 8 feet off the ground with a rope attached to a harness. The Black Hat (Airborne Instructor) controls when he is going to let go of the rope and you have to execute the proper PLF. You have the 32 foot tower where you practice your exits from an aircraft, use proper body position, going through all the checks, like looking up to check your canopy, look around you ensure you are clear of other jumpers. Then you have the 250 foot tower. When you are released at the top, you control the chute and execute a PLF. 3) Jump Week - 5 jumps, two are supposed to be night jumps a couple with equipment (rucksack).
I left out other things you have to do (these are the highlights I remember). There are other things like actions landing in water, trees, high power lines, etc. You get inspected every morning, spit shine, helmet set up correctly, dog-tags, uniform, haircut, all listening to the song "Blood on the Risers".
I will say, you complete Airborne School, you will never regret it, and you will be a member of a special group of soldiers.
Good Luck with your decision, and if you do the right thing and go Airborne, never say quit, just gut out the runs and PT.

Answer 2

Seems like this question comes up alot on here. Here's my advice. If you're not a strong runner, start running alot. Some people will say they run 9 min miles. They don't. You'll have to maintain about 7 - 7:30 min miles for about 3 miles. That's during the first week (ground week). They significantly slow down the second week (tower week) but they run a longer course.

You'll have to be able to do a pull up to enter into jump school. I suggest going to the gym and working on your upper body strength. Work on lat pull downs and get on the weighted pull up machine. Decrease the weight until you are able to pull up your own weight.

I went about 4 years ago. I was 30 years old and I made it thru. That being said, yes I was older than other people but I was also doing alot of triathlons and I was and still am in pretty good shape. That being said, it wasn't that hard for me other than the fact that I had bruises all over me from falling alot. It was however, apparently hard for the rest of the women in my plt. We started with about 10-15 women and two finished, me and another girl.

Jumping isn't that great and anyone that makes it out to be is lying, but I do suggest you go if you're due to PCS to Ft. Bragg.

Train hard and give it 100% and if you really want it you'll get it.

Answer 3

what is BAC??? ROTC will send cadets to U.S. Military Airborne School. You will go to Ft. Benning. You will complete your 5 jumps. After that you may go to a regular unit or an airborne unit. Airborne Units jump at least once a quarter to stay on airborne status.

Answer 4

Running is the MAIN thing for airborne school. (Are you able to do airborne PT where you are? It REALLY HELPS!) But also...doing pull ups will really help. It is physically demanding...as well as mentally. The best way for you to decide if it is for you or not is to go to Airborne school. You get dropped if you fallout of the runs...so start to develop some confidence for yourself in that area.

Answer 5

I remember back about 30 years ago it was about 6 miles - the Friday run is the killer. We were running about 7:30 minute per mile.

I would also recommend that you be able to do 20 good pullups as well as 50 good pushups.

The killer exercise "beat your boots" are knee squats be able to do about 25 at a time. If you want to spend the money here is a weblink for you.

Airborne!

Answer 6

I was an Airborne Ranger and spent a year at the 507th as a Black hat.... I tell you what if you don't go,you will regret it. plus its an additional 10 promotion points if ur Airborne qualified, and 25 if your on jump status.... My advice DO IT!!!!
You won't regret it..

Answer 7

First, everybody in the army does a lot of running.
If you're in the Army, you should have an opportunity to talk to someone who is Airborne. they wear their silver wings, and they're so proud of them they have them on their underwear.You should have no problem finding one.
in BCT, our PSG was 82nd and while he demanded a lot, he was VERY fair and I'll never forget him. Use the chain of command, tell your squad leader that you want to talk to someone about Airborne and let him do his job.
Good luck.

Answer 8

With every step you take just think, "I get 10 Promotion Points for this, I get 10 Promotion Points for this". You could be promoted to E-5 ahead of your peers because of it.
Actually, I don't know how many promotion points you get these days. I retired 7 years ago and it was 10 points then.
Good Luck, All The Way!

Answer 9

I went through jump school 22 years ago. Back then, we had Break Area Procedures and the Gig Pit. It sucked then, but was not the hardest thing to do. Jump school is a lot easier now, shouldn't be too hard...

Answer 10

A buddy of mine joined the army to jump! I didn't see him really after that, but I ran into him at the theatre once. I asked him how he liked it...he said it was hard, the hardest thing he ever did...It looked like it wore on him, but you could see that he was a different person with strength and a keen sense in his eye. He was a very athletic person when we both had a season pass on the mountain at sierra at tahoe.