Posted on May 3, 2019
Are 4/40 options becoming increasingly rare?
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Been working with a good recruiter, she's very passionate about what she does and has done everything to try and secure me an option 4 or 40 for my 11x contract. I qualified for a ton of jobs and she checked in her system, called the ROC, pulled some other magic tricks, and the only job that came with either of the two was for 92r option 40. I mean, if the army's cutting these back to make recruits work for it that's awesome, I got no problem putting in the work to get noticed and awarded the opportunity, but man I dont feel comfortable signing the contract without atleast airborne guaranteed. Just curious if you guys know anything about this? Is the army currently reducing available slots to potential recruits? And do you think I should exercise patience and wait for one to become available, or take the dive into black water and hope it all works out?
Posted in these groups: 75th Ranger RGT
Airborne Trainee
11X: Infantry Recruit
Recruiting
Fort Moore
Airborne Trainee 11X: Infantry Recruit Recruiting Fort Moore
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
Option 40 contract are not any more rare then they were before. There has always been a limited number. Holding Out for an option 40 contract is silly because you can volunteer for rasp in Airborne School. They literally come to Airborne School in recruit from there, and they also go to many AIT training sites and recruit from there as well. Just ask for Airborne in your contract and you can go to rasp.
Are you currently a 2019 high school senior about to graduate, or already a high school graduate? Either way, the training vacancies showing in the system will likely only be June-Sept of this year. The bad news for you is that the Army has been filling the vacancies for that time period with 2019 High School Seniors since last June. Options 4 and 40 for 11X go fast when the Army opens up the Delayed Entry Program for new seniors, who can be in the DEP for up to 365 days. For everyone else, the only vacancies available are ship dates within 90-120 days. So, it is not that that they are that rare, it is that they are all taken for the time period you fit into for a ship date. Also, if you did not get a 50 or higher AFQT on the ASVAB, option 40 will not be an option. If you did get a 50 and fully qualified, then you can stand by and hope for vacancy to open up. Seniors in the DEP that drop out and don't ship will have their training seats put back in the system. Your recruiter will have to periodically check the system. Or, you can wait until after the summer when the window to ship is Sept-Nov. Chances are there will be vacancies for that window because they are not already filled by graduating high school seniors like the summer months. Don't give up, if you are qualified for option 4 or 40, it will shake loose eventually and the more determined you are to hold out for it, the harder they will try to get it versus selling you on a plan b. Good Luck
SFC J Fullerton
William Staebell - If you haven't already taken the physical exam at MEPS, ask your recruiter to schedule you for it, to include the Airborne physical exam. You can take the physical and Airborne portion without enlisting the same day. It is good for 2 years. The benefit to you is that being a test and physically qualified high school graduate will give the Recruiting Command more incentive to shake loose an 11X Option 4 or 40. Don't be surprised if you come out of the physical exam at MEPS and the Army Guidance Counselor has a vacancy loaded for you. Magic happens when you are on the "floor" (at the MEPS and fully qualified). The last thing they want is for you leave without a contract. I was the Senior Counselor at 2 different MEPS and have seen it happen countless times.
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SFC J Fullerton I havent been to MEPS yet so I'll give her a call and get that lined up. Thanks so much man, you've been a big help!
CPT Lawrence Cable
SFC J Fullerton - That is some of the most sage advice I've seen on recruiting. An 83, GT 125 and pass the Airborne Physical, yes sir, they ain't letting him walk away without pulling all the strings they can.
You might be holding out a long time for that they only have a certain amount and they are usually the first to go. The recruiter should of let you know if you go 11x chances are during OSUT, RASP usually will recruit during that time if you are a PT stud ect you will get a shot. Once you are in 11B it is pretty easy to get to Airborne school and other school. I wouldn't hold your breathe for that contract.
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Isn't that one of the Big Lies that recruiters tell new candidates to get them to sign on the line?
FWIW, I went to BCT at Fort Benning, the Home of the Infantry (now Maneuver Center of Excellence) and the location of the Basic Airborne Course and no one visited us asking for Airborne School volunteers. The only option we got at BCT was right before graduation, anyone who wanted to switch to Infantry would get reclassed and dropped into an Infantry OSUT platoon at Week 11. Only ONE person in my company did that.