Posted on Jul 10, 2018
Are soldiers of other MOSs paratroopers or are only 11Bs who have completed infantry AIT real paratroopers?
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Airborne Trainee
Airborne Student
Parachuting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
Well, the answer will vary, depending on who answers the question and how they broadly or narrowly define "real paratroopers". The broadest definition of a "real paratrooper" is anyone who completed Airborne School (and many different MOSs complete that school). Others will say that only people assigned to an Airborne unit are "real paratroopers". Some will even restrict it to "only those who have done airborne operations", and others will restrict it further to "only Infantry are real paratroopers". So, take your perspective. I think it would be people who are airborne qualified and are (or have been) assigned to airborne units and actually do (or did) airborne operations.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
I say this is wrong to only say infantry they aren’t as skilled as Special Forces or Delta who have to stay on jump status or what about people like me a Parachute Rigger who has to pack and jump everything out there we are more skilled at being real paratroopers than most!
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LTC Kevin B.
SFC(P) (Join to see) - You're apparently reading into my comments. SF and Delta Force meet my definition, as would you.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
Sir, I’m not reading into your comment at all I was just giving examples for the future recruit if he is that uninformed!LTC Kevin B.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SFC(P) (Join to see) - This all goes back to what LTC Kevin B. said, it depends on the definition. If you actually look the word up you'll find differing definitions. Some claim that a paratrooper is a soldier trained to jump from an airplane. Others say it is an infantry unit trained to jump from an airplane into combat. I personally lean toward a definition that speaks to what must be done on the ground after the jump. In other words, I'd call Infantry soldiers (or those in support that jump with them), in Airborne units who are trained and ready to fight the enemy by those means, paratroopers. Don't take that as an offense to anything you do as a rigger. I myself am airborne qualified and served as an Infantry officer in the 101st Airborne and do NOT consider myself a paratrooper.
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If you have the wings, then you are a paratrooper- -we grunts can not do it on our own. As GEN Gavin said" Show me a man who will jump from an airplane and I'll show you a man that will fight!:
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If you jump you are AirBorne. Everyone who jumps from a plane into a tactical environment takes the same risk. They are all Warriors. Thank you for your service.
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Anyone who straps a nylon sack to their ass and jumps from da plane is a "real" paratrooper. Engineers, logisticians and legal clerks all hit the ground just as hard , and at the end of the day everyone in a unit contributes to the success or failure of a mission.
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My opinion: There is no Fake or Real paratroopers. Airborne school turns you into a Paratrooper BUT those of any MOS who serves or served in an Airborne Unit are PARATROOPERS and those who only went to Airborne School that have not been in an Airborne Unit is simply just Airborne qualified. Just like the Ranger Tab. Rangers are those who served in Ranger Battalion and earned their Tan beret. Those who only attend ranger school to earn the tab are only Ranger qualified.
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No, they aren’t the only paratroopers out there have you ever heard of Parachute Riggers the ones who pack, jump, and test everything out there? Plus, you have Rangers, Special Forces, and Delta they are all way more skilled than your 11B’s!
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
SFC(P) (Join to see) - Definition is Defiantly correct. Plus the golden knights.
I always will and love being a LEG, Never understood jumping out of a perfectly good Air Plane, if the thing is going down yeppers get the hell out but that's just me.
I always will and love being a LEG, Never understood jumping out of a perfectly good Air Plane, if the thing is going down yeppers get the hell out but that's just me.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
By that time it’s too late to learn what to do you are already dead not to mention no such thing as a perfectly good airplane or aircraft!SFC(P) (Join to see)
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
SFC(P) (Join to see) - that's why ground insertion ill always stick to. Let the paratroopers do the crazy jumps into the zone and ill play swamp donkey or hitch a ride or rappel I've done that enough lol
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