Are soldiers of other MOSs paratroopers or are only 11Bs who have completed infantry AIT real paratroopers?

Padre...being a Sailor, I'm thankful to not be burdened with such questions late at night. I've FALLEN from from a plane while strapped to a real jumper...once...which was more than enough for me to know I wouldn't "want" to do it again-but figure I could if I had to. Hence...decidedly NOT a Paratrooper. That said, I don't loose any sleep wondering if I am a "real" veteran...was a "real" officer...let alone a "real" man. I left all of that behind long ago when I realized what matters is what you do when life hands you the choice of "go" or "quit". I've known quite a few "real" Paratroopers...and they were all "go". I've known a few Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines...and yes...civilians who I could say the same about. Some folks' choices and fates mean they get tested on that more often and at a higher level than others...which is why they get so much respect, and should get it. Still (stepping a bit outside my lane here)...I'm not sure who has "tested" themselves more; the 11X who continues to follow their logical career milestones...or the member from another MOS or even service, who pushes hard to get there against community expectations, requirements and available "slots". I'd wager that among those who've earned them, "Silver Wings" are what they are. Beyond that; who is the better " real warrior"...someone who is airborne "qualified", but yet to see combat, someone with the hard-won EIB, a "LEG" with a CIB, or a Marine aviator who fell while engaging multiple insurgents with nothing but his sidearm? I suppose the only time it really matters is if someone looks at themselves in the mirror and feels a genuine sense that until they've done "X"...they are not whole.

Its all a matter of definitions.

It has always been a notable achievement to earn jump wings. IMHO, everyone who has earned them has also earned the title “Paratrooper”. Every newly minted paratrooper (they were called “cherry” in my day) catches grief from those who have a few unit jumps beyond jump school. Mostly from those with basic wings rather than from the guys with Senior or Master jump wings.

I don’t know how it is now but I went to jump school straight from basic training in 1972. After basic I had OJT-AIT at my permanent duty station, B Co. 1-504th

Well, I was 25V which is Combat Documentation/Production Specialist. I'm sure that most of you here have heard of "Combat Camera" which is a unit I served with for many years. One of our platoons consist of "airborne qualified" personnel which their main intent was to support SF units throughout the Army and Joint. So been qualified enhanced their capabilities. I say "qualified" because we were not a true airborne unit even though we supported airborne units. But to answer the question, I think is more about the mentality as well as the unit's mission. I mean there are many units that constantly train on airborne ops...combat jumps, heavy drops, etc. I was assigned to 5th SFG for a couple of years and the term been a paratrooper crossed my mind a few times but never gave it too much thought to be honest. But I understand the mentality.

I do think that there are different mentalities depending on the unit your are in. Some units do their airborne operations with follow on missions, heavy drops, wearing heavy equipment, etc. Others get to jump to maintain their proficiency as a Hollywood jumper every time. I do not think that it is MOS specific at all to be a "paratrooper". Every time you jump out of an aircraft and are able to land safely on the drop zone...you are a paratrooper in my opinion. As far as jumping into combat goes, I think as a military we are beyond those types of operations these days.