Posted on Jan 2, 2020
PV2 Emergency Room Technician
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As an 11b in the National Guard will I be able to volunteer for Airborne when I get to Fort Benning ? I leave in 5 days.
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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No, you won't. Your unit/state has to pay to send you and unless you're in an Airborne unit, they aren't authorized to do so.
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CPT Paul Whitmer
CPT Paul Whitmer
6 y
The only cost savings to your unit is that you are already at FBG. If you "lobby" for a spot and have backing from your COC there is a slim possibility. But by purely volunteering - unlikely. It would be more of a case where your unit throws you a bone. SFC Boyd makes a point too - if you're in an Airborne unit it would make sense to go while you're there - but you'd have known you were going and been slotted by now surely.
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CPT Advisor
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Edited 6 y ago
Highly unlikely, the National Guard cuts your orders for the time period covering whatever training you're at Benning to complete (I'm guessing OSUT?). They can be extended, but it rarely happens with something spontaneous like walking on to airborne school, especially since you're likely on title 10 orders for OSUT. Your best bet would be to check the ATRRS course catalog and see if there is an airborne class starting immediately following your OSUT graduation and asking to be submitted for a slot. If you can get a reserved or waitlisted seat, your state can extend your current orders, or cut you a new order starting immediately after your OSUT graduation in order to attend airborne. This is also highly unlikely, but it is your best chance in my opinion.

I have tried to extend my orders to walk on to training probably 25-30 times in my career, and it was only approved once. There is only so much funding each state has for schools, and airborne isn't high on the priority list if you aren't in an airborne unit... especially this early in the fiscal year. You always have a better chance of going to a school at the end of the FY when they are trying to spend the remainder of their budget.
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PV2 Emergency Room Technician
PV2 (Join to see)
6 y
Thank you
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MAJ Javier Rivera
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Absolutely No!

Unless you NG unit explicitly write it in your orders. Is a money thing.
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As an 11B in the National Guard, will I be able to volunteer for Airborne when I get to Fort Benning?
CPT Company Commander
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Yes you can. I did when I went through OSUT as a NG 11B. Have the highest PT score possible and talk to the national guard liaison.

I was also a Company Commander at Sand Hill. National Guard 11Bs also get the opportunity to go to Ranger School following OSUT. I sent a few to RTAC after they graduated.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
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Once you are at 11B OSUT, you can voluteer for the Ranger Team Leader Initiative.
This is a long and involved process that will set you up for some additional training (pre-pre-ranger, RTAC and Ranger School).
This is much more value-added training than a badge that says you got five jumps once.
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SPC 11 C Indirect Fire A Infantryman
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Depends if your active duty it’s very likely they offer you a chance to undergo the school if you National guard that’s up to your state you can talk to you National guard liaison at basic training and ask for if your state is willing to pay for it they’ll give it to you
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SPC Assistant Gunner
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When I went only the national guard guys had the airborne option extended to them during basic because big army wanted the state funding. Do well in PT, and speak up when the airborne recruiters show up. Ranger should be an option as well. Good luck. Sand hill is a blast.
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SPC Erich Guenther
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Edited 6 y ago
Only scenario is if your state approves and well........good luck with that because they budgeted for you to attend before you enlisted and it did not include Airborne training as an add on. I also attended as a NG back in 1982 (long time ago) and that rule was in place back then. Hasn't changed at all.
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CPL Gary Pifer
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Just buy the wings ...it's cheaper.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
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Unless your state is one of the few that has an Airborne unit, the chances are none. Where is your unit located?
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PV2 Emergency Room Technician
PV2 (Join to see)
6 y
New York
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
6 y
PV2 (Join to see) - The 27th BCT is a round out for the 10th Mountain, so no Airborne, and the 42nd used to be Mechanized, so probably no again.
The upside is if you go to the 27th, you may be able to pick up Ranger School.
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