Can I be forced to go Airborne or Air Assault due to a duty station's homage if I have no desire or interest to go?

2020-01-10T00:32:22-05:00

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2020 1:12 AM

2020-01-10T01:12:22-05:00

I assume you'd be "Strongly encouraged" to go, I don't see why you wouldn't want to go. I know guys who would fight you for a slot at either. 3 weeks and you get a shiny badge and some promotion points, doesn't sound like a bad deal to me.

Response by MSG Brandon Lloyd made Jan 10 at 2020 1:21 AM

2020-01-10T01:21:14-05:00

You can’t actually be “forced” to do anything. But being at a place like Ft. Campbell you will have go to Air Assault school or you will have no upward career progression. I’m have no idea why you joined but the majority of the Soldiers in the Army will never be in a unit or in a position to even have schools like that offered to them. There is no school in the military you can go to and come out dumber than when you went. So you will learn something even if it’s small. If it’s offered I wouldn’t turn it down. If your in a stage of your enlistment where you are just ready to get the heck out, going to a school May give you a different perspective and you may enjoy it. You may not want to re-enlist as indefinite but it may make your remaining time a little more tolerable.

Response by SGT(P) Christopher Poole made Jan 10 at 2020 3:40 AM

2020-01-10T03:40:03-05:00

Bro. Go, that will look good for you if you wish to stay in for a good amount of years, promote to higher enlisted or cross over to the O-Grade Ranks

Take me for example, in my unit it’s rare to get slots because we’re “mechanics”. We constantly ask and it gets pushed to the side (even if you have good PT score or do great work.) If you have a unit or leadership that’s pushing you to go, go for it my guy so it won’t be harder later in the long run.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2020 8:50 AM

2020-01-10T08:50:08-05:00

Forced, maybe not. But if it is a unit that is an Airborne unit then it becomes a go or get moved thing. I am in an airborne unit and was told day one it was go or transfer. I'm going in April and then fully plan to start asking for Air Assault. Get any and all training that is offered to you. It will help you stand out from your peers and it will help you get promoted. Plus who doesn't want to jump out of a plane or slide down a rope. Come on now!!!

Response by SFC Michael W. made Jan 10 at 2020 9:24 AM

2020-01-10T09:24:52-05:00

If you have no interests in pursuing your goals and career in the military then WHY DID YOU JOIN?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2020 9:42 AM

2020-01-10T09:42:27-05:00

Homage??? I don't think that word means what you think it means lol

As someone pointed out, if you go to the 101st you'll be expected to go to Air Assault since it is an Air Assault unit. Obviously, no one can force you to go, but being the least motivated individual in the unit means you'll be passed over for every promotion and cool opportunity in favor of other Soldiers. Not that you'll never get promoted, there are regulations stating you must go to the board. But, the board can deny you promotion.

As for Airborne, you won't go to Airborne unless you're assigned to an Airborne unit. That is generally unlikely, but not impossible. If you do get assigned to an Airborne unit and refuse to go to Airborne school, they will kick you down the road to the nearest leg unit on post and ask HRC for an Airborne Soldier replacement.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jan 10 at 2020 12:06 PM

2020-01-10T12:06:18-05:00

Okay, so maybe you don't want to go, whether is a genuine disinterest or fear of failure or injury. Whatever. Fine, but you could STILL view this as an opportunity for you that others--like me--simply don't get which will benefit you later on in your Army career. Even if you find yourself not liking the thought of doing it, if you are willing to revaluate your thinking on this, embrace the suck and do it and come out the other side, you'll be better off than when you went in.

Choice is your however.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Jan 10 at 2020 12:26 PM

2020-01-10T12:26:32-05:00

I don't know you as an individual, but I can recommend you do Air Assault.
It's a very easy course. Study, do your PT, get your air assault badge and make everyone jealous at your next duty station.

Response by PO1 H Gene Lawrence made Jan 10 at 2020 1:07 PM

2020-01-10T13:07:07-05:00

You joined the Army! Do you really think that your wishes are paramount to the Army?

Response by PFC Bobby Smith made Jan 10 at 2020 1:24 PM

2020-01-10T13:24:25-05:00

yes you can

Response by SPC Kurt Hesselden made Jan 10 at 2020 1:36 PM

2020-01-10T13:36:24-05:00

Were you forced to join the Army ?
Is there a background 'fear of flying' involved here ? If so, maybe the 101st is not the place for you, I bet an honest talk with your Top would result in finding a path or niche for your MOS that doesn't expose you to what you don't want. Are you an 11B ?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2020 1:48 PM

2020-01-10T13:48:33-05:00

Air assault was a relatively easy course that I knocked out as a SPC a few years back. That badge has helped me multiple times in my career. If you have a chance to get a “respect badge”, take it. As others have mentioned, not everybody gets a chance.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 10 at 2020 4:00 PM

2020-01-10T16:00:04-05:00

The units will tell you the requirements, you will not tell them your requirements.

Response by SSG Levi Baxter made Jan 10 at 2020 7:00 PM

2020-01-10T19:00:26-05:00

No, you must apply to those schools...

Response by SPC John Gifford made Jan 10 at 2020 10:39 PM

2020-01-10T22:39:55-05:00

In my day, you went where they told you to and do what they said.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2020 7:12 AM

2020-01-11T07:12:33-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member getting those schools are great opportunities and they separate you from your peers later down the road.

My professional advice is go while you can. Invest in your career early. Those opportunities don’t come around any easier the longer you stay in.

If it’s a matter of you just doing your time and getting out, you never know what may happen. If you stay in longer you will likely appreciate the separation schools like that provide you.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jan 11 at 2020 8:06 AM

2020-01-11T08:06:53-05:00

I hit Fort Campbell (home of the ONLY Air Assault Division in the world!) about 3 months before I hit the big 4-0, and about 6 months before I dropped retirement. I had also been on and off profile for 6 years due to serious knee issues which the Army refused to actually TREAT. I was horribly out of shape, and barely able to pass the run portion of APFT for my age. At my age I had to run just under 9:30 mile for 2 miles to pass. Air assault you have to run a 2-mile in ACUs in 18, and a 4 mile in PTs in 36. Despite my lack of fitness (which was entirely my fault), my advanced age, and my proximity to retirement, guess who went to Air Assault shortly after arrival at Fort Campbell?

I ran the run in 17:58. I BARELY managed to not fall out of the 4-mile. I rucked the 12-mile in 2:59:25. But I went, I passed, and I moved on.

If you go to Campbell, you will be expected to go to AASLT (unless you have extenuating circumstances such as a limiting profile). You cannot be actually forced to go, but trust me, it is FAR better for you if you just get it over and done with than try to avoid it or refuse it altogether.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 12:07 AM

2020-02-10T00:07:16-05:00

Don’t be a coward. Go be a soldier.