Can I drop early from active duty 11b?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:35:23 -0500

Currently been in the army for 7 months. I hurt my back in airborne school (not to severe) but I was dropped from airborne. I’m currently in a hold could I request to be discharged or even national guard from home. Iceberg just lost interest now after losing airborne. Anyone give me advice?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 3:48 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:48:44 -0500

No. Rehab your injury. It will not be your first injury. Re-apply for Airborne School. Pass. Carry-On.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 4:14 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:14:52 -0500

Deal with your injury. We’re all broken to a certain degree, but we can recover. I’m the past 3 years I have fractured my spine, broken an ankle, fractured a knee cap and developed arthritis in both knees. None of this was even combat related. It’s just 15 years of Army stuff compiled with being 40. You are young; you can still do Airborne if you want to. Get healthy and give it another shot.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jan 15 at 2019 4:18 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:18:05 -0500

Seems like you have already put quit into this equation,my advice don’t!

Response by SPC David S. made Jan 15 at 2019 4:41 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:41:26 -0500

Guessing you got this in your contract as such time to Charlie Mike!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 4:41 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:41:58 -0500

Did you refer to yourself as iceberg? Like the others have said, suck it up and try again. We all have our obstacles to overcome. Drive on

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 4:43 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:43:50 -0500

In my opinion, you wouldn't be asking this question if you wanted to stay. Hopefully I'm wrong. Stay where you are. Heal. Continue mission.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 5:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:06:04 -0500

No chance for getting out early. You can always reapply for Airborne in the future.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 5:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:50:40 -0500

You knew going into this that if you failed or didn’t complete Airborne training that you would still be obligated to complete your enlistment.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 6:28 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 18:28:19 -0500

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member You asked for advice, so here it is. You signed a contract and now you must fulfill that contract. Once you commit to doing something, you complete the mission, and you overcome all obstacles to do so. Losing interest is not an option and neither is quitting. After you have healed, let us know when you complete Airborne School.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jan 15 at 2019 6:53 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 18:53:27 -0500

Nop! Stay in, take care of your health, then go back to jump school. One word of advice: don’t man up and suck it up! TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH!!!!!!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 7:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 19:17:48 -0500

stick it out. You’ll find that FORSCOM is a lot different than TRADOC. Being a holdover sucks but it’s not that hard. Your goal should be to arrive at your first unit of assignment ready to contribute on Day 1. Keep your eye on the goal and everything else will work out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 7:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 19:53:35 -0500

To echo what some others have said:

Focus on getting back to healthy, first. When we get hurt, it can be hard to think clearly because our thoughts are filtered through the scope of our injuries.

Take this time to evaluate all you CAN do and make the most of your time. Get some college in. Knock out DLC 1. Read some good ole Army doctrine. AR 670-1, FM 7-22, TC 3-21.8 would be a good start.

After you heal, see where you’re at and go from there. Don’t get me wrong, there are times that finding your egress route is appropriate, but that decision shouldn’t come easy or at the first sign of discomfort. Especially when you’re talking about ending a budding career before you even really get a chance to see how you and the Army work.

I got out after my first term. I’m not going to say I made a mistake, because it wasn’t. But it was a learning experience.

What I took most from getting out is that even though I managed success out of the military (after struggling for about two years), I couldn’t help, and still can’t help but wonder where I’d be if I stayed in and pushed past the uncomfortable.

Sometimes, our most rewarding accomplishments come from just “playing through adversity,” leaving no question in our OWN minds that we gave our best efforts whether we thought it benefited us or not.

As always, good luck and keep us posted. And one more thing- if this is the only thing you take away from my exceeding long post, find a mentor! Not like, a guys who’s been in the unit forever and knows all the ways to sham- like a person who seems like they understand how to succeed in the Army, and pick their brain. Don’t be afraid to reach out to said individual and ask them for mentorship. It’s one of the most powerful tools in our ranks and we often let it go unused. Don’t!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 10:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 22:00:35 -0500

I’ll add my two cents. As others have said we’ve all been hurt or injured, it’s all part of the job, especially in the Infantry. Line units are very different than being a trainee in TRADOC, we’ve all been there at one point or another and all of us will return when we rotate back for PME (Professional Military Education). Don’t let your views of the Army or the Infantry be clouded by being a trainee, it’s a lot different on the line, harder some days, but well worth it. I couldn’t bear it to hear my guys who were still in their first term and never PCS’d say the Army sucks, you don’t really know until you’ve left your first duty station and gone somewhere new. But you haven’t even been in the real Army yet, even if you didn’t finish airborne this time, re-enlist for it when the time comes. Or who knows, maybe you’ll like being a dirty, nasty leg, it’s really quite fun!

Response by LTC James McElreath made Jan 15 at 2019 10:45 PM

LTC James McElreath — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 22:45:07 -0500

PV2 Simon,
There is nothing in any regulation that states you can't get back into AB training, although why would one jump out of a perfectly good airplane that will land after dropping off their cherries? But if you want it go back and attend whatever to get in. It is better to get yourself fit and get it done! You do not want to be a quitter, so don't give up!!

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 15 at 2019 11:35 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 23:35:33 -0500

It's common to have doubts as a PV2 your first year. Your going to miss out on a LOT of fun and memorable experiences if you quit now though. Don't do it. You only live life once and the experiences your going to lose out on, cannot be repeated or replicated anywhere else. Trust me it gets a lot easier as you increase in rank and also give yourself 6-8 more months to adjust to military life.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2019 12:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 00:22:41 -0500

In airborne school I met an individual who was on his third try after breaking his collar bone twice. Both times he just stayed at Benning and healed, he graduated with me that year, and got assigned to the 82nd. ABN.
It was the Airborne trait that got him through Jump school, "Can Do".
Stay in there get the job done. Airborne All the Way!
His picture is attached from our graduating yearbook 1972. Now ask yourself if he looks like someone who broke his collar bone twice and stuck it out for what he volunteered for.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2019 8:53 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:53:57 -0500

Man up, heal up, do your best where ever you find yourself assigned. If you end up staying at Benning, put in a 4187 request for Airborne school every quarter until you get sent back to school. If you end up at Campbell, go for your bullwinkle wings and put in a request every six months for Airborne school. If you get sent anywhere else stay out of trouble, and try to pick up any extra training you can find, make a decent reputation for yourself, and try to make your way back to Benning when you PCS or reenlist.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Jan 16 at 2019 4:03 PM

SFC Harry H. — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 16:03:34 -0500

When I was with the 10th mtn DIV our new incoming PLT Sergeant called our PLT to formation. Never have met the man before and already standing at attention waiting for his new platoon to muster before him. He introduced himself and went on to tell us this awesome story about determination and heart. Two things he demands of us in his new PLT.

It was about a young kid, who all his life wanted to join the Army. Unfortunately the kid was born with strong legs but a crooked spine. Like Forrest Gump he was forced to wear leg braces which made walking difficult and running near impossible. After years of determinations and a few surgeries he enlisted and was deployed to the first gulf war.

Once returning home that same young Soldier broke his back at AB school. He was dropped immediately and told he would most likely never jump again. That same Soldier went on to become a Jump Master with the 82nd AB DIV.

Determined again to be all he could be, that Soldier went on to RANGER school. During one of his night patrols his leg was submersed in thick mud and another Soldier stumbled onto him and caused him to break his femur. They told him again he most likely would never become a RANGER. He went on to tell us the amazing story of the Soldiers recovery and how he went on to become a RANGER Instructor after he left the RANGER BN.

Standing there listening to his detailed story about one Soldier and his determination, I think we all began to peace together that the man standing in front of us who literally looked the the Infantry God from above. Presidents 100 tab, RANGER tab, CIB, he even had an EMB, AB wings with a mustard star, Pathfinder, and HALO wings was in fact SFC Hudson, our new PSG. It wasn't until he dismissed us and began to walk away with a limp that we were 100% sure the story was of him.

Don't let your back stop you from being who you really want to be. SFC Hudson was my foundation to who I am today. Be someone's foundation and create your own life story. Good luck to you.

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Jan 16 at 2019 10:25 PM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 22:25:21 -0500

Quitters never win and Winners never quit. Point is quitting becomes easier each time you do it. Life is not a race get healthy and get back and finish what your started. You won’t regret it.

Response by LCpl Michael Harrell made Jan 17 at 2019 4:14 AM

LCpl Michael Harrell — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 04:14:06 -0500

Make a lateral move and finish your hitch.
Trust me if you quit now you’ll regret it your entire life.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 11:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 23:22:02 -0500

No at least you got to go airborne! Get better grow stronger and stop being soft! Suck it up!

Response by MAJ Forrest Davis made Jan 20 at 2019 8:31 AM

MAJ Forrest Davis — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 08:31:43 -0500

Stay the course. Do not waver. It’s a big Army and there are plenty of absolutely excellent roles for non-jumpers in the infantry. I’ve been both — leg infantry and airborne, and how you get to the battlefield doesn’t matter so much once you’re there. It’s the people you’re with, the skills you apply, and the mission you accomplish. Do your best, do what’s right ... trust the force and press on.

Response by MAJ Terry LaFrance made Jan 23 at 2019 7:16 PM

MAJ Terry LaFrance — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 19:16:44 -0500

Broke my leg at ABN school, didn't know it (stress fracture), had to move on. When you get well and back in shape submit a 4187 (they still have 4187s?) to go back. Never known an IN officer that wouldn't send his kids to hooah schools.

Response by Capt Robert Myers made Jan 24 at 2019 6:42 PM

Capt Robert Myers — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 18:42:27 -0500

Don't "punch out!!!" GRIT it out. Complete your committment. You are a soldier!!

Response by PO2 Bill Kuiper made Jan 27 at 2019 9:33 PM

PO2 Bill Kuiper — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 21:33:34 -0500

Did Airborne DQ you? I seriously doubt you are the first to experience this, drop just means you can't keep up with your class. Heal up, get medical approval, and go again. You have a head start in the next class, now.

Response by CPL Joe Hall made Mar 20 at 2019 10:24 PM

CPL Joe Hall — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 22:24:52 -0400

Only two things will ever stop you in Military. The I'm done and I dont give a damn. How did that saying go, sweat drys, wounds heal, suck it up and drive the fuck on.