How can a Fort Campbell Soldier get slotted to go to airborne school?

2019-06-30T17:54:47-04:00

I have been wanting to go to airborne school and get my other set of wings. But everyone in my close chain of command says that it is impossible to get a slot for it. Or that they dont need Airborne people. I was a first time go at air assault so i know that it wouldn't be to hard to pass airborne. All it is, is running and jumping. so what are some ways to get slotted to go to the school. I dont wanna go to 160th, but i wouldnt mind going to bragg. I just wanna be able to get a slot for the school and progress in my career.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2019 5:58 PM

2019-06-30T17:58:58-04:00

Put a packet in...........

Response by SSG John Naquin made Jun 30 at 2019 6:08 PM

2019-06-30T18:08:54-04:00

Re enlist for airborne school

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2019 6:17 PM

2019-06-30T18:17:03-04:00

You can re-enlist for the school or try to work your way over to 5th SFG(A) who is also in Campbell and always needing 91B’s and they will also send you to airborne school

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2019 6:48 PM

2019-06-30T18:48:21-04:00

Well in my squadron the quickest way is to graduate ranger school and walk on, having your airborne wings doesn’t improve the units mission set any of anything you’re more likely to get put on orders to an airborne unit. That is most likely the biggest reason they are apprehensive to sending you.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2019 6:55 PM

2019-06-30T18:55:14-04:00

Well, it’s just a little bit more than running and jumping, young private.
I’d think re-enlistment would be your best option.
Best of luck.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jun 30 at 2019 7:06 PM

2019-06-30T19:06:59-04:00

I believe you have to be in an airborne slot, but I could be mistaken

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2019 7:36 PM

2019-06-30T19:36:57-04:00

Airborne school is not an additional skill identifier like air assault. It's not a school you go to in order to add a badge. It's a special qualification identifier like Drill Sergeant or Recruiter, and so you will only go to Airborne School on your way to an Airborne assignment.
To explain it more clearly, Air Assault is a badge, Airborne is a way of life (at least for the next three years after you pass).
A non airborne unit is not authorized to send Soldiers to Airborne School. You may only attend enroute to an Airborne assignment and you will owe 3 years to the Army after that. Again - Airborne is not a school for a badge, it's a 3 year commitment. In your case, you'll have to reenlist for Airborne school.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Jun 30 at 2019 8:47 PM

2019-06-30T20:47:00-04:00

“Other set of wings”? Dont spend your career trying to look good in uniform, spend it trying to perform well in it. Master the basics, be better with your hands than anyone else, be the “go-to guy”. Your mentor shouldn’t be the clothing sales mannequin, it should be someone that drives you to be better than you were yesterday. Airborne is a capability for a unit to mass assemble on a drop zone to perform a function. How is that capability an asset in your organization? I refuse to waste the Army’s money semding folks to schools that do not bring a return to the Soldier/unit/Army. If you want the airborne badge, join the Airborne!

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2019 8:57 PM

2019-06-30T20:57:47-04:00

Reenlistment, that’s how I got my class date.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 1 at 2019 12:07 AM

2019-07-01T00:07:39-04:00

You may need to be in an airborne slot.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2019 3:39 AM

2019-07-01T03:39:47-04:00

All I can say is re-enlist, or be at the right place at the right time. Got a better chance of walking on for Pathfinder.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2019 9:09 AM

2019-07-01T09:09:42-04:00

There are several ways.
1) Get assigned to an airborne unit (obviously)
2) Apply to go to a Special Mission Unit
3) Re-enlist for an assignment of choice and pick Bragg with parachutist school enroute.
4) Become an Officer or Warrant. You can then attend school after OCS/WOCS. Ensure that when you are accepted to contact your branch and get the follow-on class on your orders.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jul 1 at 2019 2:54 PM

2019-07-01T14:54:22-04:00

At a minimum your going to have to enlist again given your MOS for Airborne school. Though I will say this, if your at the 101st Airborne they have other schools. Not only do they have the Pathfinder course but I believe they offer the Army courses on NCO development, Army Armorer School, etc. So talk to your 1SG on what is available to you in your Mechanics MOS. You never know. Although, I can tell you if your MOS was Infantry you would have a better chance at some schools. The door is not shut because your a mechanic.........they still might have some options for you. Ft. Campbell used to have a RECONDO school that was open to everyone but they closed it a long time ago..........who knows though, they might open it again.

Nothing wrong for going for as many hooah schools as you can get, especially given your young age. In a peacetime army thats what differentiates you from others, IMO.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jul 1 at 2019 3:41 PM

2019-07-01T15:41:29-04:00

The easiest way is to re-up for airborne and do a tour. Otherwise your unit pretty much has to have a requirement for it like the old support elements and liaison teams. Training costs money and while badges help show you're an added asset and the discipline you gain are always a plus, the Army likes to get a return on it's investment.

Response by MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect made Jul 2 at 2019 1:48 PM

2019-07-02T13:48:13-04:00

Get a job at FT. Bragg.

Response by MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect made Jul 2 at 2019 1:48 PM

2019-07-02T13:48:56-04:00

PCS to FT. Bragg or FT. Benning.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2019 7:38 PM

2019-07-02T19:38:43-04:00

My battalions policy is- Graduate Ranger School and walk onto Airborne School. Ask your Squad Leader for a Ranger School packing list, and the next available Pre-Ranger course and get your physical started.

Response by SSG Cecil Parker made Jul 2 at 2019 11:22 PM

2019-07-02T23:22:13-04:00

Well if you go to Bragg, they will want you to go airborne. It’s just a Bragg thing. But if you really want a slot, definitely head to Ft Bragg! I was in the only Double stack MP Company at Bragg, so I was lucky enough to get both with months of getting there. Go for it!

Response by LTC Charles "Pappy" Patchin made Jul 7 at 2019 9:35 PM

2019-07-07T21:35:44-04:00

Rope dopes don't need jump wings. The Army took all jump slots out of the the 101st 2 yrs ago. If you are a collector re-up for jump school and go for it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2019 6:22 PM

2019-07-13T18:22:44-04:00

Go to a Airborne unit! Remember you serve in the Army, the Army doesn't serve you, the Army owes you nothing

Response by SGT Sean Moore made Jul 28 at 2019 2:05 PM

2019-07-28T14:05:03-04:00

Why not go to 160th. It’s not a bad gig. That’s where I got my Airborne school slot back in the 90’s under my old MOS. If you’re at Campbell, the only way is to either be assigned to 160th or 5th SFG. 101st might still have a LRSU unit also.

Response by CSM Charles Heimerdinger made Aug 4 at 2019 8:39 PM

2019-08-04T20:39:08-04:00

Just because you are assigned to Ft. Campbell does not mean that you can not get airborne school while stationed there. Plenty of units on Ft. Campbell both in division and out are airborne. Some of these units will take soldiers from other units if they ask and have the drive to preform at a high standard.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 7:26 PM

2019-08-13T19:26:37-04:00

Wants jump wings but have you knocked out any correspondents course or ssd1? BLC?
Go talk to you retention nco. When you come up for reenlistment request an airborne assignment. If you can get a clearance or have one you might be able to get into a high speed unit. Before anything else, go get an airborne physical. You might not be able to jump.
You can also submit a da form 4187.
Good luck troop.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Swanson made Aug 17 at 2019 1:30 PM

2019-08-17T13:30:53-04:00

Good luck on getting your double stack!!

Response by SPC Brett Robertson made Sep 8 at 2019 9:36 AM

2019-09-08T09:36:38-04:00

Try going to Ranger school, they usually send you to airborne first then on to Ranger school. Although I have seen some leg Rangers but they a rare.

Response by SGM Daniel Lape made Mar 10 at 2021 9:18 PM

2021-03-10T21:18:10-05:00

Probably not going to happen unless you request assignment to an Airborne unit on jump status