How do Army Reserve Airborne units differ from regular Army Reserve units?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 09:20:59 -0400

Hello all. I'm an army reservist with previous active duty experience, airborne qualified, and in a regular reserve unit. We do mostly administrative tasks during drill. I am interested in transferring to an airborne reserve unit (I know most of them tend to be psyops/civil affairs) and am curious if any of you have first-hand experience or second-hand knowledge on how the reserve airborne units operate? Are there more field activities involved?

Separate question but related - I am considering going 350F Warrant Officer and how would that affect my role in an airborne reserve unit?

I'm a 35F intelligence analyst.

Please & thank you!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2019 9:40 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 09:40:46 -0400

Civil Affairs is not a feeder MOS to WO. If you wish to become WO do it in your current MOS. I'm a Warrant Officer Accessions NCO and can help you with that. I can have you speak to some Soldiers in those Airborn units and you can decide.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2019 11:59 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 11:59:43 -0400

Not sure there are actual reserve airborne units, some units may have slots for jump status, but I would think those are few and far to find. I know the entire reserves only gets a handful of slots for airborne training a year. I would talk to your retention NCO there should be one for your area, they can look at every unit and tell you what slots and status of each slot.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Jul 20 at 2019 12:09 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 12:09:24 -0400

I was in a number of Guard/Reserve Airborne units, 20th SFG(A), 422nd CA BN(A) and HHC USACAPOC (A). Those units tend to have more esprit de corp and attract a better quality of individual than leg units. You will still have to do nitnoid admin stuff, BUT....every three months, there is a jump to look forward too. That normally eats up a Drill in itself. One other added plus is the opportunity for airborne ATAs and jumpmaster refresher training are numerous.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2019 10:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 10:03:08 -0400

Should’ve went guard. To be group support.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2019 7:59 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 07:59:51 -0400

A little more intimate with the law of gravity.

Response by SSG William Ryan made Jul 28 at 2019 11:23 PM

SSG William Ryan — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 23:23:24 -0400

Yeah as mentioned, reserve SF units are the way to go. Similar experience to being in 1st, 5th, 7th, 10th etc ...

Response by PV2 Bob Ondown made Oct 3 at 2019 9:39 AM

PV2 Bob Ondown — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 09:39:23 -0400

If you go to a NG SF unit the people are of a higher caliber and there is less hurry up and wait before a jump.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Oct 11 at 2023 1:42 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:42:09 -0400

oops