Posted on Jul 20, 2019
How do Army Reserve Airborne units differ from regular Army Reserve units?
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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!
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!
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 8
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.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Frank Kapaun - You said that you were in a number of airborne units. I am currently in a reserve cyber unit, which is outstanding and offers a lot of high-tech training, but is a leg unit. Do you have any POCs in reserve airborne units that would be willing to let me jump with them without leaving my current unit? I'm not necessarily looking to get hazardous duty pay for it. I'm willing to do it voluntarily just to maintain jump proficiency. Thanks!
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MSG Frank Kapaun
SGT (Join to see) what you describe is being allowed to be on permissive jump status and unless their is a compelling reason for it. Most units will not allow due to the risk involved. Permissive jump status is a nightmare to get. I knew of a politically connected Guard COL that got it so he could get enough jumps to get his Master badge. You have to decide, do I want to be in an airborne unit or continue to serve in a leg unit.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
SGT (Join to see) - I do know that Fort Liberty used to have fun jumps, where Airborne troops could sign up as "strap hangers". Not sure if they still do.
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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.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC, thank you for your response. I am planning to become a 35F warrant officer (down the line). I would like to know how being a current enlisted 35F would differ in an airborne reserve unit versus a regular unit.
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SSG William Ryan
For WOC ... just be MI, specifically All-Source. Soon as you pin 6 you are basically accepted. They are critically short on WO's as well as senior NCO's. Huachuca sucks ... but could be worse haha!
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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.
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Yeah as mentioned, reserve SF units are the way to go. Similar experience to being in 1st, 5th, 7th, 10th etc ...
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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.
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MSG Frank Kapaun
SGT Christopher Combs the 360th CA Command(A), a USAR Unit is based out of Columbia, SC and is commanded by a friend of mine. It has airborne slots. Check it out. Their are lots of chances to deploy with that unit too.
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SGT Christopher Combs
MSG Frank Kapaun Thanks for letting me know that. I wasn't aware but unfortunately I was injured on my deployment and after 15 years of my service I was medically retired last year. But my nephew just joined 10 months ago and he's in the 1-118th Infantry unit her in the lowcountry(Monks Corner) which is right outside of Charleston SC and he's been trying to volunteer to go on a deployment since he finished OSUT Basic training. I'll let him know.
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MSG Frank Kapaun
SGT Christopher Combs Kool, the 360th is a great Unit, he’ll have opportunities for schools and deployments. If that is what he wishes for.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
I am a sore back, but, as I recall, the Virginia USAR Div, the Blue Ridgers, was an AB Div. When released back to USAR after the war, it was decided it not need an ABN Div. Became a leg Div, later a Tng Div, then something else having to do with Tng, evaluation, etc. Now with only one ABN Div and a pretend one on AD. I should think USAR won't have anymore.
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