How do I volunteer for Airborne after DLI?

2015-05-28T14:44:27-04:00

Im an Army E-2 currently studying at DLI and would love to get the opportunity to go to Airborne school, but I don't know how to get it done. What's the process?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 2:49 PM

2015-05-28T14:49:12-04:00

Your best chance of going to Airborne school will be if your follow on assignment after DLI is to an Airborne unit. You should see if you can get in contact with your assignment manager to discuss if that is a possibility. Go to the link below and find your career field to see who yours is.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/Enlisted/Enlisted%20Personnel%20Management%20Directorate

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 30 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-05-30T11:43:00-04:00

Go get it!
HOOAH!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 12:08 PM

2015-05-30T12:08:34-04:00

Don't lol. Kidding it's quite the experience and you'll enjoy the school the most.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made May 30 at 2015 12:39 PM

2015-05-30T12:39:50-04:00

Check that the 82nd or 18abn Corp needs you language, the 4187 when you get to permanent assignment

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 12:41 PM

2015-05-30T12:41:15-04:00

At DLI, you'll usually need to talk to your platoon sergeant, who can get your airborne packet started, and advise you further. I don't know which company you're in, but in C Co. we had information hanging on bulletin boards that explained what you needed to do, requirements, etc. Look around your company and see if anything like that is up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 12:46 PM

2015-05-30T12:46:08-04:00

Assuming that they aren't recruiting in your AIT, it's a 4187 to your branch manager with an Airborne physical. You can find your assignment manager's contact info on the HRC website. PM me if you have trouble finding it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-05-30T12:59:53-04:00

Generally either your permanent duty station would be airborne or you'd need to notify your command. Slots for the school won't come often if you aren't already in an airborne unit so be prepared to wait a while if this is the case. Otherwise contact someone about getting a reassignment to a unit that requires the qualification.

Response by SSG Clayton Blackwell made May 30 at 2015 5:58 PM

2015-05-30T17:58:48-04:00

It can take forever if you are not in an AB assignment. Talk to your branch manager about getting assigned to an AB unit after DLI. 525th MI BDE at Bragg would be good. If not, as mentioned talk with your training NCO when you get to your duty station. If none of that works out, and you plan on staying in, get it in your reenlistment contract.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 9:02 PM

2015-05-31T21:02:33-04:00

Ask your chain of command and talk to your Schools NCO.

Response by SGT Lawrence Myers made Jun 1 at 2015 4:06 PM

2015-06-01T16:06:54-04:00

My advise is that you get everything in writing. I was promised Jump school and not a unit. I was at the needs of the Army, therefore, stuck in a mechanized unit. I have wings, but never sent to an Air Borne unit.

Response by SPC Richard Ramirez made Jul 15 at 2015 5:29 PM

2015-07-15T17:29:05-04:00

request to join using your chain of command.

Response by CPT Christopher F. made Jul 19 at 2015 10:31 PM

2015-07-19T22:31:27-04:00

First of all, this will be something that you have to do yourself. No one will ever invest as much in your Army exeriance as you will.

1) Getting started you'll want to log on to AKO and update your ASK (Assignment Satisfaction Key). Check, "Airborne duty preferred".

2) Next get with your PSG and tell them that you want it. But don't stop there, ask your PSG to email MI Branch asking for an Airbirne slot (make sure you get cc'd on the email).

3) Schedule an Airborne Physical and finish it! These are a HUGE pain at Goodfellow. The Air Gorce has different tests and will surely mess it up. Besides, these physicals are nor,ally good for about 6 months to a year.

4) FOLLOW UP! If you feel like you haven't heard about recently enough, ASK!! Leaders are people too, and they are just as forgetful as anyone else.

5) If you feel like no one is helping you move forward, call your branch manager. You can find the number on the HRC website under the enlisted tab. I have to warn you though, use this as a last resort. Some branch managers don't like to heard directly from first-term Soldiers.

Good luck, send me a message if you have any other questions.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 2:24 PM

2015-08-25T14:24:44-04:00

Talk to your cadre. All it takes is an Airborne Physical, a 4187, and an ATTRS slot to send you. The hard part is actually getting a slot. I'm willing to bet that 9 out of 10 of your peers want the same thing as you. You'll have to stand out to get it. It's doable though. Plenty of DLI guys came straight to Benning for a shot at going to MISO, CA, or SF groups as linguists when I went through.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Feb 13 at 2016 11:18 AM

2016-02-13T11:18:35-05:00

Talk to your chain of command to see if there an open slot for airborne.