Posted on Sep 1, 2018
SPC(P) Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
51.2K
56
29
2
2
0
Greetings to all, I have a question in regards to how airborne works in the Army Reserve.

Airborne has always been a goal of mine, but one thing that I feel is stopping me is the long term effects on the body due to landing. From what I have gathered so far, a soldier on active duty must be on jump status for 36 months to keep their wings while a soldier in the reserve must be able to jump once every 3 months to continue drawing jump pay.

With that in mind, how long would I have to jump before I can choose to stop and still be able to keep my wings? or can I opt out of jumping, forfeit jump pay and still keep my wings?
Avatar feed
Responses: 12
LTC Signal Officer
10
10
0
Andrew. Not sure where your information is coming from, but it is way off.

1. As soon as you graduate from Airborne School, you have your wings for the rest of your career.
2. Jumping is not overly hard on your body if you do what you are told. Feet and knees together and try to do a proper PLF. Yes you can get injured, but that is true with most things we do in the Army. Be a sponge at Fort Benning and execute what you learn. 50 jumps and no major issues.

If you have more questions shoot me a message. AATW.
(10)
Comment
(0)
SPC(P) Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
SPC(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
of course sir, thank you. I actually do have a few more questions if you don't mind me asking.
(1)
Reply
(0)
LTC Signal Officer
LTC (Join to see)
>1 y
Shoot when ready.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SPC Henry Francis
SPC Henry Francis
>1 y
I agree. Proper technique will keep you from harm and ill effects. Be sure to steer into the wind! I saw an E-6 make a horrible landing after a chopper blast without combat gear (we were being rewarded with as many chopper blasts as the stack of parachutes would allow for some outstanding thing we did as a Cimpany (but I can’t remember what that thing was).
He saw his predicament at about 30’ and started pedaling hoping to hit the ground running... not good... ALWAYS prepare to land exactly as you hav been trained regardless of wind drift speed.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SPC Henry Francis
SPC Henry Francis
>1 y
P.S. he was okay, he just face planted. Nothing broken, nothing hurt more than his pride. He went back up for another jump (we were jumping MC1-1 chutes.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Section Ncoic
6
6
0
Haha lol i got this one... well young aspiring to be a paratrooper, i left airborne, dropped my Jump Status after 7 years being Airborne. Went to Carson for 4 years and then decided well I'll see if I get lucky with 3rd SFG at Fort Bragg, haha noooooooooo, 82nd Airborne Division said oh no you still got fresh legs son, come on down buddy! Take it im 34 now bro lol. Unless you really like being in a Non Airborne unit. Once you're airborne, you're always airborne lol my motto... 14 years and i've spent 10 in airborne
(6)
Comment
(0)
SPC(P) Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
SPC(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
That is quite a while to be jumping lol. And i've heard the horror stories of Fort Bragg from my NCO's on how they've been trapped there for years. Aside from that, Airborne is brotherhood and its definitely something I'd like to be apart of. I don't want to be a leg anymore, AATW.
(2)
Reply
(0)
CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
>1 y
SSG (Join to see) Congratulations! Airborne! Love what you do and it is FUN!!
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG Section Ncoic
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
CSM Charles Hayden absolutely CSM! You have to love what you do, not just as a job or way to make a living but you are apart of something bigger than yourself! It's never an "I" in ARMY...
(2)
Reply
(0)
1SG Harold Piet
1SG Harold Piet
>1 y
SPC(P) (Join to see) - I did 10 years at Bragg jumping, went to Alaska and Jumped for two more, Airborne all the Way.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Wayne Wood
5
5
0
About 1250’
(5)
Comment
(0)
1px xxx
Suspended Profile
>1 y
if you are afraid of heights, I hear the Rangers jump from 600'. Air Field seizures are all the rage.
Sgt Wayne Wood
Sgt Wayne Wood
>1 y
LTC Charles Blake Rangers can’t count above triple digits...

Shall we discuss the Chokin’ Chickens as well?
(0)
Reply
(0)
1px xxx
Suspended Profile
>1 y
Sgt Wayne Wood - you know, Rangers are a lot like Marines... they are just still allowed to jump in mass formations. just sayin'...
Sgt Wayne Wood
Sgt Wayne Wood
>1 y
Interesting to make that comparison... Rangers look GOOD when stacked up against regular dog-faces (a slovenly crew, it’s true)

Marines look good all by themselves... and FWIW, Marines that jump do so in small teams
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close