How physically demanding is Air Assault School?

2018-08-27T17:13:16-04:00

For someone who on average scores a 300 on their PT test, should they be concerned about how physically hard air assault school is ?

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Aug 27 at 2018 5:28 PM

2018-08-27T17:28:33-04:00

300 PT scores don't grade the road march or the obstacle course. I would suggest a regimen of road marches and rope climbs to get used to these events as well.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 6:14 PM

2018-08-27T18:14:21-04:00

Yes, you should be worried. That’s not a hooah enough pt score to get through it. At least 350+ on the extended scale

Response by 1SG Timothy Trewin made Aug 27 at 2018 6:16 PM

2018-08-27T18:16:33-04:00

Not at all. If you can climb a rope, ruck 6 miles in 1 1/2 hours and 12 miles in three hours and run in ACUs/OCPs with running shoes in 18 minutes you are good.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 6:27 PM

2018-08-27T18:27:03-04:00

Slingloads is the only thing you’ll have to worry about. As long as you pay attention and practice your sequences you’ll be good to go. It’s honestly not physically challenging in my opinion and I only get like 270-280 on pt test typically so don’t sweat it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 7:16 PM

2018-08-27T19:16:49-04:00

More people fail out for phase 2 (sling load) then anything else. Learn your loads, get a solid sequence and stay focused. Get to rope climbing and rucking if you haven't already started

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 27 at 2018 8:20 PM

2018-08-27T20:20:53-04:00

As a former instructor, scoring 300 on an APFT is nice but does nothing for your endurance. Air Assault is mental, physical and endurance and in a short window. The forced marches and mental aspect is where we had most no-goes.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 8:58 PM

2018-08-27T20:58:19-04:00

If you're going to Sabalauski Air Assault School at Campbell it's not too bad honestly. I get 230-240 consistently and it wasn't all that demanding. The hardest part is staying awake and the 12 mile ruck march.

Aero-med PT is kind of a workout but it's doable as long as you hydrate and rely on your team to accomplish the task.

The school itself is more mentally demanding than it is physically. Practice sling loads and read your booklet and study guide as much as possible. The A22 Cargo Bag is what gets a lot of people dropped from Phase 2. Practice tying a Swiss seat in under 90 seconds as well and you'll be set for phase 3.

The ruck march I can't offer any other advice other than stay hydrated and bring candy or some simple carbs to snack on while rucking so you don't cramp up. My friend made it to 11.98 miles and cramped up in front of the gates to the school house, they dropped him because he could not walk anymore. This was probably because he didn't hydrate well enough prior to the march.

Any other questions and concerns feel free to ask.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 10:29 PM

2018-08-27T22:29:27-04:00

I found Air Assault physically challenging, and at the time I was easily surpassing 300 on the APFT. It was a healthy challenge.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Aug 27 at 2018 11:12 PM

2018-08-27T23:12:11-04:00

It’s better to be over prepared than under prepared. Practice rope climbing and rucking to get in better shape for the school.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 11:46 PM

2018-08-27T23:46:45-04:00

I wouldn't say Air Assault was easy, but after zero day it wasn't THAT BAD physically. The smokings were more annoying than challenging. If I were you I would be more concerned about the obstacle course and the road march. The APFT doesn't necessarily translate into those events. I would make sure you can climb a rope without relying on your arm strength. The guys who couldn't went home. I would also bear in mind that by the time you get to the 12 miler you're going to be beat up and tired. You don't want to be marginal on your ruck march showing up.

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Aug 28 at 2018 8:42 AM

2018-08-28T08:42:36-04:00

Not one bit. Air Assualt School is challenging for zero day and the 12-mile road march at the end. (...and are not afraid of heights.). If you’re scoring 300 on the APFT, study the academics and do as you’re told by the instructors, you’ll do fine in the course.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2018 8:47 PM

2018-09-16T20:47:33-04:00

As long as you’re in decent shape, can climb a rope and ruck a 12 miles in under 3 hours you’ll be fine physically. Definitely study everything they teach you and pay attention and practice on the slingloads even if you’re the last person there practicing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2018 11:54 AM

2018-09-22T11:54:41-04:00

Unless it has changed dramatically since the 1990s, Air Assault School should be physically-easy for anyone who scores 250 or higher on the APFT. Be sure to study your permanent and temporary ties for the slingload test.

Response by SGT Chester Beedle made Oct 12 at 2018 1:57 AM

2018-10-12T01:57:30-04:00

Basic obstacle course followed by a two mile run in boots that you have to finish in 18 minutes. Maybe in formation.

A few runs that are broken down into ability groups.
A 6 then a 12 mile road march with the standard weight load. 90 minutes for the 6 mile, 3 hours for the 12 mile. So again, the Army standard.
PT is pretty easy for anyone in halfway decent shape.
The hardest part for most people was climbing the rope on zero day, followed by fear of heights. After that it was remembering things like link counts and the inspection for slingloads and how big of a LZ for specific birds.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2018 7:02 PM

2018-10-17T19:02:01-04:00

Physically it’s not demanding, it is the Sling load portion that gets everyone. The instructors will stay after during phase two to go over the sling load portions, but it is up to you/SM to go to these instructors time and for those do not go usually do not pass the “Sling load” phase.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 6:27 PM

2019-03-19T18:27:56-04:00

If you want me to score it from 1-10, 1 being your average orderly room clerk with profile, and 10 being a bearded SF guy riding a horse you need to be a 7 a bit above average.