Posted on Jul 21, 2020
Is it difficult to go to Airborne School through Army ROTC?
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You have to start early and compete for those coveted slots. Usually given to Cadets over the Summer of thier MSII to III year, but each program has its own culture. Talk to your APMS/MSI about the local process and throw your hat in the ring soonest.
Airborne is much harder to get these days, try and get that if possible, but know AASLT is as good but easier to get locally once commissioned since there are numerous AASLT schools in CONUS. Usually have to go Hooah Infantry after commissioning to get a coveted ABN slot unless assigned and volunteered to serve in an ABN unit upon graduation from BOLC then its a must have in any Branch.
I have seen (Greatest COA ever) Cadets get ABN over summer MSI-IIyear, Then AASLT and Basic Camp OpT-In over summer MSII-III year, then ADV Camp and CTLT over summer MSIII-IV year which made their transition and assesions scores higher than peers and set them up for best branch choice possible. These folks also ensured they were engaged with Ranger Challenge in the Fall and did Color Guard, Drill Team Etc to max points.
Recipe-Make ROTC a high priority right behind academics and PT. Have a high GPA (3.8-4.0) from the outset. Max ACFT/APFT/OPAT (whatever the test is your being asked to do) to show physical ability to endure training. And be involved in some extra curricular focused on your assessions points list like Color Guard, Cannon Crew, Pershing Rifles, JROTC mentoring etc to prove you can multi task and have the intestinal fortitude to handle complex situations under higher levels of stress.
The above will lead to a designation as a Distinguished Military Student in your year leading up to Camp, RECONDO potential and top 10% at camp and DMG your senior year!
Airborne is much harder to get these days, try and get that if possible, but know AASLT is as good but easier to get locally once commissioned since there are numerous AASLT schools in CONUS. Usually have to go Hooah Infantry after commissioning to get a coveted ABN slot unless assigned and volunteered to serve in an ABN unit upon graduation from BOLC then its a must have in any Branch.
I have seen (Greatest COA ever) Cadets get ABN over summer MSI-IIyear, Then AASLT and Basic Camp OpT-In over summer MSII-III year, then ADV Camp and CTLT over summer MSIII-IV year which made their transition and assesions scores higher than peers and set them up for best branch choice possible. These folks also ensured they were engaged with Ranger Challenge in the Fall and did Color Guard, Drill Team Etc to max points.
Recipe-Make ROTC a high priority right behind academics and PT. Have a high GPA (3.8-4.0) from the outset. Max ACFT/APFT/OPAT (whatever the test is your being asked to do) to show physical ability to endure training. And be involved in some extra curricular focused on your assessions points list like Color Guard, Cannon Crew, Pershing Rifles, JROTC mentoring etc to prove you can multi task and have the intestinal fortitude to handle complex situations under higher levels of stress.
The above will lead to a designation as a Distinguished Military Student in your year leading up to Camp, RECONDO potential and top 10% at camp and DMG your senior year!
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There are a limited number of slots per ROTC battalion and cadets must compete for them (i.e. PT score, conduct, academics, etc.). If you are an SMP cadet drilling with a USAR or ARNG unit, you also need to check with unit chain-of-command to confirm they have no concerns (i.e. not conflicting with summertime AT, not flagged, etc.)
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Just so you get an idea, when I was in ROTC my battalion had 120 cadets. Out of 120, there was one Airborne Slot and one Air Assault slot per year.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
When I went through the ROTC program (1990-1992) Airborne and Air Assault slots were readily available to those who deserved them. Heck, we even had Ranger School slots. Side note on that: one of our MS IIIs that was selected for Ranger School was the one who died at Ranger School during the "Slide For Life" event. He was the reason no more ROTC Cadets were allowed to participate.
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