Is it possible for an Airborne qualified NCO but has never been to Airborne unit to be treated differently in a place like 82nd?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:19:04 -0500

Ladies and Gents of the Airborne please feel free to hit me with the hard truth.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 6:27 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:27:58 -0500

Non ABN INF do get looked at and treated differently at Bragg. I witnessed it firsthand 2003 - 2005

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 6:29 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:29:32 -0500

Sure, if you stand out as a dirt bag. If you are squared away, you will get some ribbing at first for only being a 5 jump chump but that quickly changes so no worries. Keep you knees and feet together!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 6:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:29:41 -0500

A qualified yet inexperienced paratrooper? Most definitely in my opinion. But I wouldn't know as i haven't been to an airborne unit (graduated airborne school in 2005)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 6:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:30:23 -0500

Performance demands respect. I will preface that I am neither ABN qualified nor have I ever been stationed at Bragg. However, I have competed and won at an XVIII ABN Corps competition. Anything is possible, but I would say as long as you are results oriented, professional, and competent you will be just fine. Long story short: Be, Know, Do.

Out of curiosity are you on orders?

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Dec 17 at 2015 6:34 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:34:15 -0500

I think you'll be fine, especially if you volunteer for jumps. For safety reasons don't pretend that you're more experience than you are. You might be treated differently at first, but it will wear off once the troops see you jump with them a few times.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 6:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:36:07 -0500

It is possible, yes. However, my unit tries to minimize that type of treatment. I wish you the best luck.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 6:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:40:01 -0500

Yes it is possible, there gets to a point where an NCO is expected to be a jump master. To be able to lead there soldiers by example and lead them on a jump. It can be hard for a NCO to need to fallow a NCO who is a jump master that is junior in rank to them.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Dec 17 at 2015 6:53 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:53:53 -0500

You are only a " cherry" until you make jump #6, just don't forget to turn right to avoid collision

Response by SGM Ray Whitaker made Dec 17 at 2015 7:07 PM

SGM Ray Whitaker — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:07:38 -0500

Welcome to the family first. Being Airborne is a proud badge to wear and I am positive you will enjoy every minute of your time in the 82nd.

There is a chance you will get some minor poking from your peers but don't expect much. It normally happens to those who are E4 and below. Just be a hard charging paratrooper and you will be perfectly fine. Someone else mentioned it here but make sure you learn the skill as quickly as possible. Seek out jumps when possible.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 7:12 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:12:01 -0500

Initially, perhaps. My best advice is to attend JM school as soon as you meet the requirements.

Response by SSG Timothy McCoy made Dec 17 at 2015 8:26 PM

SSG Timothy McCoy — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 20:26:53 -0500

SSG Jonathan Nwaoha,
It all depends on your MOS and the unit. I also depends on your attitude and the skills that back up those skills.
One thing that you are going to behind the power curve, as most motivated E-5 have already been to Jump Master school and are being PJs and AJs. Can you handle one of your subordinate having you ...Squat hold?
Can you now get on Permissive Jump TDY orders to back to Jump refreasher and then on to Jump Master school. If you make JM , you will have to requalify once you get to Bragg. With each unit having their own Jump SOPs and all.

Hope this Helps
Tim

Response by COL Charles Williams made Dec 17 at 2015 10:02 PM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 22:02:16 -0500

There is a Bragg Mafia, but just go and do your best, and soon you too will be part of the mafia.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 3:06 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 03:06:41 -0500

No, so long as you're on jump status while you're there and try to go to jumpmaster school.

Response by SSG Jeff Binkiewicz made Dec 18 at 2015 4:45 AM

SSG Jeff Binkiewicz — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 04:45:16 -0500

Sure you will at first be a cherry, 5 jump chump and so on, but "Charlie mike" and you will be all right. Just don't be a shit bag or a blue falcon.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 6:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 06:13:45 -0500

Just worry about being proficient at your craft...I wouldn't worry too much about "will they treat me different if I have 30 jumps" or "should I get this badge or tab to fit in" an so on. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with excelling, just don't do it to try to fit in or gain acceptance.

Response by SGT William Howell made Dec 18 at 2015 6:50 AM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 06:50:26 -0500

PVT Private RallyPoint Member Walk in and show everybody that you are the baddest Em Effer ever to be there. I would go strait to the CSM's window and stand outside on the grass with your arms crossed like "Whaaa!" That will establish your dominance immediately. After that things will run smooth.

You know I am kidding. Don't even look at the grass. Go in and be willing to learn. Should not take long to get into the swing of things.

Response by CSM Brian Vanwagner made Dec 18 at 2015 8:17 AM

CSM Brian Vanwagner — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 08:17:35 -0500

Of course it is, any Unit you walk into you become the newbie. Time and your commitment to the Unit will change that. Just like being a leader, respect for the rank is inherent but respect for the leader is earned.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 8:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 08:44:27 -0500

I arrived at the 82nd just over a year and a half ago. (Also 11B) Just came off of recruiting and was mechanized before that. Never experienced any problems nor was I treated any different. I learned everything I could as quickly as possible and fit right in. You will be fine

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 12:05 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 12:05:37 -0500

How do you feel about cherry pie?

Response by SFC Jim Mergott made Dec 18 at 2015 4:07 PM

SFC Jim Mergott — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 16:07:21 -0500

Yes

Response by SSG John Jensen made Dec 18 at 2015 4:39 PM

SSG John Jensen — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 16:39:36 -0500

do they still have 'cherry jumps' with white helmets? - after I did mine (which due to fun jumps over the summer was actually jump #8) Div Cdr outawed cherry jumps, back in '81
two guys in my plt who were serious cherry baiters sent me out for canopy lights and riser grease, and being too broke to spend the day in the PX, hung out in supply room (Supply Sgt, a nice 'old man' (on 101st "Combat Jump" in VN, he was on the chute recovery detail on the ground)) went back to the jerks with 'canopy lights'!! they never forgave me for that!
4 yrs later the one that was still in was still calling me cherry and I outranked him by then

Response by SPC Mike Morelli made Dec 18 at 2015 8:13 PM

SPC Mike Morelli — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 20:13:07 -0500

Screwit just doit

Response by SSG John Mitchell made Dec 19 at 2015 12:35 AM

SSG John Mitchell — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 00:35:19 -0500

The worst part about chasing Jumps is getting them logged. That's on you to ensure they're in your jump log. Most fun Jumps are, or were anyway, Hollywood so they may not count towards your JM School requirments.
My Jumpmaster SSG always reiterated what they told us in Jump School. The minute you aren't apprehensive to step out that door is the time you stop jumping because that is when you get hurt/killed or God forbid someone else does.
Have fun at Bragg. I know I did. As long as you are squared away, don't try to make too many changes right off the bat and take care of your Troops first, you'll be ok. As far as any Ribbing, you might get some from your fellow NCOs but the Troops won't say much. At least to your face. You know how Soldiers are.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2015 12:37 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 00:37:24 -0500

It's all about the brotherhood. The "been there, done that" lifestyle. It's like no other unit you could ever be part of. Most guys will agree that it's almost as if your career hasn't started until you are in an airborne unit. Being a paratrooper, rather than just qualified. Don't twist my words but the FEELING is similar to what bat guys feel toward just ranger qualified individuals not actually serving in a ranger BN-- I would imagine.

Response by SSG Brian Kresge made Dec 19 at 2015 10:05 AM

SSG Brian Kresge — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 10:05:25 -0500

I had an Airborne contract when I joined 22 years ago. Got orders for Fort Campbell after Airborne School. Two years later, got orders for 1/501 in Alaska, and was a E-4 five-jump chump with two years between Airborne school and being on jump status for reals. Fortunately, I had better experience in various infantry roles than many of my E-4 peers with more jumps, so the "cherry" status faded immediately after my 6th jump. 67 jumps later (Guard LRSD, too, for a little while), you forget that you were ever a leg.

And you'll always be that much more awesome than the quasi-leg who *NEVER* is on jump status after Airborne School.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Dec 21 at 2015 10:35 AM

SFC Thomas Howes — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 10:35:15 -0500

Well when I was in and we would get NCO's that just came to us but have been qualified for sometime get treated like any other new trooper just out of jump school same with the officers we called them 5 jump chumps because just because they had wings but not the experience.

Response by MAJ Glenn Bergeron made Dec 22 at 2015 10:02 AM

MAJ Glenn Bergeron — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 10:02:07 -0500

You'll always be treated differently b/c you're the 'new guy'. It happened to me and most everyone in their first airborne assignment. Professional competence commensurate with your rank, MOS, and position go a long way. An airborne operation is just the way to get to the field of battle where you prove your worth. As others have said though, JM school is a leader norm and expectation in Division. You'll do great and 'welcome' to the Falcon Brigade (I was in 1-325 '89-'93 as a 2LT/1LT). All The Way! Let's Go!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 9:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 09:13:27 -0500

Yes, I'm airborne and JM qualified. Yet have several army buddies who came from 82nd, 101st, 25th and ranger bat. Bottom line, if you come from any other unit you will in fact be treated a bit differently. Depending on your rank will simply change how often and how harsh the "hazing" will be. This is an opinion based question and answer of course

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 9:25 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 09:25:31 -0500

I have 18 years on jump status, 8 of those years in the 82nd. There are a lot of NCOs who go to jump school and get assigned to the 82nd. Nobody s going to care about how many jumps you have....those will come in time. They will care about your performance once you get there.

Response by SFC Jeffrey Couch made Dec 23 at 2015 9:34 AM

SFC Jeffrey Couch — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 09:34:24 -0500

As you know how people react they probably will show indifference but I would recommend strongly to attend JM school as soon as it presents itself I hope this give a little insite

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 5:47 PM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:47:41 -0500

You will be teased about it at first. I arrived to the 82nd non-airborne as a NCO. I got teased alot, but through my leadership skills I earned the respect of my seniors, peers, and subordinates. I went to jump school and started jumping with those guys like I had been airborne for years. Being teased is just part of becoming family. You will be good brother. ALL THE WAY AIRBORNE

Response by SGM John Gibeau made Dec 24 at 2015 5:01 AM

SGM John Gibeau — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 05:01:54 -0500

I am going to say it will TOTALLY depend on how you approach them. Stay squared away, don't be afraid to learn the ropes from your own men, don't start throwing your weight around on day one, and I doubt you will hear many snickers of "Check out the Cherry." (Though you will, rest assured) take it in stride, laugh it off, and after jump number six, it won't apply, and you can enfold yourself into the finest comraderie known in the military.

Response by SFC John La Voie made Dec 24 at 2015 10:08 AM

SFC John La Voie — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 10:08:34 -0500

Get past your Cherry Blast, learn Bragg and you will be fine - you will get some jabs from you peers, but they will be just that, jabs, if you are squared away.

Response by SPC Rory J. Mattheisen made Dec 26 at 2015 3:48 AM

SPC Rory J. Mattheisen — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 03:48:20 -0500

Its probable.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2017 1:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 May 2017 13:46:30 -0400

I've been on jump status majority of my career and this my first assignment in Division, and honestly nobody cares, as long as, you stay physically fit and current. You'll get plenty opportunities to rack up high performance jumps trust. Just do your job with 100% effort and don't be a crybaby regardless if you don't agree with what's going on. You know your strengths and weaknesses, so only you know your capabilities. Be a good Leader to your soldiers, you know the basics, and you'll do fine! Stay in your lane, and do your best!

Response by SSG Timothy McCoy made May 15 at 2017 10:23 AM

SSG Timothy McCoy — Mon, 15 May 2017 10:23:21 -0400

Let me be one of the first to "Poke that Toad" and call you a CHERRY. Now Cherry, sett down over here and listen up to a couple of points to consider.
1.) Gravity, she is a bitch. Sir Isaac Newton ain't gotz nothing on you. You are the apple.
2.) Get all the jumps you can get. Different units, Sat. Fun jumps, Christmas Toy Drops, St Mere SF Contract Air, Foreign Jump wings. All will give you a different experience with different JMs and Aircraft.
3.) Get a copy of the DA 1307 Ind. Jump Log and maintain it for yourself. It will not be "Official", but will keep you up with the company clerk copy.
4.) Get a copy of the DA 1306 Jump Manifest, after every jump, no matter Who or Where. These do will do two things. A) they will justify your copy of the 1307, and B) if you choose to pursue the Centurion award, you can justify your jumps.
5.) What I did after the 3rd Point of Performance, Check Canopy, pop my chest strap. That 2inches on your chest makes a larger canopy, = a softer landing?
6.) You are / or going a part of the Best Unit in the world. Be an Elitists, uphold the standards as you will be on of he best.

HtH
Tim McCoy, SSG 11B3PI, Retired. Still AIRBORNE!
Welcome home, Airborne All The Way. ( and forever)

P.S. I have a few tips on how I was an NCO in the 82nd if you want them.

Response by SFC Jeffrey Couch made May 16 at 2017 12:36 AM

SFC Jeffrey Couch — Tue, 16 May 2017 00:36:46 -0400

After 15 years of doing it all you have to do is make sure the silk opens the rest will come naturally

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 17 at 2017 6:11 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:11:05 -0400

I'd suggest trying to get a Ranger school slot as soon as you can...even before you get there if you can make it happen. That takes "5 jump chump" off the table.

Response by PVT Jim Porter made Jul 10 at 2017 11:03 AM

PVT Jim Porter — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 11:03:12 -0400

Yes. Just like any other unit it don't matter what your papers say, you gotta prove your worth. Settle into the pack. Just deal with it until you get some jumps in and it'll be fine.