Posted on Feb 7, 2018
Is there a benefit to not doing schools such as Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault?
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E. G. Not being assigned to only combat units forever
Ranger
Ranger School
Airborne Trainee
Air Assault School
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 50
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Before we start: I am rated 100% disabled due to jump-related injuries, but as I have already stated, no regrets.
Having said that: I've read the many comments and there is merit to going and not going. My personal reasons for going Airborne were:
1) Desire to serve with the best people in the best units.
2) Desire to push myself.
3) Desire to be among the best (the attrition rate in my class was something else - it was Summer we were overloaded with ROTC cadets, newly minted LTs from ROTC and West Point as well as we poor privates just trying to get to our units and other branches - so the Blackhats had to fail a third on the PT test on the first day - I felt accomplishment just to get to START the school, much less get my wings three weeks later).
4) Desire to get the best possible training to not only be a better soldier but to survive in combat.
As a paratrooper in the 82nd Abn Division in the 1980s we got to do training (even as an artilleryman) that troops in other units only dreamed of and are often disappointed they don't get. The bottom line is we are all soldiers in the Army, just as every Marine is a rifleman. My favorite commander in the 82nd was MG James Lindsay. He used to be fond of saying, "In the 82nd we have eighteen hours to be 'wheels up' to anywhere in the world ready to fight when we get there. Eighteen hours isn't a lot of time, you have no time to get faster, smarter, better. You go with what you got!"
He was right. So we prepared for every contingency possible. At any given time when I was in the Division (as we called it) might have a battalion in Alaska doing Arctic Survival Training, in Panama doing Jungle Warfare School, or in Europe or Korea training with Allies. Tough? Yes. But when the kimshi hit the fan, I knew my guys were as ready as they could be and as two (or even three) time volunteers I could count on them.
I said, I had no regrets. Well, I have one - that my parachute accident kept me from going further to Ranger, or even SF.
At least I don't have to tell my kids or grandkids I spent my time in the Army (as Patton said), "Shoveling sh-t in Louisiana." As necessary and important as that job may be, I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to do it as my PMOS.
Having said that: I've read the many comments and there is merit to going and not going. My personal reasons for going Airborne were:
1) Desire to serve with the best people in the best units.
2) Desire to push myself.
3) Desire to be among the best (the attrition rate in my class was something else - it was Summer we were overloaded with ROTC cadets, newly minted LTs from ROTC and West Point as well as we poor privates just trying to get to our units and other branches - so the Blackhats had to fail a third on the PT test on the first day - I felt accomplishment just to get to START the school, much less get my wings three weeks later).
4) Desire to get the best possible training to not only be a better soldier but to survive in combat.
As a paratrooper in the 82nd Abn Division in the 1980s we got to do training (even as an artilleryman) that troops in other units only dreamed of and are often disappointed they don't get. The bottom line is we are all soldiers in the Army, just as every Marine is a rifleman. My favorite commander in the 82nd was MG James Lindsay. He used to be fond of saying, "In the 82nd we have eighteen hours to be 'wheels up' to anywhere in the world ready to fight when we get there. Eighteen hours isn't a lot of time, you have no time to get faster, smarter, better. You go with what you got!"
He was right. So we prepared for every contingency possible. At any given time when I was in the Division (as we called it) might have a battalion in Alaska doing Arctic Survival Training, in Panama doing Jungle Warfare School, or in Europe or Korea training with Allies. Tough? Yes. But when the kimshi hit the fan, I knew my guys were as ready as they could be and as two (or even three) time volunteers I could count on them.
I said, I had no regrets. Well, I have one - that my parachute accident kept me from going further to Ranger, or even SF.
At least I don't have to tell my kids or grandkids I spent my time in the Army (as Patton said), "Shoveling sh-t in Louisiana." As necessary and important as that job may be, I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to do it as my PMOS.
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Well, for one thing not doing the schools increases the likelihood that you'll retire and not be in bone grinding pain every day post retirement.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Meh. From Privates To Generals, from the Army Service Ribbon to the Silver Star, none of our ranks, patches, medals, or evaluations will jump off the walls or hug us or tell us they love us after we retire. It all ends up being paperwork in a folder, or mementos on a wall. Ultimately it's the lives we lead, the families we love and the people we interact with that matter. Once we retire, all of our medals and rank insignia, plus $5, will get us a nice Venti White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks.
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Not really. The experiences are invaluable, the benefits to your career of innumerable, and the skills that you gain from each of those schools are incredible. You might get a little beat up though. I guess the only upside is you might not feel so sore when you get older... Keyword being might. I never got to attend any of those schools and I still feel like I'm 70 years old way before I should.
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I'm going this Tuesday to enlist. 15T is my MOS. I've always admired those that wear the patch as bad ass dude's. Everyone is telling me to get AB school in my contract.
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Nope! Go and get it, if you can!! Even if your only benefit is the respect of your peers and subordinates, it is worth it. You devote your self for a week or two and gain a new mission set. (AASLT- 10 days)
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Airborne training was a highlight of my time in the service. It was an extension of my growth as a person that started in boot camp, continued in AIT, and honed at Ft. Benning. I developed confidence in myself and my capabilities with the training that made me more of an asset than a liability. Not doing the various advanced schools just degrades the military as a whole. There is no benefit I see with that.
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If you are not Combat Arms Or direct Combat support. Doing any of these Schools for Point's is Dumb.
If you are in units that do Air assault operations go to the school. You must think hard On Ranger school. It is a true suck fest. It is more than Phyicaliy draining it is Hard to think at times and you you want to quit often. Then there are the times that your body is just so screwd up you end up shiting your self. I was a Medic at 6th RTB for three years and i saw this a time or two every class. If this happend to you ,you are not the only one. If you do go it my happen to you, keep your head on and do your best. if you do not make the grade the first time. Doing you best will help you get recycled not droped or back to sthe start.
If you are in units that do Air assault operations go to the school. You must think hard On Ranger school. It is a true suck fest. It is more than Phyicaliy draining it is Hard to think at times and you you want to quit often. Then there are the times that your body is just so screwd up you end up shiting your self. I was a Medic at 6th RTB for three years and i saw this a time or two every class. If this happend to you ,you are not the only one. If you do go it my happen to you, keep your head on and do your best. if you do not make the grade the first time. Doing you best will help you get recycled not droped or back to sthe start.
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