Posted on May 5, 2014
Should Airborne School be a requirement to serve in an Airborne Unit?
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First off, I am not trying to offend anybody that is not airborne that is currently serving in an airborne unit. But doesn't it make sense that if you are in the unit, you should be airborne qualified? Some people also argue that being airborne is an obsolete skill. Just looking for some thoughts. Thanks.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 56
So this questions is a statement of complacency. Sure airborne and legs land in combat zones in the same planes these days, but that doesn't mean a mission won't come down the pipes in the future requiring our soldiers to jump in. If you have a bunch of non airborne q soldiers primarily in roles of non combat arms like supply or hr... Well they cannot jump with the battalion. Leading eventually to a non combat ready unit as they scamble to find soldiers that are airborne q in those job positions.
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In my opinion, there are MOSs that can be in an airborne unit without being airborne qualified. Some are just a waste of money.
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COL Jon Thompson
I think at the battalion level and possibly at Brigade, most slots would need to be jump qualified. At Division and Corps, definitely not all of them.
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SSG (Join to see)
You're correct sir. The only people who can get away with it is SOCOM units, and still they don't send everybody.
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SSG Nick Tramontano
COL Jon Thompson - At Ft. Bragg the 18th AB Corp. as a number of brigades: MP, ENG, SIG, FA, AV as well as a support command. Generally each BDE has a BN that is airborne.
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Absolutely. Just because Airborne operations haven't been applicable to the battlefields of the past 14 years, doesn't mean it's an obsolete proficiency. We owe it to ourselves as a force and to the American people to prepare for future battlefields as well as present ones.
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I couldnt imagine being in an airborne unit and not have jump wings, I think life would be most unpleasant. AIRBORNE, ALL THE WAY!!!
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If it were obsolete the Army would've done away with it. Having served my career in Airborne units. They are coded slots, so if you don't hold that skill and don't want to obtain it, then move on. I don't think they should be able to continue to hold the slot, they are holding up someone else's career who wants to perform the duties with the skill.
The other side is my non-Airborne soldiers are always placed on duties, so I can maximize my jumpers. But again, theyre in a 'P' slot so they are holding a slot they're not fully qualified for. Its not about how they work, the Army had said these soldiers need this skill set to perform in this unit.
Just for reference I am Air Assault, Senior Parachutist and Pathfinder qualified. For me I'm not a badge seeker, I have the skills and use them all and hold coded slots as PSG in the only MTOE FSC and only Airborne OpFor.
The other side is my non-Airborne soldiers are always placed on duties, so I can maximize my jumpers. But again, theyre in a 'P' slot so they are holding a slot they're not fully qualified for. Its not about how they work, the Army had said these soldiers need this skill set to perform in this unit.
Just for reference I am Air Assault, Senior Parachutist and Pathfinder qualified. For me I'm not a badge seeker, I have the skills and use them all and hold coded slots as PSG in the only MTOE FSC and only Airborne OpFor.
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I think non airborne personnel contribute in a big way to non airborne units but airborne units are known for taking the most high speed type missions and participating in some of the best training. You can't go to Ranger Battalion without RASP/RIP, you can't remain in SF without doing SFBCC-S, must be air assault to be in their units so why not be airborne to be in an elite unit, only makes sense
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If you are in a spot that is jump status then you should have a certain amount of time to go to airborne school. If you don't meet that deadline then find a new home.
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