What are some things I can do to prepare for the Airborne course?

SPC Genika M. — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:04:53 -0500

What are some things I can do to prepare myself for the Basic Air Borne Course? Before I submit a packet I want to be physically and mentally prepared. I know I’ll have to work on my run and upper body strength.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Nov 7 at 2017 11:10 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:10:22 -0500

You got it... run & upper body... need i add mental prep? Ya gotta want it.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Nov 7 at 2017 11:10 AM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:10:29 -0500

Run, run, and run

Response by SSG Ernest Gonzales made Nov 7 at 2017 11:35 AM

SSG Ernest Gonzales — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:35:23 -0500

Push ups and running....lots of push ups and running

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Nov 7 at 2017 11:57 AM

SGT Mark Halmrast — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:57:47 -0500

Run.
You see, in an actual Airborne Op, all you have is your legs once on the ground, so they emphasize running.

If you can't run, nothing else matters.
If you can run, you'll do fine.

Oh, lastly, when you jump keep your feet and knees together and your knees bent and NEVER reach for the ground -- that's how bones snap. It's better to land without snapping bones than to land snapping bones.

Bottom line: run. Rest takes care of itself.

Airborne!

Response by MAJ David Brand made Nov 7 at 2017 12:54 PM

MAJ David Brand — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 12:54:35 -0500

It has been about 40 years since I went. It was not physically challenging then. Just go enjoy yourself!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2017 5:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 17:58:08 -0500

Pull ups too, practice being able to do 6 from a dead hang, it will pay off as you “slip away” from danger

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Nov 7 at 2017 6:53 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 18:53:37 -0500

Lots of running, feet and knees together, and its best to let the ground surprise you.

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Nov 7 at 2017 7:23 PM

SGT Aric Lier — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 19:23:01 -0500

run is right !!!and be prepared when you are ready to quit and can't make another step to run some more..... point is they will find out fast who will quit.... I had in my mind the entire time." there isn't anyone here bad enough to break me"
... story time... friday run I hear "you" fall out your not in step your a failure.... I'm looking like yes I am.... black hat comes up and clothesline the dude in front of me..... after his feet went over my head, I moved up on the guy in front and matched his every step..

Response by LTC Peter Hartman made Nov 7 at 2017 7:47 PM

LTC Peter Hartman — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 19:47:46 -0500

Run a lot. Do a lot of push ups. Also pull ups.
Be prepared to do what you are told and not let the Black Hats get to you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2017 11:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 23:53:36 -0500

It seems you're aware of what you need to work on, as far as PT goes. So do that, A LOT.

As far as mentally, assess your ability to manage fear. It's ok to have a fear of falling (aka fear of heights), as many paratroopers I've known do, including myself (those who don't, become Jumpmasters); but the other test of a paratrooper isn't the absence of fear, it's whether you can recognize your fear, then kick it in the chest as you exit the Paratroop door to bring the heat to the enemy on the ground. Taking pride in knowing that fear won't stop you from moving forward. That is a key factor of being a paratrooper, especially when the jumping is over, and ground operations begin. Gen. James A. Gavin, 82nd Airborne Division commanding general, 1944-1948 once said, "Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I’ll show you a man who will fight.”

Another quote I've gone by is from the late LTC Ronald C. Speirs, Dog Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (WW 2), "Don’t worry about getting killed because you’re already dead. Just move forward and when it’s your time, it’s your time."

Response by SGT Charles Ludwigsen made Nov 8 at 2017 11:21 AM

SGT Charles Ludwigsen — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:21:02 -0500

As has been said... RUN. Only thing to add to that is to purge the very notion of the word “quit” from your mindset. If you consider quitting, then you do not have the mindset to be Airborne. You have to make that not an option, ever! The only word you can associate with the word “quit” is the preparatory word “NEVER”.

Good on ya for volunteering. All the way!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2017 11:30 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:30:03 -0500

Buy my book "The Secret to Passing Airborne School". Will be available on paperback later this year.

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Nov 8 at 2017 11:42 AM

SFC Francisco Rosario — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:42:26 -0500

"Run Forrest Run" and of course have fun. It was the only school where i would have gone again if i was told to do so. I had a great time. But Run, I mean RUN

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2017 12:35 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 12:35:00 -0500

Run some distance, work on speed, and don't forget to do strength training. Make sure you do some exercises for strengthening your legs. Be mentally prepared for some early mornings, hitting the ground a lot, running everywhere, and being in a harness for hours sitting around waiting to get on the plane. You can do it!

Response by CPT Randy Zales made Nov 8 at 2017 6:20 PM

CPT Randy Zales — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 18:20:46 -0500

You will have morning runs and expect to run to all training and back. The only time you will not run is during blocks of instruction. You will do more push-ups at ABN school then you can imagine and then some more. I was is D Co “The Rock”, CPT Meadley’s Deadly Crew in 1987 and we were never aloud to walk in the Co AO. You had to run in and out as well as do 10 pu every time you left or came back to Co. If you can’t run 7 minute miles for 3-5 mile Mon-Fri then you are not ready. The Blackhats are unforgiving of troopers who fall out of runs for any reason. You will need to work on pull ups and plyometrics because you will be pulling lot of slips and your body will take a lot of impact/punishment during tower and jump week. Start training now and make sure you have a solid training program 5 weeks out from your report date. There are an incredible amount of training programs available. Check out the running improvement and ABN prep programs from http://mtntactical.com/. The more physically prepared you are the more focused you can be on the technical training and the more fun you will have. When you get to ABN school two very important pieces of advice. 1. Always eave the barracks on the weekend and if possible 2. Do not get stuck in a chalk with SEALS. Ha..ha! ATW!

MTN Tactical - Mission Direct

Our Task: Improve mission performance for mountain and tactical athletes and keep them safe.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2017 6:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 18:54:58 -0500

Run and on occasion run with boots on for a mile or two it will pay off. Be able to keep your chin over a pull up bar for 20 seconds, but longer is better. Other than that be able to face any fear of heights you may have trust your equipment and jump... Your going to hit the ground a lot before you jump anyways, so pay attention and do that well. Pay attention and don't get distracted by others because unlike other schools if you don't know emergency procedures you will die.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2017 8:51 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 20:51:02 -0500

Run , run and some more run, pull ups and mentally ready there is no time to rest your lunch so make sure you do not eat much or you will be spraying the road with it, get some comfortable boots, you will be running on them most of the time

Response by SSG Ken Schiffner made Nov 10 at 2017 2:52 PM

SSG Ken Schiffner — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:52:44 -0500

Of course run. Aside from that the best upper body exercises you can do in prep for airborne school are pull ups and chin ups. When your in the harness on the mock risers you have to pull yourself up and hold it. If you work on pull ups and chin ups it won't be as bad. You will however get blisters from the risers. Unless of course they've gotten soft and allow you to wear gloves by now. You can toughen your hands up swinging a sledge hammer at a big tire.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Nov 12 at 2017 8:36 AM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 08:36:48 -0500

I went thru a 3 week course in 1977, I didn't need to work on physical conditioning coming in from 2nd Anglico. Jump school was a 3 week break on the physical part. Depends on where your coming from, but run, do a ton of push-ups, run some more if your not already doing so. I wish I'd hit the push-ups , Marines didn't do much of that we did pull-ups, so I was a bit sore working different muscles.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 12:50 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 00:50:44 -0500

Airborne school is a cake walk. You need to be able to run but he pace is pretty slow. If I remember correctly it was somewhere around 8:30-9:00 mile pace. They have you do a bunch of pull ups and that’s about it. In jump week don’t hesitate just get out the door!

Response by SSG John Meadows made Nov 15 at 2017 6:33 PM

SSG John Meadows — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:33:31 -0500

Everyone also overlooks doing pull-ups. I don’t know about now but you used to have to be able to do either 4 or 6 to be able to start school

Response by PVT William McCoy made Nov 18 at 2017 4:18 PM

PVT William McCoy — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 16:18:47 -0500

How are you with tights lol

Response by PVT William McCoy made Nov 18 at 2017 4:21 PM

PVT William McCoy — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 16:21:33 -0500

Meant to say hights if your not good with them you might freeze up thought this is probably a moot point since they usually push you out the plane the first couple jumps

Response by MAJ Milan George made Dec 28 at 2017 11:43 PM

MAJ Milan George — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 23:43:25 -0500

Run, flutter kicks and pull ups.