What are the requirements to go to Air Assault school?

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:24:11 -0400

I have the choice of attending either airborne or air assault school. While I make up my mind (leaning towards airborne... I know less applicable but sounds like too much fun. Plus I can get airborne t shirts and shot glasses) I was wondering if air assault has any requirements such as airborne I should knock out for now... Such as a specific physical or anything like that?? I'm not referring to the packing list

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 9:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:27:23 -0400

Are you asking what the requirements for Airborne or Air Assault?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 9:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:30:22 -0400

With Airborne there are things you can do to prepare yourself like ensuring your run time (4x36) is set, working on your pull-ups and ensuring you are maintaining a good APFT average on the 17-21 scale (that's what they grade on).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 9:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:30:49 -0400

Go airborne that school is so hard to get now a days. You can go to air assault at anytime. Airborne consist of three weeks, first week PT/Runs, second week, air craft orientation and PLF from towers, third week is your qualification jumps.

While air assault is more rigorous and physical and mental. You began in zero day that's the day where they smoke the crap out if you then you do a PT test/ run and obstacle course those that don't make it wash out. This begins day 1 and there are three phases. Phase 1 aircraft orientation hand signals written test and 6 mile ruck. Phase 2 sling loads, phase 3 rappel from a helo and 12 mile ruck. Hope this helps but definitely go AIRBORNE!!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 9:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:35:04 -0400

I'm not going to recommend either to you because I am both but I was born into the Army with Airborne so I am on that side of the house. Between the two I will say that Air Assault is much more demanding because the phase (3 phases) requirements are mandatory in order to graduate. Plus there are 3 pre-requisites to attend. (1) complete a 12-mile road March within 90 days of the course (2) complete the obstacle course within 60 days and (3) take a APFT within 30 days.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 9:35 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:35:20 -0400

Awesome tips guys I appreciate it but maybe I wasn't clear, but I more meant paperwork wise what is needed. Like how airborne school requires an airborne physical test...i was wondering if there is anything else needed for airborne, or if air assault has an air assault physical that I don't know about.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 9:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:44:47 -0400

Depending on where you're considering going to AA school, check their website. If you still have questions, call or email their training room for clarification. Different schools have different SOP's, but you can't be wrong if you get your info straight from the source.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 13 at 2016 10:00 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 22:00:12 -0400

As a person who's never attended either one and never had the chance. I'd look at my career and see which one will give the biggest bang for the buck - which one will impact your career the most. If their equal, for me, if I had the chance I'd like to get paid to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 10:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 22:22:28 -0400

Be able to swing on a rope. :)

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 13 at 2016 10:35 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 22:35:20 -0400

Having attended both, I would recommend you go for Airborne if you have that opportunity, as stated below SSG Private RallyPoint Member it is harder to get these days and only offered one place. That said, Airborne (assuming you don't get hurt) is much easier than AA School.

- Airborne is doing a little PT, getting your beat up for 3 weeks, and working not to get hurt on the 5 real jumps. Follow the training they provide, and all will be OK. You will be sore, but you will be Airborne.

- Air Assault is (was?) much more physically and academically demanding. There is the obstacle course and the APFT just to get in, a 12 miler at the end, and several tests that are unforgiving... Like the sling load inspection. The tower and helicopter rappelling is fun part, but only a small part.

I have both wings, and the Airborne Wings always ride on top... but I was a Bragg guy not a 101 guy.

Good Luck!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2016 7:07 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 07:07:09 -0400

Go Airborne first. People are willing to call their Sergeant's Major by their first name to go to Airborne. You can go to Air Assault school anytime you want seeing how it's offered at six different post (Bragg, Campbell, Hood, Hawaii, Korea, Benning). Air Assault is more rigorous and mental as stated before by others in the discussion, but go to Airborne first. It'll get your foot in the door further along in your career

Response by CH (MAJ) Luke Phillips made Apr 14 at 2016 9:21 AM

CH (MAJ) Luke Phillips — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:21:46 -0400

Officers, Warrant Officers and Enlisted personnel must be in a valid airborne position or on orders to a valid airborne position.

OFFICERS: Active Army, Reserve, or National Guard in the grades of O-1 thru O-4.
WARRANT OFFICERS: Active Army, Reserve, or National Guard in the grades of W-1 thru W-3.
ENLISTED: Active Army, Reserve, or National Guard in the grades of E-1 thru E-8.
CADET on orders to a valid Airborne position upon graduation.
OTHER ARMED SERVICES:
F: Air Forces Required OR
N: Naval Forces Required OR
M: Marine Forces Required

Must be on Active Duty, in the Reserve Component, or National Guard.
Officers must be in the grades of O-1 thru O-4.
Warrant Officers must be in the grades of W-1 thru W-4.
Enlisted personnel must be in the grades of E-5 thru E-8.

ALL APPLICANTS:
Must be less than 36 years of age on the ATRRS report date. General Offiers, Field Gade Officers, Warrant Officers in grade W-3, W-4, and W-5 and enlisted personnel in pay grade of E-5 and above may be considered for a waiver of age when the examining medical officer recommends to the unit commander that such a waiver be granted. Must meet the physical qualification for parachute duty established in AR 40-501. Must weigh a minimum of 105 pounds when screened IAW AR 600-9. Male/Female must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) with a score of 180 points (60 points in each event using the 17-21 year age group scale), complete one flexed-arm hang for 20 seconds, and meet the height and weight standard IAW AR 600-9. APFT will be administered to the students on the first day of the airborne couse. Failure of the APFT constitutes a failure of the entrance exam. Students are afforded ten minutes of rest before being retested on
pushups, sit-ups, or the flexed-arm hang, and twenty minutes of rest is afforded before retaking the run event of the APFT. Soldiers who fail to meet the established standard will be out-processed from the course. MOS reclassification will occur as appropriate for initial entry Soldiers. Applicants may not attend the course in a leave, permissive TDY, or permissive jump status. USMA Cadets must complete Cadet Basic Training. ROTC cadets must be under scholarship or contracted.
Enlisted personnel must have completed Basic Combat Training, OSUT, or other service equivalent training. Commanders selecting personnel to attend the Airborne Course will refer to AR 614-110, Assignment of Airborne Officers and Processing Volunteers for Training and AR 614-200, Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management for information on airborne volunteer selection and processing. For waiver approval see Special Information.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Apr 14 at 2016 11:56 AM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 11:56:17 -0400

I'm not sure about air assault, but I know if you go Airborne you'll always be considered for Airborne slots first when orders are processed. If you're okay with this, then I'd say go for it. The Airborne community is a tight-knit group with high-standards compared to the rest of the Army. No offense to anyone, just my observation. If you ever get stuck in a leg unit, you might come across as prideful, or create a perspective of having a chip on your solider. They gave me this to hang over my desk when I got to my leg unit. Lol. I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, I feel more confident in my abilities and better prepared to face my fears. If that comes off as having a cocky attitude, so be it. :-)

Response by SSG John Jennett made Apr 14 at 2016 6:33 PM

SSG John Jennett — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 18:33:23 -0400

I would go Airborne first if you have that opportunity, because it's harder to get. You do Air Assault later and then have both sets of wings which will set you above your peers for career progression. As far as requirements to get into Air Assault School, our unit we had to pass the PT Test and our Brigade had a pre-Air Assault course you had to pass. Air Assault is very physically demanding has had a lot of people fail out on zero day because they weren't physically or mentally prepared.

Response by 1SG Timothy Trewin made Apr 14 at 2016 8:54 PM

1SG Timothy Trewin — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 20:54:30 -0400

Honestly there is not much you need in order to go Air Assault. I keep hearing that it is more difficult than Airborne which makes me wonder just how easy Airborne school really is. The biggest thing you need is to be able to climb a rope. The obstacle course, while challenging is not too bad if you are in shape (which as a Soldier you should be). That is only on Day zero (weather permitting), and after that the only physically challenging things you will have to do is a 6 mile road march in one and a half hours and a 12 miler in less than three hours. Hope that helps some.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 16 at 2016 7:13 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 19:13:43 -0400

Always go airborne, LTJG Private RallyPoint Member! Why would you want to be a leg for the rest of your life?! :)

Response by SGT Callen Pool made May 3 at 2016 10:51 AM

SGT Callen Pool — Tue, 03 May 2016 10:51:21 -0400

if you go air assault it all depends on where you go to school. fort Campbell its best to go during the spring. I went thru during the spring and the hardest part what the last 6 miles of the 12 mile ruck because it was pouring rain but at the same time the rain will cool you down. if you go airborne good luck I never got to go

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2016 10:24 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:24:14 -0500

Definitely go airborne.. I'd have to reenlist to go now.. I had the chance for air assault, but since it was a ng ran school traveling to my post, slots were limited.. The instructors only took e3 and below. But there are many air assault schools all over the place and you don't have to be on a special assignment to have it be beneficial