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I'm in the 101st now. I'm actually in a CAV unit as a grunt and we fast rope more than any other forscom unit on Campbell. Is flying in a hot DZ more dangerous than dropping in?
Posted in these groups: 
11B1V: Airborne Ranger
Air Assault School
Airborne School
Infantry
Special Forces
11B1V: Airborne Ranger Air Assault School Airborne School Infantry Special Forces
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 50
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They aren't really comparable. There isn't a situation where you would do both. You would never use rappelling from a helicopter in almost any situation. You would only fast rope a small element, and usually only when you are putting a small element on a very specific location like a building, only when the risk of fast roping outweighs the issue of landing a helicopter in an LZ further away for an air assault.
On the other hand, jumping is inherently dangerous. You're one minor mistake from becoming a lawn dart, or a towed jumper. Jumping is useful for inserting small teams a distance from the target, or for inserting an overwhelming force onto an airfield and opening it for follow on forces. The airborne can also be inserted deeper into hostile territory than air assault. It's just different tools for different missions. In airborne units I've worked in we practiced both skill sets.
On the other hand, jumping is inherently dangerous. You're one minor mistake from becoming a lawn dart, or a towed jumper. Jumping is useful for inserting small teams a distance from the target, or for inserting an overwhelming force onto an airfield and opening it for follow on forces. The airborne can also be inserted deeper into hostile territory than air assault. It's just different tools for different missions. In airborne units I've worked in we practiced both skill sets.
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SSG (Join to see)
I'm in a Recon unit so we fast rope in a single 8 man team and stay for 72+ hrs. This maybe 3 clicks away but it is still forward of your furthest element. So as you would drop from 800ft in the dark hopefully. It would cause not much noise but you would pop in a radar if they haven't been destroyed. Fast roping or dismounting a helicopter may not pop you up on a radar if your low enough but the bird will have to hover or land to let you egress. So this is where I draw the line and ask for opinions.
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Those in Airborne status receive a $150 extra a month for HAZARDOUS DUTY. Airassault a big fat $0. Guess why?
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SPC Erich Guenther
MSG Dan Castaneda - Repeatedly fail the course as some do on Fort Campbell until the 1SG gets tired of sending them or their tour ends (they should get booted from the Army but I have my doubts all of them do).......I have no idea what motivates people to deliberately fail an Army course.
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MSG Dan Castaneda
SPC Erich Guenther - A lack of motivation. A Soldier that says they do not want a badge should be booted.
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SGT Warren Crutcher
MSG Dan Castaneda - Just like Specialists that try and get out of Promotion Boards. I never understood that either.
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I don't think you get hazardous duty pay for being air assault, and air assault qualification is not a requirement for someone to participate in an air assault mission. However, with airborne you get extra pay, and being airborne qualified is a requirement to conduct airborne jumps. These are in place because of the inherent dangers.
Ok, so obviously I am biased too, but to the person who said they prefer helos over fixed wing: Paratroopers jump out of helos too. My last 3 jumps were helo airborne jumps (two Chinooks and one Blackhawk).
Ok, so obviously I am biased too, but to the person who said they prefer helos over fixed wing: Paratroopers jump out of helos too. My last 3 jumps were helo airborne jumps (two Chinooks and one Blackhawk).
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CW3 (Join to see)
SSG Robert Webster - Hold on a sec, you got an "Authorization to Wear" a maroon beret? I want one! They must not give those out in SOF units. More like a consolation prize for not getting to wear a green one... In any case, you clearly know your stuff. The only extra training I did for jumping out of airborne school was additonal training in jumping helos, and learning how to jump MC-6 (steerable/maneuverable canopy).
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SSG Robert Webster
CW3 (Join to see) - LOL.
Consolation prize, why not. Though I think the look on my 1SG and Company Commander's faces was quite interesting when I explained to them why I received a letter from LTG(R) William P Yarborough (through the mail) and how I met him. One of these days I will need to scan it, and tell the story behind it.
Consolation prize, why not. Though I think the look on my 1SG and Company Commander's faces was quite interesting when I explained to them why I received a letter from LTG(R) William P Yarborough (through the mail) and how I met him. One of these days I will need to scan it, and tell the story behind it.
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CW3 (Join to see)
CSM Scott Stewart - I would argue that when there is a malfunction with parachute equipment, you are *much* more likely to die. Not to mention the numerous paratroopers that have suffered long-term injuries due to years of hard landings on the DZ.
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SSG Johnson, that is a great question and I am sure opinions are like body parts we all have lots. Now for my opinion; I did some fast rope, I did some rappel and did a bunch of jumping, my quick answer is they are all dangerous but fulfill very different needs. I have seen guys hurt on all the above. Get as much training as possible and train as much as possible because as you well know when some jackass is trying to kill you is not the time to learn a little.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
SSG Johnson the quick answer is in comparison to say a school teacher no it is dangerous work, however, the USA needs men who will step up to the plate and be there when called. At the end of the day most of the populace can't imagine doing the things you do for a job. It takes a special person to put on the uniform and answer the call
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I'm not Airborne qualified but if I had to guess I would say ASSLT is safer.
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Airborne is definitely more dangerous but I also believe if you are flying around in twenty year old Army helicopter its a whole new element of danger.
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CSM Charles Hayden
A friend, helicopter repairman, hated to fly in those Damn things! Henknew of the dangers inherent with so many moving parts! ?22? each U-joints in the drive train to the tail rotor?
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CW3 (Join to see)
CPT Wright, to caveat on your comment on the age of the aircraft, you’re a little short on the age. I’m a Blackhawk pilot at NTC and one of our aircraft was manufactured in June of 1984!
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Both are dangerous. I'm Air Assault, so my bias (obviously) leans towards helicopters over fixed-wing aircraft. That being said, the risk really depends on the mission, LZ/DZ, terrain, experience, and so on and so forth. Accidents occur with both techniques. In 1993, the dust in Mogadishu was so bad under the prop-wash that the pilots could not see that the fast rope was not on the ground. Soldiers just slipped right off the end of the rope resulting in a death. Airborne, as has already been noted, presents the possibility of separating and entire unit immediately upon reaching an objective. Conduct properties assessments and take risk reduction measures to mitigate loss of time or personell. AIR ASSAULT!!!
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SGM (Join to see)
The ropes were on the ground in Mogadishu. Todd Blackburn failed to grab the rope on exit and fell 70 feet. He survived and lives in Florida today.
In 1995, one Ranger was killed and 21 injured in JRTC when the crew chief and rope master both failed to see that the the end of the rope was lying across the top of the trees instead of the ground.
In 1995, one Ranger was killed and 21 injured in JRTC when the crew chief and rope master both failed to see that the the end of the rope was lying across the top of the trees instead of the ground.
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MSG (Join to see)
SGT Eric Hawkins - true story, you must be airborne qualified to be an air assault instructor, any Joe can rappel of a Helo, you must earn silver wings to exit from the paratroopers' door of an aircraft.
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I broke my ankle before Airborne school so I am a leg. Inquiring-minds-want-to-know? Let's find out!
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