Posted on Aug 12, 2020
Why is there so much disdain for the 82nd Airborne Division?
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Hello 82nd Airborne Division, hope you are all doing well. Sadly something as of late has been bothering me a bit, so I have to ask. I’ve noticed a lot of unfavorable comments (hate) about this unit. Keep in mind, should I get my jump wings with just an Option 4 contract, this is the unit I wanna be in and hopefully get assigned to. But since I’ve told many veterans (both on and off of here) and some current service members of that, I’ve been getting nothing but disdain for it. Few people who I’ve talked to actually came from your guys Division and they had nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for serving in such a fine unit (arguably the FINEST, if ever). But when I talk to many others, there’s always someone talking smack saying stuff like “they’re undisciplined”, “they’ve lost their former glory”, “nothing special about a bunch of Hooah-wannabes”, “18th Corps is where careers go to die, 82nd is where even 18th Corps gave up”, or “Don’t...just don’t. You’ll regret being there and hate the rest of your career”, etc.
With all that said, I gotta ask: Why is there so much hate for the 82nd? Has the Division really lost some honor and semblance of who it really was. Everyone knows the 82nd’s history and the caliber of people who serve in it, but am I missing something here? I get there are some bad apples in a bunch, but is to a significantly noticeable amount or is ragging on the Division a new past-time?
Hopefully, you guys can give me some insight. Hope everyone is doing well.
With all that said, I gotta ask: Why is there so much hate for the 82nd? Has the Division really lost some honor and semblance of who it really was. Everyone knows the 82nd’s history and the caliber of people who serve in it, but am I missing something here? I get there are some bad apples in a bunch, but is to a significantly noticeable amount or is ragging on the Division a new past-time?
Hopefully, you guys can give me some insight. Hope everyone is doing well.
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82nd ABN
82nd ABN
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
I'm in the 82nd and found it to be a very challenging assignment. I really enjoyed it. Now I'm an officer so it's a bit different. For those that are enlisted the days of being stuck in Div for your whole career are over. It isn't something that the Div really controls. In will say a couple things. First, it has a very high operational tempo. You will be training often and at a high level. Second, your leadership will expect a lot out of you if you want to be successful. It is highly encouraged to attend ranger school and is borderline required to become a jumpmaster. A lot of people get frustrated because they don't want to do these. I honestly am going to a different unit soon but it's because the Army requires me to change units so often. I'm looking forward to a place that has a little bit slower ops tempo. But if you're young and want to prove yourself the 82nd is the perfect place for you.
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Jake Lang - I am not a fan of going straight into 75th. A lot of those that try don't make it. It is a very challenging unit and it's sink or swim. I am more of a fan of going to the line first. Line infantry units are the heart of the Army and will build you up. When you hone your skills you can decide to more on to the 75th or SF. If you are older you might be a good candidate for 75th. There is a requirement of wit and maturity. Being physically fit is also expected. Both units are good. One thing I will tell you is that everyone say something negative about units. One of the funniest things I have seen and usually holds true is that that what people say. I have heard that "my last unit was the best and my current unit is terrible." Just wait to their next move and they unit they hated will all of a suddenly become a good unit.
I would recommend going to a unit like the 82nd and then going to Ranger School ASAP. If you are excelling then you should drop a packet to go to RASP to be selected for 75th.
I would recommend going to a unit like the 82nd and then going to Ranger School ASAP. If you are excelling then you should drop a packet to go to RASP to be selected for 75th.
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Jake Lang
If I may ask sir, what are the chances of the 75th taking me with only a year or two left on my contract. My original idea was to to take a 3 year contract (a promise that both me and my fiancée agreed on), hit a conventional/line unit to help me better to adjust to excelling in military life, and eventually (when I start acing my ACFT - or getting as close as possible - along with getting my job down best as I can) send in my packet to sign up for RASP. With that said, since the 75th is spec ops, would they be willing to take me to RASP with only a year or two left on my contract? Also, how likely would my command let me go to RASP since I just got there? Thanks for the info, sir.
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Jake Lang - It is a mixed bag. You can try but if you don't make you may very well find yourself moving to Korea. It's hard to commit to the full Army experience but only on your terms. Joining isn't the issue but you have some goals that are very challenging. You could go straight to 75th and get your tab.
I would pose this question to you. What is worth more to you, your military service or fiancee? Divorce rates are really high in the military. Plus, both of you are making a decision that you have yet to know what it means. You write a check to uncle sam and he will cash it. The issue is when you are with someone they pay the price also. I have made some decisions based on my wife at the time. My now ex-wife didn't really see the life of being a spouse to an active duty infantry officer as a good option. I came back to the military to continue my career. I am not saying that you should pick one over the other but you should be very cautious when they don't have a common interest. That common interest is you. I am already weary by your question. You have to question if you can attain your goals by a commitment to someone that you are not married to yet. To me it sounds like she sees a future without the military but will apprise you with you doing 3 years. You are going to have to pick a common goal. Maybe the National Guard is a better option for you. I know one officer that his wife didn't want him to go to Ranger school because he was already gone too much. I was in shock when he was stating that his wife was determining his career. They were not on the same page. You need to make sure to iron this out before you make some long term commitments. Including if you don't make it and you end up in Korea for a couple years.
I would pose this question to you. What is worth more to you, your military service or fiancee? Divorce rates are really high in the military. Plus, both of you are making a decision that you have yet to know what it means. You write a check to uncle sam and he will cash it. The issue is when you are with someone they pay the price also. I have made some decisions based on my wife at the time. My now ex-wife didn't really see the life of being a spouse to an active duty infantry officer as a good option. I came back to the military to continue my career. I am not saying that you should pick one over the other but you should be very cautious when they don't have a common interest. That common interest is you. I am already weary by your question. You have to question if you can attain your goals by a commitment to someone that you are not married to yet. To me it sounds like she sees a future without the military but will apprise you with you doing 3 years. You are going to have to pick a common goal. Maybe the National Guard is a better option for you. I know one officer that his wife didn't want him to go to Ranger school because he was already gone too much. I was in shock when he was stating that his wife was determining his career. They were not on the same page. You need to make sure to iron this out before you make some long term commitments. Including if you don't make it and you end up in Korea for a couple years.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
Jake Lang - If you are engaged, I am not certain the infantry is a good idea as one or the other may see significant sacrifices. Coming into the Army is a huge change for both of you and she needs to be ready to be put out on an island all by herself only with other wives she does not know. Only means of communication to her family is by phone or internet and it will take them hours to get to her. Not trying to discourage you but a lack of honesty could see you suffering trying to decide which love is for you. My wife immigrated here and her first year as an Army wife was rough and I still feel bad about the first six months. She FaceTimes a lot with her family now, joined the FRG, and is so much happier. Not so certain we would have survived the first six month if she could have driven home and I was a critical care nurse that at the most spent two weeks a year in the field.
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There are haters and then there are those with cult like devotion. Just depends on you really.
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The 82nd is unlike any other unit because it doesn't know how to slow down. The optempo is extremely high. If you can survive in the 82nd you will succeed anywhere else in the Army, ANYWHERE.
Part of the high optempo is the training, you will always be training, however, while other units train, the 82nd still has to jump out of planes. Preparing men, weapons, and equipment to get thrown out of a plane takes up more time. The other reason for the optempo is the taskings, FORSCOM and Corp are also on Fort Bragg and they love to hit the easy button and send the taskings down to division. I usually have 2-3 people gone on months long taskings at any given time, regardless of what is going on with my training cycle.
The 82nd is a great unit that still does great things, 1st Brigade did 3 Immediate Reaction Force deployments in 6 months, the last one was 25 years ago.
The caliber of Paratroopers is still high, they volunteered to be there. There are still problems, but they are not usually as bad as other units.
Overall you will find a love/hate relationship with Division. People love to hate it but soon as they leave and go somewhere else they complain until they come back, and they will be back.
Part of the high optempo is the training, you will always be training, however, while other units train, the 82nd still has to jump out of planes. Preparing men, weapons, and equipment to get thrown out of a plane takes up more time. The other reason for the optempo is the taskings, FORSCOM and Corp are also on Fort Bragg and they love to hit the easy button and send the taskings down to division. I usually have 2-3 people gone on months long taskings at any given time, regardless of what is going on with my training cycle.
The 82nd is a great unit that still does great things, 1st Brigade did 3 Immediate Reaction Force deployments in 6 months, the last one was 25 years ago.
The caliber of Paratroopers is still high, they volunteered to be there. There are still problems, but they are not usually as bad as other units.
Overall you will find a love/hate relationship with Division. People love to hate it but soon as they leave and go somewhere else they complain until they come back, and they will be back.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
I have seen high optempo for light infantry and it is very hard on the soldiers and families. I have seen many divorces. Often the soldiers come back from the field sick and the rest of the family gets sick.
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