Posted on Jun 7, 2016
Being Non-Airborne In An Airborne Unit Isn’t A Bad Thing
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Soldiers often carry the concern that they are being assigned to or are in an airborne unit despite not being airborne qualified, and how this could impact their career.
Well, it won't negatively impact anyone’s career - unless they want it to. Being in an airborne unit, yet not being qualified, does not impact your career in any way actually. There are too many factors that limit airborne qualification. There are medical issues, such as knee problems, back problems, or not being able to pass the airborne physical for whatever reason. There’s also the modified table of equipment (MTOE) allowance; this is where soldiers are not slotted or allocated an airborne position in the unit.
Being non-airborne in an airborne unit really just means the following. When a Soldier is not in a designated airborne unit, they typically will not get a slot to attend the course. That is unless they reenlist for an airborne option that will then send them on to an airborne unit upon completion of the course.
Sometimes they may return back to the previous unit with an airborne tab, but not actively on airborne status.
The genetic makeup of the unit I was in was not airborne, but the other companies in the battalion were airborne units. We spent a lot of time supporting their airborne missions when they happened. I was assigned to the 95th Chemical Company, 6th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Engineer Brigade, 4-25 Infantry Division, located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska. Outside of being the Pacific Command asset for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) matters, we also assisted the battalion with their airborne operations, ranging from providing transportation, shaking 'chutes, recovering parachutes, and other associated equipment procedures as necessary. This may be viewed as a negative thing because the word "detail" is associated with the task, but in reality it’s not. Being on this detail actually frees up soldiers to participate in operations and not cause a personnel strain. Often, airborne units need to rotate their jumpers due to inadequate amount of personnel available to support the “jump”, thus putting their “jump pay/stats/status” in jeopardy. Think of it as taking care of other soldiers and being a battle buddy. After all, this mission is bigger than you!
From a personal career standpoint, soldiers who are in these types of units and qualify to become airborne can request their Chain-of-Command to fill a vacant slot and attend airborne school. If you are haphazardly assigned to an airborne unit, but cannot be airborne for whatever reason, you can always request to be assigned to a support unit on the installation and carry on with your career as normal. This is normally the case when you are assigned to installations like Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Drum in New York, Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, and Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
The next time you come up on assignment or request an assignment that involves an airborne qualification mandate, don’t fret about it. Unless you are abhorrently against the idea of being an airborne soldier, there is no shame in not being airborne, and equally there is no shame in not being qualified to be airborne.
Well, it won't negatively impact anyone’s career - unless they want it to. Being in an airborne unit, yet not being qualified, does not impact your career in any way actually. There are too many factors that limit airborne qualification. There are medical issues, such as knee problems, back problems, or not being able to pass the airborne physical for whatever reason. There’s also the modified table of equipment (MTOE) allowance; this is where soldiers are not slotted or allocated an airborne position in the unit.
Being non-airborne in an airborne unit really just means the following. When a Soldier is not in a designated airborne unit, they typically will not get a slot to attend the course. That is unless they reenlist for an airborne option that will then send them on to an airborne unit upon completion of the course.
Sometimes they may return back to the previous unit with an airborne tab, but not actively on airborne status.
The genetic makeup of the unit I was in was not airborne, but the other companies in the battalion were airborne units. We spent a lot of time supporting their airborne missions when they happened. I was assigned to the 95th Chemical Company, 6th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Engineer Brigade, 4-25 Infantry Division, located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska. Outside of being the Pacific Command asset for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) matters, we also assisted the battalion with their airborne operations, ranging from providing transportation, shaking 'chutes, recovering parachutes, and other associated equipment procedures as necessary. This may be viewed as a negative thing because the word "detail" is associated with the task, but in reality it’s not. Being on this detail actually frees up soldiers to participate in operations and not cause a personnel strain. Often, airborne units need to rotate their jumpers due to inadequate amount of personnel available to support the “jump”, thus putting their “jump pay/stats/status” in jeopardy. Think of it as taking care of other soldiers and being a battle buddy. After all, this mission is bigger than you!
From a personal career standpoint, soldiers who are in these types of units and qualify to become airborne can request their Chain-of-Command to fill a vacant slot and attend airborne school. If you are haphazardly assigned to an airborne unit, but cannot be airborne for whatever reason, you can always request to be assigned to a support unit on the installation and carry on with your career as normal. This is normally the case when you are assigned to installations like Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Drum in New York, Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, and Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
The next time you come up on assignment or request an assignment that involves an airborne qualification mandate, don’t fret about it. Unless you are abhorrently against the idea of being an airborne soldier, there is no shame in not being airborne, and equally there is no shame in not being qualified to be airborne.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 33
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Excellent essay, SFC Randy Purham, and it all makes perfect sense. However, were I in an airborne unit (and I was), I'd want to be airborne qualified (and I was).
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when I first got my assignment to fort bragg I was a young SSG, and I told myelf if I am going to be lead troops in an airborne environment I have to be airborne, so I got to the 82nd replacement as a leg, I was sent to my unit before going to Jump school and boy what an impact on my life that was, I was treated like a redheaded stepchild, but once I went to the training and show that I can hang I was very welcome to the unit.......... when I left the airborne and went to an non airborne unit, I found out that been in the airborne unit will get you molded for the rest of your life, and your attitude is totally different,
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CW2 (Join to see)
It does mold you and your personality to a point where you do not want to be in a leg/non airborne unit. Once you leave you have to not let yourself get big headed and think that it is the best thing since sliced bread. I have eased in the assignment I am currently at but at the same time I cannot wait to go back. I love the rush of jumping and performing duties as well.
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I will not send a SPC or SGT to a board if he is not airborne qualified in an airborne unit. You are pro oting him to lead Soldiers. How can he lead Soldiers on the DZ if he can not jump out 9f the plane with has men. Good luck finding a BN Commander that would bless off on that promotion as well. Now I have seen legs assigned to an airborne unit, but if they wanted to stay they had to attend the school.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) - Then again, Infantry has always been different in the Army. It has to be, and yet that is going away. It is a shame.
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MSG (Join to see)
SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" due to funding cuts there are non Airborne slots within 82nd (the CAB and Sustainment BDE mostly). However, if you are earmarked for an Airborne slot transistion centers wont even cut the orders unless you sign documents saying you volunteer. If you are not already Airborne qualifed you will go from your new unit.
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SSG (Join to see)
The problem with the Army is that they have the wrong mentality in the upper levels of leadership. There is no problem having NAPs ATTACHED to an airborne unit, but they sure as hell shouldn't be allowed to wear the maroon beret or even the unit patch.
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Being Airborne-qualified for 8 years, I know the positive and negative feedback you may receive from this post. But let me say this, people who jump out of Airborne are not necessarily BETTER Soldiers than NAPs or Non-Airborne Personnel's. Personally, I think the mindset we Airborne have of NAPs are that we are better. Ideally, I've been on both sides of the spectrum. On jump status at Bragg and in a Light Mech-Infantry Unit in Regular Army, and to tell you the truth, it's no difference. I would say though, being Airborne broadens your opportunities on a career standpoint. It opens up schools and assignments, you wouldn't necessarily get with being Non-Airborne qualified. Physically, it can be challenging. Over time, your body breaks down from all the forced impact of jumping out of planes and landing with no regard to bodily harm. I loved being Airborne and wearing my maroon beret, but would I make a different decision if I knew the physical headaches I'd go through now? Maybe. But to get what you want in life and your career, you have to take calculated risks. And understand what you're getting yourself into. Yeah a measly $150 a month does not become all that glamorous once you've been jumping a few years. You maybe become ridiculed by your unit or even threatened because you're the lone NAP in your unit. You've probably been threatened to either go to Airborne School or go to Drum or some other disinterested post. Constant derogatory name-calling such as: "You're a dirty, nasty LEG" and others could cause verbal or physical altercations, but honestly their no better than you. As long as you can hump your rucksack, qualify with your weapon and Soldier, bro you're A-Okay in my book. Don't let "them" force you into something you don't want. Nobody can force you to do anything that you don't want to do, regardless of rank. Worst case, they'll just reassign you and kick you out of the unit to the Needs-of-the-Army. At that point, you'll be sent to a Regular Army unit and then once those Airborne guys PCS to your unit, then you can poke fun back. So make the best decision for you!
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Let's clarify some points. If you are in a unit with an airborne tab over the unit patch BUT the unit is not on jump status, then it's not really airborne and doesn't matter if you attend the school. It's a bonus, not mandatory. HOWEVER, if you are in an airborne unit that is on jump status, then that unit is expected to conduct a combat jump if called upon. What good is a soldier in an airborne unit if the soldier cannot show up on the drop-zone to execute their war time mission. If the soldier isn't airborne qualified, then they better get to school and graduate as soon as possible. That's a unit priority. There will be command level visibility on this soldiers airborne school date. If the soldier cannot physically go to airborne school, they should not be, nor should they ever have been, in the unit. If the soldier is capable but not going to airborne school, there will be negative repercussions until they do. That's a general statement. Of course, context applies to every case. One example may be the soldier is willing and able but the command cannot send them at the moment. That's not the soldiers fault. There is a negative stigma if they are in an airborne unit but unwilling. To jump-masters, which are basically all leaders in airborne units, the soldier is a daily jump refusal and unwilling to be apart of the units mission. That's negative. That soldier cannot succeed in my unit as a result of the attitude.
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When I was in the 82D, everyone who wasn't Airborne in any of the BCTs had to sign this paper saying whether they would or wouldn't attend the next Airborne course. Those that didn't got orders out within a month.
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MSG Pat Colby
Yep. Do the Airborne deed or go somewhere else. I witnessed a couple of Jump refusals while I was in the 82D (1980-1982 A/2/504). They were gone *PooF* within a week, sent down the road to Leg-Land.
There are Airborne Units with MTOE's and TDA's that have NAP's. If the slot you are in is a "Leg position", then you better be ready for a bit of peer pressure...
There are Airborne Units with MTOE's and TDA's that have NAP's. If the slot you are in is a "Leg position", then you better be ready for a bit of peer pressure...
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My job required me to be Airborne, and I have served in the 82nd (82d? Depends on what the current CG likes). I don't necessarily like jumping from aircraft in flight, but I like that the guy next to me has another level of "volunteering" under his belt just to stand in formation with me.
Is it the be-all, end-all? Of course not. But say I'm tasked with leading a detail, and I've got two SSGs that I've never worked with. Which one will I lean on first: the one with the wings or the one without?
But I'd feel the same way if one had Air Assault wings and the other didn't. It's an indicator, not the final word.
Is it the be-all, end-all? Of course not. But say I'm tasked with leading a detail, and I've got two SSGs that I've never worked with. Which one will I lean on first: the one with the wings or the one without?
But I'd feel the same way if one had Air Assault wings and the other didn't. It's an indicator, not the final word.
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It can imact your career... You get extra pounts for the badge and Airborne advantage.
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SFC Randy Purham
I wouldn't say its a negative impact though. Missing out on some points or assignments doesn't impact your career necessarily. But, I do understand your thoughts on it.
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"The next time you come up on assignment or request an assignment that involves an airborne qualification mandate, don’t fret about it. Unless you are abhorrently against the idea of being an airborne soldier, there is no shame in not being airborne, and equally there is no shame in not being qualified to be airborne."
And " it won't negatively impact anyone’s career"
Lets set some known points to the discussion first.
There are Airborne units and "Airborne"
and there are Airborne coded slots and non airborne coded slots
If you are in an Airborne coded slot and non airborne qualified, or not volunteer status and current , YES it will effect your career..to say otherwise is disingenuous and just bad advice as well.
If your in an airborne unit in a non airborne coded slot, then it matters less...but it still matters. Like it or not, your surrounded by jump qualified SM and leaders, who are doing that deal monthly or so..Unless you have some required skill NO ONE else has you will not be considered the best person for the job...and if it comes to a you or "them" decision for an "extra" you likely will not get it.
Cry "unfair" all you want, its still reality.
And " it won't negatively impact anyone’s career"
Lets set some known points to the discussion first.
There are Airborne units and "Airborne"
and there are Airborne coded slots and non airborne coded slots
If you are in an Airborne coded slot and non airborne qualified, or not volunteer status and current , YES it will effect your career..to say otherwise is disingenuous and just bad advice as well.
If your in an airborne unit in a non airborne coded slot, then it matters less...but it still matters. Like it or not, your surrounded by jump qualified SM and leaders, who are doing that deal monthly or so..Unless you have some required skill NO ONE else has you will not be considered the best person for the job...and if it comes to a you or "them" decision for an "extra" you likely will not get it.
Cry "unfair" all you want, its still reality.
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Spending eight years on Bragg, I have seen quite a few individuals inprocess as non-airborne personnel. We were always briefed that you had to be airborne or volunteer to go upon assignment to the unit. Now some did attend, graduate and come back to the unit as airborne. Others either failed for one reason or another, or had something going on medically. End result from my experience was that everyone stayed regardless. Personally I think it is a scare tactic to get more qualified personnel but that is my opinion.
I'm not trying to be a recruiter for airborne personnel but I loved my times there and would want to gain another airborne jump buddy anytime. I was mentored to love jumping, and it molded my way to being a jumpmaster by my superiors.
I'm not trying to be a recruiter for airborne personnel but I loved my times there and would want to gain another airborne jump buddy anytime. I was mentored to love jumping, and it molded my way to being a jumpmaster by my superiors.
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CW2 (Join to see)
In regards to hurting your actual career being assigned to a airborne unit as a non airborne personnel, I dont think it will hurt your career at all. I dont think it would benefit your career either as many have succeeded without it. Do boards look at that as a negative thing?...I have no clue.
Personally for me it a part of my career that I love and have a lot of pride in. They could take away my jump pay at a unit and I would be just as happy...give the extra money to a private who needs it.
Personally for me it a part of my career that I love and have a lot of pride in. They could take away my jump pay at a unit and I would be just as happy...give the extra money to a private who needs it.
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