Will dropping Airborne status hurt my career moving forward?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:39:24 -0400

I'm currently an 11B with the 82nd. I'm reclassing to 35L, and I'm unsure whether or not I'd like to stay airborne. Besides limiting my assignment options, would it harm my career moving forward?

Response by SFC Grant Ross made Aug 24 at 2020 6:49 PM

SFC Grant Ross — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:49:50 -0400

As a very broken airborne CI guy I will tell you it will absolutely limit your assignment options. All of SOF and other “special” places minus a small few require you to jump. Don’t get me wrong there are still cool guy opportunities out there, but they’re limited. Also CI is restructuring at some point into a CID like command structure, so likely airborne will go away for most. Not sure when it’s coming or the latest news, but prior to my dropping my retirement packet it was current (10 months ago). Good luck sky God!!! If you have any questions let me know

Response by SFC Grant Ross made Aug 24 at 2020 6:50 PM

SFC Grant Ross — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:50:55 -0400

Side note if you don’t drop, I would say you’re likely a shoe in for SOF as airborne and former infantry. It’s a good place to be. I was infantry when I got recruited too.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 10:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 22:03:47 -0400

You don’t have to drop your airborne status, that’s a decision you can make in the future. If you’re placed on an Airborne AI you can choose whether or not to take it. No need to close doors before new opportunities present themselves

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2020 6:30 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 06:30:25 -0400

Yes and no. Any reduction in qualifications will always naturally limit your possibilities, but in this case, the limitations are negligible. The majority of the Army isn't airborne, yet they get promotions and great assignments still. If jumping isn't in your interest anymore, don't put yourself in a position where you will end up dreading a great future assignment, simply because you have to deal with jumping. That said, the 82D style of jumping is vastly different than some other units. There are plenty of non-airborne assignments where you will get a wealth of experience at various echelons.

In my honest professional opinion, being Airborne can actually limit our overall experience, due to sometimes getting trapped in a cycle of follow-on Airborne assignments, which are not representative of the full depth of CI. Then again, if you remain Airborne for the time being, you maintain the ability to try out both sides before making a final decision to remove yourself from one side completely.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 26 at 2020 8:06 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 08:06:55 -0400

What? No, of course not. The bulk of the Army isn't Airborne. If that was a disqualifier, no one would get promoted.

Response by 1SG Rick Seekman made Dec 31 at 2020 7:10 PM

1SG Rick Seekman — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 19:10:17 -0500

They have several airborne slots. I'd stay with the 82nd !