ROTC - Airborne School

EDelahanty

10-Year Member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
1,577
Can anyone shed light on what's involved in getting into summer airborne school? I understand that acceptance is competitive and that it is physically rigorous.

How does the APFT score affect your chances?

Does an MS1 have a chance to qualify?

Do individual battalions have a quota or is selection done on a national basis for ROTC?
 
This is a questions best answered by your ROTC Battalion. At Clarkson we usually get 5-6 AB slots and a couple Air Assault slots. PT and GPA are the main criteria for deciding who goes from our Battalion, but I'm sure there are other schools that do it a little different. Sophomores get first dibs on these slots, but we have sent contracted freshmen before. I would also encourage you to look into CULP and Army internships if you are looking for something to do over the summer. If you really want to go to Airborne school you will most likely get a chance some time in your career, so look at the other opportunities that you may only get as a cadet.

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/big-plans-for-the-summer/
 
My information may be dated, but I went through airborne school as a cadet. When I showed up at the Infantry Officer Basic Course, a lot of 2LTs went to AB school after graduating from IOBC before reporting to their first duty station. The sign-up procedure was fairly easy; basically, one of the instructors asked the IOBC class: "Whoever wants to attend airborne school sign up by placing your name on this sign-up roster."

Commissioned officers get to stay at the BOQs (bachelor officers quarters) during AB school and simply show up in the morning for PT (with their cup of coffee in hand). ROTC cadets, however, had to stay in the barracks 24/7 (along with the cadre) and clean the latrines, etc. Perhaps someone who's been through it more recently can chime in, but it's NOT a big deal if you don't go as a cadet. AB school is a lot of fun, though.

Clarkson's advice about participating in programs only available as a cadet makes a lot of sense.
 
My information may be dated, but I went through airborne school as a cadet. When I showed up at the Infantry Officer Basic Course, a lot of 2LTs went to AB school after graduating from IOBC before reporting to their first duty station. The sign-up procedure was fairly easy; basically, one of the instructors asked the IOBC class: "Whoever wants to attend airborne school sign up by placing your name on this sign-up roster."

Commissioned officers get to stay at the BOQs (bachelor officers quarters) during AB school and simply show up in the morning for PT (with their cup of coffee in hand). ROTC cadets, however, had to stay in the barracks 24/7 (along with the cadre) and clean the latrines, etc. Perhaps someone who's been through it more recently can chime in, but it's NOT a big deal if you don't go as a cadet. AB school is a lot of fun, though.

Clarkson's advice about participating in programs only available as a cadet makes a lot of sense.

It is true that you could easily do Airborne after commissioning but as someone who completed Airborne school last Summer I do have a good benefit of attending it as a cadet to bring up. I found it to be a good learning experience living in the barracks with a bunch of junior enlisted. As an officer, you will rarely get those chances to be surrounded by and treated as one of them. I learned a lot about the way they think about officers and leadership in general. I doubt you will be able to be around them as "one of them" once you commission and see things from the other side. Just something to consider. :thumb:
 
Another plus about doing Airborne as a cadet. My son did Airborne last summer. This summer he is going to LDAC, as soon as he completes LDAC he is going to Ft. Bragg for CTLT with an Infantry unit in the 82nd Airborne. To do this he needed to be Airborne qualified.

At my son's school the selections for schools was based on the batallion's OML...GPA, PT, and other factors. Be number 1 and you will have many opportunities.
 
Another plus about doing Airborne as a cadet. My son did Airborne last summer. This summer he is going to LDAC, as soon as he completes LDAC he is going to Ft. Bragg for CTLT with an Infantry unit in the 82nd Airborne. To do this he needed to be Airborne qualified.

At my son's school the selections for schools was based on the batallion's OML...GPA, PT, and other factors. Be number 1 and you will have many opportunities.

The single-most, biggest plus of doing Airborne School as a cadet is -- wearing your wings when you return to campus.
 
This is a questions best answered by your ROTC Battalion. At Clarkson we usually get 5-6 AB slots and a couple Air Assault slots. PT and GPA are the main criteria for deciding who goes from our Battalion, but I'm sure there are other schools that do it a little different. Sophomores get first dibs on these slots, but we have sent contracted freshmen before. I would also encourage you to look into CULP and Army internships if you are looking for something to do over the summer. If you really want to go to Airborne school you will most likely get a chance some time in your career, so look at the other opportunities that you may only get as a cadet.

http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/big-plans-for-the-summer/
What are some opportunities/training can you get only as a cadet?
 
Back
Top