Air Assault opportunity worth missing classes???

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SAHM2526

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My DS was offered an air assault spot for summer training. But since he is an MS1 (from my understanding rare to be given this spot) he was given a slot that is scheduled during his first couple weeks of classes. This is something he really wants to do!! Just seeking advice from anyone who may have had a cadet who missed classes for air assault school or other training opportunities/or thoughts from seasoned members. Do you recommend it? Also is an MS1 experienced enough for air assault? We support all his decisions 100% and trust the guidance he is receiving from his ROTC cadre - just want to see if anyone else has ever been asked to do this.
 
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College professor here, with DS who is MS2 on a four-year AROTC scholarship. Would not recommend missing that much class, especially at that point of the term, for an optional program.

The first couple weeks set the tone for any course, and missing so many sessions results in a lot of catch-up work that may or may not get done. Missing a single course is one thing; missing them all can be painful. And while some instructors will be sympathetic of ROTC cadets (count me in this group, to a point), not all will be as understanding. They have the academic freedom to treat the absences as they see fit.

The experienced AROTC hands on SAF generally say that while programs such as Air Assault are cool and beneficial, they shouldn't take precedence over academics. Sub-par grades for a whole term won’t be cancelled out by having attended Air Assault. The former will have a broader impact than the latter.
 
DS was offered and accepted a slot that requires him to finish school about 3-4 days early. He is working with his teachers to take the finals early or whatever is needed. A couple of weeks I think would be hard if its starting school.
 
These schools are attainable after commissioning and should not conflict with academics. If your DS really wants to do air assault/ airborne or whatever it may be they can earn those chances especially if they end up at certain duty stations. If you cough at Campbell or Bragg and it sounds like air assault or airborne you will be sent.
 
SAHM2526 said:
My DS was offered an air assault spot for summer training. But since he is an MS1 (from my understanding rare to be given this spot) he was given a slot that is scheduled during his first couple weeks of classes. This is something he really wants to do!! Just seeking advice from anyone who may have had a cadet who missed classes for air assault school or other training opportunities/or thoughts from seasoned members. Do you recommend it? Also is an MS1 experienced enough for air assault? We support all his decisions 100% and trust the guidance he is receiving from his ROTC cadre - just want to see if anyone else has ever been asked to do this.
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He can go to air assault another summer or when he gradautes. At this point the #1 priority is to graduate and commission. He can go while on AD or get a NG/Reserve slot later. Slots come open all the time. I was litteraly walking down the hallway minding my own business when I was offered to put in for the slot at Fort Hood in the mid 80's.
 
Keep in mind... some professors may not even let the student miss that many classes!
 
A day or two? Sure, but talk to the professors first and be ready to give up some weekends to get caught up. Three weeks??? Nope.
 
Many colleges require you to be present during the first 2 weeks of classes. So if he missed them he might be dis-enrolled for that semester.
DS was in National Guard and enrolled in college, his unit had an odd wintertime AT so he was going to be gone the second 2 or 3 weeks of school. The school did not kick him out or fail him (they can't by law) but they made him re-schedule his classes for a mid-term class or for the next semester.

Assuming your son is a scholarship cadet, part of his requirement is to be enrolled and taking so many hours per semester.

Air Assault after your MS1 year is do-able. DS went to a military junior college and completed air assault his first summer. He was offered an airborne slot also but because he would miss the first 2 weeks of classes even the MJC dean of students would not let him attend it.

You need to check with the school academic officials.
 
TB_Rays said:
These schools are attainable after commissioning and should not conflict with academics. If your DS really wants to do air assault/ airborne or whatever it may be they can earn those chances especially if they end up at certain duty stations. If you cough at Campbell or Bragg and it sounds like air assault or airborne you will be sent.
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I agree that they should defer the Air Assault course given the facts, but the “you can always get it once commissioned” advice does not always hold up. When I visited DD at Ft Bragg there were LTs in her unit who had been waiting a long time for airborne school slots and relegated to S shop positions until they were airborne qualified. School slots ebb and flow, and at the time airborne slots were tough to come by. Sometimes anyone breathing can get them, sometimes they are limited.
Also, it will depend on where you are assigned and your branch. I’m not sure how it is now, but Ranger School for a time was so backed up that the Army was limiting the branches that could attend.
 
No.

It's major dependent but 95% of the time it's not worth it and most professors would balk at the time off. If he's a STEM guy, this would be a semester killer.

Cool badge candy but at the end of the day 99% of badge holders do not use the skill. If he goes guard/reserves the school is VERY easy to get post-commission and not impossible on AD.
 
I missed 2.5 weeks of the start of this year for air assault. It sucked, but my professors worked with me since I communicated with them. I am majoring in engineering too, so its not like I was missing some easy underwater basket weaving classes. I would only suggest doing this if you can really afford to work your butt off once you get back and are willing to take a slight GPA hit.
 
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