Airborne/PT

Cadet '15

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
6
I'm new here. I have been reading the forums since before I even started my application process, but I haven't seen this question before so I thought I'd ask.

What year do Army Cadets usually go to Airborne school if they are selected? I'm a new cadet and will be starting school next week. I know it is based off of rank and who is most qualified, but how does one get selected?

Also, I know that I have to pass my PFT among other thing before I receive book money/stipends. I have been weight lifting and running all summer, but my concern is that I am at sea level and my school is at about 5,000 feet, which will effect my run time. In the event that I do not pass it on the first try, when do they usually retest?

I feel prepared for it and I can pass it at sea level. The push ups and sit ups are no problem, but the run is what I am concerned about.

Thanks in advance.
 
The norm here is that MSII's (second-years) get priority when it comes for school selection- though everyone who is contracted technically is considered.

Offers are essentially based on OML rank (or some modified form of it). For us, our "modified" OML ranking system for selection is gpa (1 point for every .1 pts starting from 2.5/4), APFT score, ranger challenge, color guard, and PMS score.


The number of slots available depends on the size of your battalion and how many people sent from ur battalion passed/failed the previous year.

So basically be smart, be a PT stud, and participate and you should be good to go airborne or air assault haha.

Good luck this upcoming year bro.
 
We sent a freshman, a couple sophomores and a junior to schools this summer. GPA and PT are our criteria.
 
Do you have an advantage by being a scholarship cadet, or do you only look at performance in the different areas? And would that vary by school?
 
Yes, scholarship cadets get first priority simply because they are already contracted with the Army. The Army doesn't want to spend @$40,000 for someone to attend Airborne if they have no intention to contract.
 
Yes, scholarship cadets get first priority simply because they are already contracted with the Army. The Army doesn't want to spend @$40,000 for someone to attend Airborne if they have no intention to contract.

Understood. If the cadre knows that the cadet has every intention of contracting and has done what he can to stand out, would he stand a decent chance? Do all the spots usually get filled by scholarship cadets?
 
Can't go if you aren't contracted, so non scholarship freshmen won't go. You don't usually contract as a sophomore unless you are SMP. Potentially you could go as a non scholarship, contracted cadet before or after you attend LDAC, after your junior year.
 
3year AD

Can't go if you aren't contracted, so non scholarship freshmen won't go. You don't usually contract as a sophomore unless you are SMP. Potentially you could go as a non scholarship, contracted cadet before or after you attend LDAC, after your junior year.

Where does the 3 year AD cadet fit into this scenario? Could they go after sophomore year?
 
Where does the 3 year AD cadet fit into this scenario? Could they go after sophomore year?

If they're contracted, they can go whenever they get a slot. After sophomore year is when most go.

@Goarmymom Clarkson is, of course, correct. If your son stands out and picks up a scholarship sometime before his junior year he would be able to attend.
 
Where does the 3 year AD cadet fit into this scenario? Could they go after sophomore year?

Yes, You are contracted providing you pass your AFPT starting your sophomore year if you have a 3 year AD Scholarship. They would be able to attend Airborne or other schools the summer after their sophomore year if they are selected.

As Clarkson said GPA and PT count the most, it will dertermine your spot on the battalion OML.

At my son's school he was #1 on the list so he had his choice of schools and they just went down the list until all the slots were filled. Some cadets elect not to go if selected due to summer internships, medical or thoer conflicts in schedule so they just kept going down the list until they filled the spots.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Im pretty excited and am really looking forward to being an Army Cadet. I got my choice of school and everything just worked out perfectly as far as ROTC goes. I get to do my PFT exactly one week from today, so I'm excited.

It would be awesome to go as a freshman, but as long as I get to go at some point in time I'll be perfectly happy.
 
I'm new here. I have been reading the forums since before I even started my application process, but I haven't seen this question before so I thought I'd ask.

What year do Army Cadets usually go to Airborne school if they are selected? I'm a new cadet and will be starting school next week. I know it is based off of rank and who is most qualified, but how does one get selected?

In my Battalion we only send contracted Cadets, but make no distinction between Scholarship and Non-Scholarship Cadets. You need at least a 3.0 GPA and to score 80 points on each event of the APFT in order to be considered. Every Summer we send our top MSI. The rest of the slots are divided on about a 3 to 1 ratio with MSIIs getting 3 times the number of slots as MSIIIs.
 
Often goes by campus OML (PT, grades, leadership etc) Most common years for schools occurs after the MSII year. Sometimes you get a handful of freshmen to ABN/AA and Juniors going to various schools like CTLT/DCLT.....Seniors almost never get anything.
 
Marist - you said that you make no distinction between scholarship and non-scholarship when considering cadets for schools, but that every summer you send the top MSI. I thought only scholarship MSIs can be contracted, and therefore your non-scholarship cadets wouldn't eligible to attend - am I wrong?

Also, I am not 100% clear on this - when people say you have to be a junior to contract, do they really mean an MSIII? My son, currently in his first semester of college, is a non-scholarship MSI (didn't apply) but is academically a sophomore for all practical purposes (29 hours) due to AP credit. Therefore, he will technically be a junior during his MSII year. The folks in his battalion are telling him he doesn't need to do a 104-R until he contracts, but when he's finally eligible to contract he'll essentially be a senior. I'm confused! There was some talk of him going to LTC next summer and coming back as an MSIII/contracting. Is this the most likely scenario?

Sorry for the wall of text and my ignorance, and thanks for the help~
 
Well at my school 29 credits was still freshmen status and make sure those AP credits count for more then electives at the school or he could spend another semester or so extra depending on the difficulty of his major.

If they do count for more then electives he need to get with his instructor ASAP to A. Take dual MS1 and MSII classes this semester (pretty easy) or B. Work with them to get one of the increasingly rare LTC slots next summer. He can contract now if there is money, they are probably saying no at this point because the money is used up (perhaps only 2 yr scholarships left?). 104-R? All contract hopefuls at my school had one filled and updated every semester, not a bad idea to create one.
 
Aglahad - yes, he's one hour shy of being a sophomore, which is why I said "for all practical purposes". He will be a soph after fall semester, and a junior after spring semester. His AP credit has essentially eliminated all of his gen ed core with the exception of a computer class and a speech class.
At orientation, his PMS only said if he doesn't want to graduate in three years we'll work with him. I know my son is going to work through all of this, but I am pretty curious how it will all shake out.
 
Aglahad - yes, he's one hour shy of being a sophomore, which is why I said "for all practical purposes". He will be a soph after fall semester, and a junior after spring semester. His AP credit has essentially eliminated all of his gen ed core with the exception of a computer class and a speech class.
At orientation, his PMS only said if he doesn't want to graduate in three years we'll work with him. I know my son is going to work through all of this, but I am pretty curious how it will all shake out.

I think the bottom line is that he will need to complete MS 1 and 2 before he can contract or attend LTC which as said above is getting harder to do. How he completes the 1 and 2 MS classes will be up to the PMS and your son, take both at the same time or take 2 years to complete them. I believe that he will need 2 years of school left when he contracts as a MS3, of course I could be wrong, it can get a bit confusing.

I agree, have him meet with his advisor and fill out a 104R just to see how all his classes will shake out and how long it will take to graduate.
 
The downside of ROTC and the 104-R is you need to know your major off the get go which is tough for many freshman. Tell him to choose something he can manage but not some sort of dead end OML booster major and make a plan from there. There a lot of funky quirks and loopholes a PMS can figure out and there are always solutions to every situation. Just be proactive and see if he can do MS1/2 courses this year it is very manageable.
 
Also, I know that I have to pass my PFT among other thing before I receive book money/stipends. I have been weight lifting and running all summer, but my concern is that I am at sea level and my school is at about 5,000 feet, which will effect my run time. In the event that I do not pass it on the first try, when do they usually retest?


Thanks in advance.

There are a lot of pt tests so you will have plenty of chances to pass it.
 
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