Jump School

NavyHoops said:
I agree training is great. Jump school would definitely help in confidence.
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Just to expand on the confidence aspect, there are many things that could help with confidence, especially for a Marine. Might I suggest Scuba Certification to the OP? Once you've completed that you walk away thinking, I can do and survive anything, because of all the training and testing you do. At least I did. Great confidence builder. Additionally it's of great use recreationally for a Marine because you're almost always near an ocean. DS was certified and also does some free diving. He's having a ball in Okinawa on the weekends.
 
Pima said:
I would also think that they don't do that because it changes their line number for promotion. At least for the AF it has always been the way NavyHoops said because they always have the top line numbers for that year group due to their DOR. If they did it the way the OP is saying than it would be very possible that USNA grads would be hundreds of numbers down the line from the get go.
~ Many colleges graduate/commission in the beginning of May, weeks before the SAs. Line number for SA grads on the day they graduate are higher because they are AD that day. ROTC grads line number/DOR is the avg date between their commission and AD date. IE my DS commissioned May 25th, reported ADAF on Sept 30th, his DOR is July 9th.
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Not true for Marines...Marines who commission PLC or NROTC have their DOR at the day they commission. Those who commission in May/June from normal college are clumped in with all of the USNA grads. The long wait for TBS for PLC and NROTC just cuts into their 2ndLt/1stLt time and means that they might show up to the fleet as "senior" 2ndLts or 1stLts (in some cases Captain for aviators). Ultimately, it doesn't mean anything.
 
I am being somewhat sarcastic about ORM and jump school...:)...I think we way overdo the ORM stuff sometimes, I’m not sure the Doolittle raid would have ever made it out of initial staff planning these days...Army Air Corps bombers flying off a Navy aircraft carrier?..are you crazy...get out of my office...

That being said, the answer will always be no if you don’t ask the question. I know it might be hard for a 2LT to “negotiate” with the Chain of Command, but maybe if your command will fund the course quota, you could offer to attend on no-cost TAD orders...different pots of money with the TAD one usually being the most scarce...
 
NavyHoops said:
Dadx4, I agree training is great. Jump school would definitely help in confidence. But, it’s also about need. In tight budget constraints, why send a brand new butter bars who doesn’t have an MOS yet, to a school that is not needed? The USMC gets very few jump
slots and the need is not there. It also costs money, the school isn’t free. The USMC will be charged for that spot on top of TAD funds.

On a side note, as mentioned by some of the the other posters, I am not convinced the USMC has changed policy on ROTC commissions being active duty on day 1. That would be a big policy change that costs the USMC a lot of $. Yes they commission active duty, but they don’t go into an active status until they report to TBS. It is why USNA and MECEP grads report first to TBS and then ROTC, OCC and PLC grads get the later dates. Be curious to hear what the MOI says after the OP speaks with them.
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Hoops, I understand. However, if an officer goes through their entire career listening to the bureaucracy and accepting what's given to them, they will fall behind, and other proactive officers will promote. Notwithstanding cost, slots, reason, etc., there is always a way. After 28 years in the Navy, I've learned that anything can be done with persistence and working the right channels. One motivated Marine can accomplish just about anything!
 
Pima said:
I am going to bring up something that nobody else has...the what if?

My DH was an AF Jump ALO, assigned to the 82nd. At Benning, another AF officer was going through the jump school at the same time, unfortunately for him he landed wrong, broke his ankle and had to have surgery (pins). Needless to say, his life went upside down within a matter of 24-48 hrs.

Thus, what if? Are those 6 jumps that get you the chance to wear jump wings worth the risk/ chance of breaking a leg or an arm and delaying your TBS?
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I think the Airborne Training is very organized, well run and staffed by many of the best people in the Army. The people at Benning take great care and strive to make sure all things are safe. My son seen some things there and at JRTC at Fort Polk. He led opposing forces against the drops. It is very dangerous. I really do wonder, if the training for most people who do it, is really worth the risk.
 
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