Would it be difficult to attend Air Assault as a member of the National Guard?

2024-01-03T21:51:33-05:00

Like what would help me secure a spot

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2024 10:03 PM

2024-01-03T22:03:24-05:00

For starters, you'd have to see if your unit would pay for it. If they're not gonna pay for it, then the next option is go active and request Air Assault. Start by talking to your Team Leader and Training NCO

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jan 4 at 2024 10:14 AM

2024-01-04T10:14:11-05:00

Is your unit Air Assault? If so, then you just compete for the school slots. Air Assault is now taught a lot of places beside Ft. Campbell, including the Guard's Warrior Training Center at Ft Benning, so seats should be easier to find. If it isn't an Air Assault unit, it would depend on if your state will fund it. Helicopters get used pretty heavily in the Army, I would think that school seats should be more available than back in my day.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 5 at 2024 1:16 PM

2024-01-05T13:16:08-05:00

1, Does your unit have a need or slot for i? . 2. Will they pay for it? 3. Could you pass it 1st time?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2024 8:48 AM

2024-01-10T08:48:09-05:00

BACKWARDS PLANNING! HOORAY!

Schools are rewards. This is how many of us leaders still think. The biggest help for you as a PFC is getting the 1SG on board with you going to Air Assault. If they are tracking that you want you to go and they believe in you, then they will send you when there is money and time for it, period.

In order to convince them, you have to convince the PSG and your team leader. They will hound the 1SG and keep on them until the training NCO submits that school's request and gets you a slot.

In order to convince them, you need to dish out a solid PT performance on drill weekends (like a 500+ ACFT score) and you need to display good character, gratitude, discipline, and motivation.

In order to get good at PT you need to work-out consistently on your own. And in order to build good character I would recommend going to church and getting saved - My Lord God guides me in all my decisions! Personally, I understand all morality (and thus quality character) through my Christian worldview. As a Christian, becoming a "good person" means first recognizing your human depravity and then being saved from that depravity. I believe that only Christ Jesus can save a person from their sins and sinful nature, and I praise him for it.

Short of religion, request assignments and goals from your section leaders and ask them to give you a monthly counseling, or at the least, a quarterly counseling. This will create the process of setting personal standards and then marking your progress towards them.

As a sidenote, I have been to a lot of schools in my time. Air Assault was the easiest. The true challenge in Air Assault is trying to graduate at the top of the class. To do so requires perfect scores on the written tests, perfect scores on the inspections, and a fast ruck time. But, that doesn't matter anyway. As a buddy of man would remind me "My wings are the same color as yours!" he would say, as he rubbed the badge on my chest. Ha!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2024 9:15 PM

2024-01-17T21:15:48-05:00

Many factors are involved in these decisions. Other posts have touched on them. Best advice is be a good soldier, do your best, develop a good reputation and ask you leadership to send you.