How can I obtain an Air Assault School slot in the National Guard?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:54:18 -0400

I am wondering if anyone has some insight on how I can obtain a slot to go to Air Assault school? I am currently a Division lackey. Needless to say, we do not have any slots to give away. However, I wonder if there is a way to "find" and unused slot. Has anyone ever done this successfully?

Response by SSG Christopher Freeman made Apr 8 at 2014 2:18 PM

SSG Christopher Freeman — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:18:26 -0400

hmmm you could possibly contact the schools person on the installation nearest you and find what the slots are by unit. Then you just have to drug deal with one of the units to get a slot.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2014 12:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:07:18 -0400

Contact your schools person or contact the Warrior Training Center down at Benning. They just sent a team out to Ft. Hood to teach Rappel Master. They're all ARNG and they say if they can't find a course near you because they [WTC] say there are ARNG units with AASLT Obstalce Courses are there. They're course might not be up to par but WTC says they'll train wherever. If that doesn't work contact the AASLT School you want to go and they're OPS should take care of the rest

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Apr 10 at 2014 6:58 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:58:48 -0400

If you are close to Ft Campbell, KY. try walking on during day zero at the Sabalauski Air Assault School. When I went through in 2007, about 20+ students were dropped because they didn't have everything required for day zero layout. It was only about 20 items and students would show up with no MREs, gloves, running shoes, etc. Right then, the black hats would accept walk-ons to fill the slots for those who were dismissed. Here is a contact number if you have questions for the Air Assault Chief: [login to see] . I don't remember seeing National Guard and Reserves during my class but could possibly had a few who attended. We also had Air Force Airmen too. Hopes this helps.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2014 10:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:23:45 -0400

Not to sound like a smartass Sir. But "pixie dust", "unicorn blood", or some "witches brew" are your best bets. I would check with any AGR's that are in the know in your state. That's how i got mine until the course was declared non-conduct

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Apr 16 at 2014 9:21 AM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:21:21 -0400

Great suggestions about finding a slot for a school but remember that a a guardsman you will have to be on orders to go to school and that money will have to come from somewhere and that usually comes from your unit. So you will have to work both ends unit and the school

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2014 9:48 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 21:48:26 -0400

Be of good cheer. ATTRS shows me still as pending for a June 2008 AASLT Course (true story). If I keep drinking water I am confident that I will make it.

Honestly though, I have experienced the same problem you mention, and I was an Infantry PL and a Scout PL with combat time and a PT score that looked like a good bowling game and I was unable to secure an AASLT Slot. It has less to do with whether you are a lackey or a bug cruncher. Where your unit is in the ARFORGEN cycle vs. other units has more sway. When we were deploying, schools fell like raindrops. I got Pathfinder prior to mobilization (HLZ / DZ ops for remote operations) then upon return got SLC. Other units have deployed to Afghanistan and have not had the same Pathfinder Schools open up because their mission set did not dictate remote ops. There are a lot of factors that impact training opportunities but the common factor is funding. Where goeth the funds so goeth the schools. That holds true for MOS/branch courses as well as "scary schools". It took me 18 months to get into a required course for my functional area at the division level because other units all had precedence per the ARFORGEN.

Be frank about how important AASLT is to you for your personal and professional development. Note AASLT on all your OER support documents and counseling sessions. Speak with senior officers who you see as mentors and ask their guidance/wisdom.

Also, as another member noted, consider referencing the Warrior Training Center. Although based at Benning, the WTC has mobile teams that travel to different NG installations to offer AASLT and Pathfinder. Although I am based in Georgia, I traveled to Oregon for the Pathfinder Course. WTC slots are exclusive to the NG.

http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/wtc/

U.S. Army Infantry Homepage

United States Army Infantry Homepage, Fort Benning, GA

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 5 at 2014 10:06 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:06:26 -0400

Problem is funding. You may be able to "find" a spot as our esteemed colleagues point out but NGB is not going to pay for a school not required by your MOS/unit. AC school money comes out of Big Army while NG comes out of your state's NG budget - same color money, different pot. Get assigned to a unit where its a requirement and you should be all set. Best of luck in your quest, maybe they've added some new loopholes since I left.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 10:32 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:32:10 -0400

This is hard for the guard. My XO just finished air assault at bragg. Our state got very few slots but some times they are out they. Usually they give them as an award. I killed two other PLs to get Ranger. It also depends on what your state has. Infantry get the slots most of that the time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 11:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 23:42:56 -0400

Go onto ATRRS website and get a login (anyone can do this). Then enter the AASLT course catalog and view all upcoming courses. It will list them by Institution...(FT Campbell, FT Benning, etc.) but will also include MTT and National Guard courses upcoming around the Army. Find one that will suit you in time, date, place, make sure you can attend and fund your attendance, then secure a reservation in ATRRS. Bingo.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 11:51 PM

CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 23:51:46 -0400

Here is your best bet. http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/wtc/aaslt.htm

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2019 6:22 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:22:46 -0400

Why do you need an Air Assault School slot?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2019 6:09 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 18:09:11 -0400

Sir, follow-up question, were you able to make this happen? If so I’d be interested in how.
Thanks.