How do I drop airbone?

2020-12-07T22:47:47-05:00

Hi, I have been airborne for a year now and I see it is not for me. I have always seen it wasn’t for me since I came to my duty station. I’ve talked to my 1SG and she said she can’t drop me because there is nothing physically wrong with me. Please don’t hassle me about wasting a spot. I don’t see the army as a career so I am all ears on how to drop airborne. Please do not ask why I do NOT want to be airborne anymore, I just would like to get information on how to drop it. No I will not “tuff it out” and finish the remaining 2 years. I will not stay apart of something that doesn’t make me happy, this is how people become depressed and suicidal(no I am neither).

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2020 11:00 PM

2020-12-07T23:00:31-05:00

It's a 4187 request to drop. That's the Admin way. Now, I could be wrong, but everything that I was finding online was stating that you have to be on station in Airborne status for 36 months before you can request the drop. Another way is to refuse to jump when in the plane. Again, I could be wrong. SFC Private RallyPoint Member, can you help this troop out?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2020 11:22 PM

2020-12-07T23:22:01-05:00

4187 to request to drop it. You can expect UCMJ to follow it because you agreed to perform 3 years on airborne duty. You will also lose your wings.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 12:02 AM

2020-12-08T00:02:53-05:00

I have ever seen anyone actually just request to stop their status. There is usually a reason why you would request this. Profiles are the usually reason. I wouldn't refuse to jump. But most units don't let you stay if you won't jump. The Army isn't really a place were you can just quit a unit. Your best chance is to see if you can move to another unit.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 8 at 2020 1:42 AM

2020-12-08T01:42:00-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I almost feel sorry for you. Almost. But, you signed the dotted line, you agreed to go airborne. Still, there *is* such a thing as buyer's remorse, and I would feel bad for you if you realized this wasn't for you and were expressing that sincerely. But you are not - you have a bad attitude. You agreed to perform a service, but now are asking about how to avoid fulfilling your obligation. You are asking for help, but dictating the terms of the help you receive. And then, you compound all of that by trying to play a FALSE pre-emptive mental health card.

I hate to tell you, but you need to hear it. Happiness is a choice. Airborne status (or being removed from it) does not "make" you happy. Being in the Army (or ETSing) does not "make" you happy. You conflate enjoyment with happiness, when the two are COMPLETELY separate entities. You do not enjoy being Airborne, fine. That doesn't make you unhappy. Your refusal to find the best it has to offer, to find fulfillment in what you are doing, and to enjoy the unique camaraderie that comes in an airborne unit are making you unhappy.

And even THEN, that is not how people become depressed and suicidal. Depression is a mental illness with a complex definition and causation which, frankly, I am not qualified to define (and I am willing to wager you are not, either). But depression is NOT simply unhappiness, or even SEVERE unhappiness. It is much more complex than that and (believe it or not) unhappiness isn't even really part of depression. You can actually be depressed and happy at the same time!

Depression and suicide are serious issues, and every leader worth their salt takes them very seriously. However, that does not mean you get to play the "depression" card (or the "I will become depressed and suicidal" card) just to get your way. That is DANGEROUS for both you and your peers who may be silently struggling. Do NOT be the girl who cried wolf.

I have battled with severe chronic depression for 30 years. I *have* attempted suicide, I *have* been an inpatient. With the help of therapy and medication, plus a sense of purpose and dedication, I pulled my stuff together. I had a REALLY great run for about 16 years (the first 14 years of my career, plus 2 years prior) where it affected me only nominally. Then I got blown up, and I don't know whether the concussion shook something loose or whatnot, but things started getting to me more, and I backslid. I *have* spent more time than I prefer in therapy, but I am now mostly OK, as long as I continue to take my meds twice a day, every day. Mostly. And my case is actually pretty manageable - there are others far worse off than me. So, when you try to pre-emptively claim that you might become depressed, or try to explain that not getting your way like whiny toddler is what makes people depressed, it REALLY pisses me off. Not only are you being a whiny little (expletive deleted), you are FALSELY playing a mental health card, and also creating FALSE mental health propaganda. STOP IT. There is already enough stigma around mental health and around seeking help, I refuse to allow you to create MORE stigma with your girl who cried wolf BS.

You said you won't "tuff it out?" Well, based on your displayed attitude, all I can say is "tough titties." Suck it up and try, even if only for a couple years, to actually be worthy of the title "Soldier." Right now, you appear to be failing.

(And I am sorry if this post doesn't make you happy. Tough titties.)

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Dec 8 at 2020 2:16 AM

2020-12-08T02:16:09-05:00

"No I will not “tuff it out” and finish the remaining 2 years. I will not stay apart of something that doesn’t make me happy, this is how people become depressed and suicidal(no I am neither)."

Welcome to being an adult and signing a contract to do something that you agreed to do.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 3:10 AM

2020-12-08T03:10:02-05:00

Sometimes all we can really do is finish what we started. I wish I could jump out of planes or even be on active duty right now. I joined the Reserve out of High School. There’s so many cooler things that I want to do in the military. But, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll probably have to finish my Reserve contract (4 more years) before doing any of them.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 7:40 AM

2020-12-08T07:40:30-05:00

1 I'm wondering why the Army bothered making a 17C Airborne.
2 the easiest way is to refuse to jump. You'll get UCMJ, but you'll get your way.
3 You've done it for a year, so in theory you have no less than 8 jumps left until your 3 year mark. that's not that many
4 4187

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Dec 8 at 2020 1:48 PM

2020-12-08T13:48:15-05:00

So, you basically want it to be like Burger King where you can have it your way? You can say everything you want to argue what everyone is saying, but understand you made a commitment and you have to accept the consequences if you don't fulfill that commitment. Like mentioned before, there are ways to get out of it, but there will be consequences for those decisions. You either accept the possible consequences or you just finish it out. The military isn't a place where you can demand everything be done the way you want it to be done.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Dec 8 at 2020 2:03 PM

2020-12-08T14:03:52-05:00

Once a quiter, always a quiter. I hope this attitude does not follow you in civilian life. Good luck.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 8 at 2020 6:46 PM

2020-12-08T18:46:33-05:00

You can always request to kill you status- don't expect roses nor a really good assignment after. And no you will not stay where you are, normally you will be transferred to a different post.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2020 8:29 PM

2020-12-08T20:29:44-05:00

I'm curious exactly how jumping out of planes makes you depressed?
If you mean that you don't like being in an Airborne unit, you're still going to stay in your unit. Dropping status doesn't mean the Army will automatically move you. Units aren't exactly overflowing with incoming 17Cs.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 9 at 2020 1:15 PM

2020-12-09T13:15:35-05:00

Airborne is strictly volunteer, they can’t force you to jump out of airplanes or helicopters. If you somehow had some financial gain I’d guess your paying it back. I dropped my jump status as a young E4 with 2nd Angelico in 1978, my slot by TOO was a jump slot so I was transferred to 5th BN 10th Marines promoted to E5 until my EAS. My understanding that special duty was strictly volunteer, jump status Anglico, Force Recon, this was 75-79. You want out your out. I didn’t have my balls busted, no one gave me any shit over it, I just started to have very frequent crash and burn dreams to the point of ridiculous, and I still get them occasionally 42 years later. The guys understood, there was no way I was going to counter those dreams, sometimes you know, didn’t have it early on though.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Dec 13 at 2020 12:25 AM

2020-12-13T00:25:56-05:00

If you didn't intend to have a career in the Army, what in hell did you waste taxpayer money for? I don't care if being in Airborne, or the Army, doesn't make you happy. Spoiled brat.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 13 at 2020 10:57 AM

2020-12-13T10:57:50-05:00

It appears you need to become physically disqualified or reassigned. You could go to behavioral health and see if they can help you be disqualified. You can seek reassignment to a unit without an airborne mission. Outside of those options I have agree with those who say embrace the suck.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 9 at 2021 6:18 PM

2021-12-09T18:18:53-05:00

It’s still voluntary, they can’t make you jump, but there’s always fall out.