How likely am I to have an opportunity for Air Assault and EFMB as a NG 68W? Can these or other advanced training be built into a contract?

2020-01-27T12:58:23-05:00

I am 34 yrs old and was burned pretty hard by a NG recruiter about 15 years ago, but I got out of a RSP before BCT. I want some redemption from that and it's likely that I will have to make some career adjustments soon. My wife has applied for the job of a lifetime and will likely get it, we have a 1 year old daughter and I own a small business in a town that we would have to leave. I am a very driven individual and I will be coming in with soldiers almost half my age, it's important to me that I can quickly build in options for advancement in both the Army and civilian workforce. In my mind, AA and EFMB will give me a leg up in both. My recruiter seems like a decent guy but so far I haven't received a hard NO on anything but I haven't gotten a confident yes either. My experience tells me that I'm not going to hear anything that might deter me, it's not likely that it would but I do need to pick my best options before I sign on to any MOS and to leave my family.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 1:07 PM

2020-01-27T13:07:46-05:00

Where you are located might have some impact. I can only speak for New England region as an Army Reservist I went to Air Assault School at fort drum and I know the 101 RTI (national guard) at Camp Edwards in Borne, MA runs SLC, Air Assault, and path finder. You really have to stand out in PT and your best bet is to find a line unit, for NE the mountain units send a LOT of NG soldiers to Air Assault and Mountain warfare so your chances are good. As far as EFMB, I don’t see why your unit wouldn’t send you it can be paid for on annual training days and you can find a list of all the testing centers and dates on the AMEDD website under the schools tab. For you to go to either of these is definitely possible but you really need to prove yourself at your unit for them to spend that kind of money AA is 10 days but about 2 weeks long, EFMB can be up to 2 if you go to the familiarization week (which you absolutely should). What state are you enlisting into?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 1:09 PM

2020-01-27T13:09:11-05:00

AA will be determined if your unit/state is willing to pay for it. As for EFMB, that will be determined if it is offered somewhere and if your unit/state is willing to pay for it. AA may be worked into the contract, but EFMB will not be.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 27 at 2020 1:19 PM

2020-01-27T13:19:19-05:00

Um, the short answer is probably El Zippo on both if your in the National Guard. Probably why your Recruiter has not been all that enthusiastic at embracing either when you bring it up. It's not completely hopeless though, they have Air Assault NG units across the country, ask your Recruiter to find the one closest to you out of curiousity. Thats not to say they will pay for AA school it could mean they only accept former RA folks that have AA school already. If they do pay for AA school they are going to expect something in return like a specific enlistment term. It is true that other non-AA units do sometimes get the benefit of AA school but I would bet that is pretty rare. As for EFMB, like the EIB, that stuff does not happen in the National Guard......only the Regular Army. The reason being is it takes so much time to prepare and certify a course for EFMB or EIB. Then it takes a long time to administer it. In order for a NG unit to participate in something like that you would have to go on orders for 30-45 days Active. I don't see any state paying for that. Possibly you could get a 2-3 year transfer to Active Duty as part of your NG contract and try for both via that (get assigned to the 101st Airborne in Kentucky......your best shot at both EFMB and AA in one Active Army tour). Anyhow my two cents. Spent 2 years NG and 3 Active Duty all in Infantry........a long time ago.

Just for reference for you on the EIB which is somewhat similar to EFMB in general framework but not specifics:

1. Recent weapons qualification must be officially recorded: (1-2 weeks at a range, plus 20-40 days lead time for reservation of range and range control people and ammo supply coordination)
2. Recent PT Test for record and recorded for record: (1-2 depending on how many fail, first event).
3. 12 mile road march in less than 3 hours (1 full day, a week to prepare for it though, min).
4. Multi station hands on test: (2-3 days dry run, 1 day for record. up to 20 days to prep)

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jan 27 at 2020 1:39 PM

2020-01-27T13:39:14-05:00

Are you talking about enlisting NG or Regular Army?

NG recruiter will not guarantee anything but Basic Training and AIT (whatever MOS in your contract). After your initial entry training, everything else is up you your unit and their willingness to spend money on individual training rather than collective. You will be disappointed with what they will justifiable do: collective training.

Regular Army, in the other hand, you can have Basic Parachute School written one your contract and EFMB will come within the first few years after been in your 1st duty station; which will anywhere in the world the Army will need you.

Response by SPC David S. made Jan 27 at 2020 1:48 PM

2020-01-27T13:48:20-05:00

If you do get AA make sure you're in shape before heading off to AA. Zero day course is a solid 5 or 6 on the "WTF" meter.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 27 at 2020 5:11 PM

2020-01-27T17:11:06-05:00

In Total NO- you state has to pay for the schooling at advanced courses, AASLT, ABN, etc. If they don't slots for that then they won't send you. Training like EIB, EFMB is down on their dime when and were they want to do it.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 6:55 PM

2020-01-27T18:55:07-05:00

You mention that you want to advance, you don't need Air Assault or EFMB for that.
I assume you have a degree, that starts you at E4.
For E5, you just need to finish DLC 1 immediately, then complete BLC.
Do that and you will promote ahead of peers.
As a 68W, you will be required to complete a recert every two years, that's some online hours and a week in the classroom, don't put that off, or you will not have an MOS.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 9:08 AM

2020-01-28T09:08:04-05:00

The only way to get airborne/AA as reserve or NG is when you are enlisting, you and going to a unit that is classified as such. This does it mean there won’t be other opportunities down the road, but just that if you want it now, you’ll have to enlist into a unit that is slotted for them. This is something to do some research on with your recruiter.

EFMB is something requested at whatever unit you go to, and is not something written into a contract.

I will say that you should focus on getting accepted into the service again. Once you get back in, there are lot of ways of improving your promotion and career prospects not school or badge related that you can look into as well.

Response by SSG Dave Johnston made Aug 24 at 2020 2:39 PM

2020-08-24T14:39:25-04:00

Yon need to have a chat with a Reserve component recruiter about your joining the armed forces, you may not get all you wish for but the opportunities are a bit better in the reserves then with the National Guard; it will not tie you to which ever state you live in for school(s), and you'll have a less difficult time if/when you move from one state to another...