Will I get in trouble if I recently graduated airborne school and will be sent to my unit, but I no longer want to be airborne?

2023-04-06T21:21:58-04:00

I am deeply scared of jumping out an airplane what consequences will I face for wanting to drop airborne status?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2023 10:32 PM

2023-04-06T22:32:03-04:00

Well, you will be ending your own career. I have commanded companies in the Army. I would recommend to discharge you with a general discharge. While others are willing to fight in harms way you believe it is too frightening to do what others have done hundreds of time. If you can't get over your fear of heights I don't believe you have want it takes to deploy into a warzone. The Army isn't for everyone. Just be prepared to payback any bonuses you have. I know some of the leadership in the 173rd. I am sure they will have a similar view to mine. You need to let them know asap when you get there but the command team will decide your fate.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Apr 7 at 2023 12:53 AM

2023-04-07T00:53:23-04:00

Good Luck with that. Being afraid of something that will kill you is never stupid. I was afraid of being shot - I got over it. At least the terrifying aspects of it all. You have already qualified and your training will carry you through it as long as you practice. As for if it will end your career - that's your choice. As for myself I do not want someone with me that is unprepared to shoulder those burdens necessary to complete the missions given them.

Response by SPC Gary C. made Apr 7 at 2023 2:05 AM

2023-04-07T02:05:18-04:00

What's in your contract ? Do you have Europe in it ? The reason I asked is when I was stationed at Irwin back in the late 80's, we got in a couple Pvt's that had just graduated from airborne school and had "Needs of the Army" in their contracts, both of them served out their time at Irwin and never jumped again, well if you don't count jumping out of a deuce and a half.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 7 at 2023 8:56 AM

2023-04-07T08:56:17-04:00

I am not a psychologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.....

I think there is more going on under the surface than you are saying. It is entirely possible this is because you don't even realize it yourself (or you could just not want to discuss on an open forum). Because, taken at face value, your post makes no sense at all.

Airborne is one of the VERY few assignment that you can ONLY get by volunteering. You ASKED to go to jump school. You ASKED for an airborne assignment. After the Army gave you what you asked for, NOW you are scared of jumping out of airplanes?

There are four points in time when you could have developed this fear:
1) Before volunteering
2) After volunteering, but before jump school
3) During jump school
4) After jump school

In case #1, why the heck did you volunteer?
In #s 2 and 3, why did you COMPLETE jump school?

And for all 3, if your fear was so deep, how did you manage to complete jump school?

None of those are rational situations.

But for #4, there is no rational reason why, after having successfully completed jump school (and presumedly doing so without serious injury, as you still have your jump status), you would develop this fear AFTERWARDS.

Unless, of course, there is something else going on which is generating or intensifying this fear - or there is an entirely different fear which is using the fear of jumping as a mask.

I do not know the answers. But hopefully this will give you some things to reflect upon and find your own answers. Maybe that can help either overcome the fear or guide your path forward - at a minimum, it will help you answer the VERY tough questions coming your way if you DO decide to refuse to jump.

I wish you the best of luck as you work your way forward. But I highlynrecommend before you make any decisions, you do some serious soul-searching and figure out how you got here and where you REALLY want to go.

Bear in mind, I am not airborne, never was. I completely understand airborne ain't for everyone - including me! So there is no judgment here.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 8 at 2023 12:39 PM

2023-04-08T12:39:14-04:00

Depends on your contract- regardless of request it , they will permanently remove you "P" and send you to leg land.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Apr 9 at 2023 1:30 AM

2023-04-09T01:30:03-04:00

If you PCS to a 5P "Hazardous Parachute Duty" and somehow manage to avoid the quarterly "play-hurt" jump I can almost guarantee your 1SG is gonna start the rolling ball of caca (from the Company USR) down hill to PSG to your squad leader and you'll get your Sustained Airborne Training and be in Pax Shed gearing up for the next available jump. If you freeze, don't worry you are going out the door. If you don't get pushed, bumped, tapped or sucked out, the JM is gonna tell u 3x. If u refused the safety will move u to a bench, sit on ur hands and disembark the AC when it lands. U will (at Bragg or Vicenza) almost assuredly receive UCMJ. Depending on how sinister ur Bn Commander is, watch out. They will revoke ur Parachutist Badge & someday I'll PCS to a non-Airborne unit. If your already at ur unit I'd reach out to the Chaplain or Behavioral Health Team. They will be professional but likely seasoned Paratroopers. Keep us updated. Best of luck.

Response by SFC Luis (Coolwhip) Ochoa made Apr 11 at 2023 6:45 AM

2023-04-11T06:45:52-04:00

Drop your airborne status!

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Apr 13 at 2023 12:27 AM

2023-04-13T00:27:44-04:00

I served most of my career on jump status and I am terrified of heights. I went to Jumpmaster and earned my Master wings.
termination of airborne status is not an easy thing and you will not have an easy time doing it. But be forewarned. IF you terminate after you are manifested to jump that is considered a jump refusal and you will face UCMJ action. IF you terminate as a jump refusal in the air that is literally endangering other jumpers. At Fort Bragg in the 82d Airborne that will get very very ugly very very fast.
I would tell you that any paratrooper that says he or she is not scared up there is either a fool or lying. Give it a try. Airborne units are the best units in the Army. Airborne Troopers are the best Soldiers. All of them have one thing in common, they are all there because they volunteered twice.
IF and this is IF you decide to terminate, do it at Replacement BEFORE you get sent to your unit. It will save you, your unit and your gaining chain of command tons of grief. NOTHING will suck for a Squad Leader or Platoon sergeant more than getting a private that day one is a jump termini. Nothing will suck for you more than being that private that has terminated. When I say this believe it. NOTHING will suck for you more than being a jump refusal.
Being a paratrooper is AWESOME. Nothing that I have ever done besides becoming a father was more rewarding and it set the course for my entire life. I was, am and always will be a PARATROOPER.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2023 6:32 AM

2023-04-13T06:32:50-04:00

I would like to offer you a couple more perspectives. First, your maturity in how you communicate this will influence the decision of your leadership. You're a Soldier now, that's your life. And as you have said, you are still capable of serving your country. Communicate to your leadership that you understand and accept the responsibilities of being an Airborne Soldier, but you now realize that you have a problem in fulfilling your duties. Accepting consequences of our failures is noble, but it should always be done alongside the request for help. This is strength, not weakness. Anyone who says otherwise and strictly ascribes to the age-old motto of "come to me with solutions, not problems" has not matured very far as a leader, and may actually be full of crap.

This problem of yours is fear and you're not sure you can overcome it, but you are sure that you still want to serve. This is one of the oldest problems in all of American military service. A great Soldier by the name of David Hackworth (look him up) compared fear in himself and his men to a bottle. Every man is like a bottle, he said. Their bottle gets filled up with fear throughout their time in the military. Now, some bottles are bigger than others and can hold a little more, but everyone has a limit. If we as Soldiers ever become filled with enough fear that it exceeds what we can hold, then we breakdown. We become completely useless until we can take a knee and empty our bottles of all the fear we accumulated. However, once that happens, we are never the same again. No matter how great of a warrior we were, once we have experienced this complete filling of fear past our limit, we become like a spent cartridge. We may still be able to do our jobs to some extent, but we have lost our effectiveness. There's no more bang, it's gone. In other words, a spent cartridge. Taking Hackworth's thoughts further, I would argue that this is simply part of the human condition. We're not super heroes.

You're a private, you are not expected to have all the answers. You are expected to know your job and do your job. If you're honest about your struggle here and show the value of your character, then your leadership may find an alternate route for you other than separation or even better, work with you to overcome your fear, and support and protect you as you work through this. Some may apply pressure to try and kick you out off the bat, you won't survive this pressure without support from your leadership.

Realize this is as well, you are absolutely, guaranteed, 100% not the only Soldier who is scared out of their mind every time they jump out of a plane. You are not the first, you won't be the last. Dive into the pride of your achievements so far. You chose a selfless and courageous path to be Airborne, let alone be in the Army. This is a healthy pride as long as it doesn't lead to arrogance. And pride is a hell of a tool in facing our fears. Being stubborn is an admirable quality in Soldiers when used correctly. To that end, learn of and embrace the dark humor of Soldiers, especially Airborne Soldiers. Humor is another tool we use to deal with our lives in the military. Memorize the song Blood on the Risers and sing that to yourself on jump days. It's a song of pride sure, but it also has a dark sense of humor. There's nothing wrong with joking about fear and death. It's healthy too. Laugh at your fear, laugh at yourself. Tease yourself with your friends and joke about the craziness of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane... then jump, fall, crash into the Earth, go home, and drink a beer. Jump days can be some of the most beautiful days in your career if you let them. Hackworth shares a story in one of his books how a friend of his, the day before he retired, just wanted to jump out of a helicopter as many times as he could. They spent the whole day in a bird just jumping, up they flew and down they jumped, until their bodies were too sore to walk.

One last thing. Go talk to your Chaplain, like now. Contact them and ask to set up a meeting. Fear is connected to the human spirit. The Chaplain's job is to help keep your spirit strong. If you're unit chaplain is no-good for you, find one in another unit that is. Talking about this with the Chap may be good for you. At a minimum, the Chaplain could coach you through it. It is always a good thing to have a Chaplain aware of your problems and encouraging you through them, rooting for your success. If you learn this now as a private, you will be better equipped to teach it to your Soldiers when you become a leader and they need the same thing.

Hope this helps.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Apr 13 at 2023 12:59 PM

2023-04-13T12:59:06-04:00

There are numerous ways to master one's fears. Research the web. Speak with a mentor. Pray. Read a book.
I would be willing to bet that there are resources that can assist you with overcoming your fear IF you are willing to try.
I would also bet there are people on this forum that have experienced the same or similar problems and found a way to succeed.
Don't give up. It becomes a habit.

Response by SFC William Linnell made Apr 17 at 2023 10:53 AM

2023-04-17T10:53:14-04:00

Suck it up. Your unit paid good money to send you to school. The first jump is scary sure, but you know what to expect. Conquer whatever fear you may have, turn it into fun. In every aspect of your enlistment, you will have challenges, fears and doubts. My buddies told me it was their 2nd jump that was more scary bc you know what to expect. After more jumps you'll be craving it. Now, I didn't jump while I was in, No need for tankers to be airborne they say. I did it when I retired. I honestly wasn't scared, it was difficult with a person attached to you to squat, arch your back and jump out. So I just launched out the door and AWAY WE GO!! I loved it. Ain't nothing but a thing. Don't sweat the small sh*t. WHY? Because it's all small sh*t. Good luck, have fun and be the best you can be.

Response by SFC Dwayne Barbee made Apr 25 at 2023 11:55 AM

2023-04-25T11:55:12-04:00

You have already survived, face that fear and get through it!

Response by SFC Carlos Cruz made Apr 25 at 2023 1:35 PM

2023-04-25T13:35:51-04:00

My recommendation is simple, overcome your fear and be responsible for your own actions. Airborne!!

Response by SFC John Gilmore made Apr 25 at 2023 3:55 PM

2023-04-25T15:55:25-04:00

I spent nearly my entire career on jump status and have seen a lot of troops come and go. Nearly every one (to include myself) felt fear every time...and I am a "Master Blaster". Someone once said that courage wasn't the absence of fear, but the ability to do in spite of fear.
Now I could teach grandma to jump out of an airplane, but that wouldn't make her a paratrooper. "Paratrooper" is a state of mind, you see. It's that state of mind that allows you to go one more click when you're cold, exhausted, hungry, miserable and wet... and then another click after that. The state of mind that causes you to go further than your body thinks you can. The state of mind where absolutely NOTHING is too tough or too much to handle... and that stays with you the rest of your life. No such thing as an ex-paratrooper in my opinion. Ask (an airborne) vet who he was with, and 99 times out of 100 he won't say "I was in the Army"... he'll say "I was in the Deuce/Rangers/SF" etc. That's how life changing the experience is.
When I was at the boy's camp in W. Va there was a prominent saying that we saw over and over: "The greatest failure is the failure to try".
You're the one who will look into the mirror for (God willing) many years to come...who do you want staring back at you? Give it your best shot... at the very worst you'll know you tried.
Thus endeth the sermon.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Apr 26 at 2023 5:54 AM

2023-04-26T05:54:15-04:00

I DO Understand Where You're Coming From.
Heights TERRIFY Me; And To Jump Out A Plane?
YA Gotta Be Kidding!!
What I've NEVER Understood However, Is:
"Why Anyone Would Jump Out Of A Perfectly Good Aircraft"?...
~~ Now THAT'S Nuts! ~~

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 26 at 2023 6:44 AM

2023-04-26T06:44:51-04:00

No one can tell you how this plays out but you received sone great advice. Fear is something we all go through. In fact there is something in everyone’s life that they believed if X happened their world would collapse. The majority of people realize through action that their fear is nothing more than an emotion, emotions pass. What does not pass is the feeling of accomplishment, the opportunity to move on and live a normal happy, yet stronger life.

FEAR is but a word, and expression of what it is we don’t believe we can handle, in your case you already have.

Response by SPC Roger D. Pemberton Jr. made Apr 27 at 2023 1:39 AM

2023-04-27T01:39:56-04:00

Jumping out of a plane doesn't just happen. It certainly shouldn't happen after successfully completing the training and actually jumping from a plane. If this were the case, why did you ask for the training and how did you complete the training to include jumping from a plane? I think you need to self reflect and come up with the real reason because this one doesn't make sense. If you want help in the form of advice, start by being honest with yourself so you can be honest with those you seek help from. I once had a fleeting thought about airborne school that went as quickly as it came. It wasn't hard for me to know I had no interest in jumping out of a perfectly good plane (not that the military has such a thing). If it's going down to crash, ok, give me a chute and I'll take my chances. Otherwise I'm good waiting until it lands. You on the other hand asked for and completed training. Just plain doesn't make sense.

Response by SPC Michael Phillips made Apr 27 at 2023 3:17 AM

2023-04-27T03:17:42-04:00

When I received orders for Ranger training after AIT, I declined without any consequences. Looking back, I wouldn't say I 'regretted' my decision, but part of me sure wishes I had taken that road.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Apr 27 at 2023 11:56 AM

2023-04-27T11:56:56-04:00

When I was an ROTC cadet, we all wanted to go to jump school. We "practiced" by jumping from the window of the cadet lounge (third floor) into Dean Patton's flower patch. This practice was not condoned by the cadre. And Dean Patton, who was not, as far as I know, related to the General but certainly had his temper, was not amused. I was scared every time I jumped. I'm still not sure whether I was more afraid of the landing, or of the Dean. But damn, that jump was exciting and fun. Only you can judge how much "fun" you can tolerate, but you are in a profession that will present you with situations far more dangerous than jumping from an airplane with a parachute. Being a soldier is inherently dangerous, even in training. I'm pretty sure you can overcome the fear. If not, well, you can always become an accountant. Best of luck, young warrior. If you stay the course, you'll have some great stories to tell.

Response by MAJ Louis Giamo made Apr 28 at 2023 11:39 AM

2023-04-28T11:39:59-04:00

I had one jump refusal in my career. The soldier waited until the plane was in the air and then told the Jump Master he wasn't going to jump. JM took the soldier out of the stick, removed the parachute and all of his equipment, and turned him over to the Air Force Load Master for security. It would have been better if he'd made his intentions known before he boarded the plane.
If you get counseling and you still don't want to be airborne, then take it up your chain of command. You will be removed from airborne status and your wings will be revoked. You will then be reassigned to a non-airborne unit.

Response by MSG Tony Hughes made Apr 28 at 2023 10:47 PM

2023-04-28T22:47:26-04:00

I seen this happen in the 80s, a soldier went thru the same thing. First you VOLUNTEERED for jump school, if you were paid and enlistment bonus you may have to pay it back. Second, your gonna have to do the walk of shame over and over thru different levels of the chain of command. I assume your going to fort bragg, if your an infantry soldier you better forget about a leg unit for infantry in the 82nd. If you dropping status may can a duty change assignment. This will follow you in your records. I suggest you suck it up, after all, jumping is safe, parachute riggers are extreme pros, jump masters are highly trained and will not make you do anything unsafe

Response by Sgt Mervyn Russell made Apr 29 at 2023 6:36 AM

2023-04-29T06:36:56-04:00

Look at this way. It's not the jump that can harm you, it's the sudden stopped when you hit the ground. A little humor never hurt anybody. Well, Maybe it has.

Response by LTC David Howard made May 1 at 2023 8:45 AM

2023-05-01T08:45:22-04:00

My first reaction to your question was: are you kidding? Are you a soldier or a snowflake? As an adult we accept responsibility for our own actions. You requested that the Army expend resources to train you as a paratrooper, the Army did so, and now you want to avoid fulfilling your commitment. I suggest that you comply with your orders and use this assignment as a means of overcoming your irrational fears. And unless the military has changed even more than what I imagine it has during my many years of military retirement, you will not be jumping so often as to constitute a real burden to your fears, or for very long.

When I was a young officer I volunteered repeatedly for airborne school, but being in a combat service support branch the Army would not send me for that training unless I was on orders to an airborne unit. When I received orders to join the 101st Airborne for my Vietnam tour, I thought that finally I would have the chance to get that training, but sadly that Division was Airmobile then, rather than Airborne and again the Army denied my request. Later I was able to satisfy my interest in parachuting by joining a civilian club, and I must say that my few jumps were among the most exciting things I have ever done.

Response by SPC Colin Ahasay made May 2 at 2023 4:51 PM

2023-05-02T16:51:07-04:00

The biggest problem I see is that if you want to stay in and continue to serve, if at some point you find another specialty school you want to go to after dropping your airborne status, you will likely be met with a hard no.

Not as a punishment exactly but if you quit a school, or voluntarily drop a status shortly after going to a school without a very good reason, no senior company NCO or officer is going to agree to send you again. Just something to think about if you really do want to stay in.

Response by CW4 Tim Claus made May 4 at 2023 6:47 AM

2023-05-04T06:47:52-04:00

Unless there is a very sound reason other than you don't want to be airborne, you might have to wait until you can re-enlist to change your MOS. Of course if the opportunity ever comes up to volunteer for an assignment that moves you to a different kind of unit other than airborne infantry, you can always jump on that. But with an enlistment contract that includes jump school, you are likely going to a unit that support the XVIII Airborne Corps or the SF school. Whether you have a combat arms, combat support or combat service support MOS.

Response by LTC Christopher Hills made May 4 at 2023 12:35 PM

2023-05-04T12:35:17-04:00

well if you volunteered for airborne school and volunteered for an airborne slot, then the army will send you to one as they programmed you for that role. If you refuse to jump they can take your wings (no not just hypothetically... I have seen that happen). you don't mention your MOS, but if the post you are sent to (presumably but not exclusively bragg) doesn't have a leg position in that MOS... that also will be an issue that will blow back on you. now as to how your leadership team handles this... that depends on the leaders and the rest of the details you chose not to share. in the bigger picture, jumping from airplanes was NOT the most dangerous thing I did in the army by a long shot. You really need to really think about that. You volunteered to be a soldier. to seek out, engage and destroy the enemies of this nation. I'd say man up and push yourself to meet the standards for the contract you signed. be a good trooper for a few years and reenlist later for something else. But only you can decide if you want to succeed in life and since you certainly didn't share much in the way of details... all the rest of our responses are just speculation.

Response by SSG John Tromp made May 4 at 2023 6:48 PM

2023-05-04T18:48:51-04:00

I'm terrified of heights and have been where you are. You will get used to it, 30 years later and retired out, i promise you that it will pass...maybe like a kidney stone, but it will pass, lol. Developing confidence in your equipment and yourself will carry you through. If you're going to 101st, don't worry about it, most of the post doesnt jump anymore but you will have to br prepared to get your dope on a rope badge. Good luck and continued success in your career, it goes fast.

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 25 at 2023 2:23 PM

2023-05-25T14:23:13-04:00

Airborne has always been volunteer. My suggestion, if you truly are terrified, is to bring that up at the reception station. Bragg does have some units that aren't on status, but they are 18th Airborne Corps units, not 82nd. If you ended up at Campbell, I don't think any of those units jump (except 5th Group of course). The 101st is actually Airmobile, not Ariborne. It would just depend on whether your MOS is applicable to any of them.

Response by SSG Watis Ekthuvapranee made May 30 at 2023 8:57 AM

2023-05-30T08:57:50-04:00

Heck yeah. If you have your order is published, you better do 4187 deletion to order real quick with a very damn good reason.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made May 31 at 2023 5:12 PM

2023-05-31T17:12:50-04:00

Soldiers who qualify in multiple disciplines cannot possibly stay current in all of them. Accept your understanding of not wanting to jump any longer, your qualifications are a part of your record and will be on your DD214 as will all other qualifications you have earned. Be proud; stand tall and move on to you next qualifying interest. "Be All You Can Be"

Response by SSG Marshall Paul made May 31 at 2023 8:59 PM

2023-05-31T20:59:37-04:00

Wow. Everybody is scared...at first. I went to jump school when I was 17. When I was 40, I would check my standing pulse rate, standing at the door. It was 60bpm.

Now, the other thing you need to know is that you will never get hear that frou-frou sound of women's panties hitting the floor when a paratrooper walks into a party.

Response by SSG Shawn Mcfadden made Jun 1 at 2023 7:29 AM

2023-06-01T07:29:51-04:00

So let me get this straight. You finish jump school, but you don't want to be on jump status? Then why the hell did you go to jump school in the first place? If I was your NCOIC, I would recommend you receive a psychological evaluation before you go to your next assignment.

Response by SGT(P) Jody Hall made Jun 1 at 2023 9:12 AM

2023-06-01T09:12:26-04:00

Short answer, yes. Make sure you do it BEFORE YOU GO TO JUMP! Don,t want to be that guy.

When I reported to Fort Bragg, I was in a critically short MOS. The reception station first sergeant would not. Let me leave until I volunteer for airborne.. I was eighteen, I didn't know any better..

Anyhow after I had about twenty jumps I wasn't afraid anymore. By then I had complete Understanding of my skills, equipment, and competency.. After 17 years of jump status., More jumps than I can possibly imagine or count i miss it much.

I now am forced to pay to jump. :(

Response by SGT M C made Jun 1 at 2023 11:26 AM

2023-06-01T11:26:02-04:00

Don't you have to make minimum 4 qualifying jumps per year in order to maintain your status? So no you don't have to jump but as I understand it you eventually lose your status within 3 years and can no longer wear your badge

Response by LTC Meir Horvitz made Jun 1 at 2023 8:12 PM

2023-06-01T20:12:04-04:00

After reading 1LT (Verify To See) response he seems to have all of the qualities of a young 2LT I had serving in my unit. I wish he could have been assigned to any unit I had command of.

Response by MSG John T Brown made Jun 2 at 2023 12:48 PM

2023-06-02T12:48:55-04:00

You have earned the airborne status and recognition by completing the training. The duty is voluntary just like any specialty combat role. ALL special duty soldiers want to be in that situation, if you do not, express it, you will be removed. No use in hurting yourself and fellow battle buddies because you don't want to be there. AIR ASSAULT!

Response by SGT Erick Holmes made Jun 23 at 2023 7:58 AM

2023-06-23T07:58:33-04:00

I don't think you would get in trouble. I think that the unit will have a sit down with you and ask why do you not want to be an airborne Soldier anymore but do realize that you have to fulfill your contract. Also remember that even though you don't want to be an Airborne Soldier DO NOT PUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR FELLOW SOLDIERS AT RISK. Remember, you are a Solider still. Your life and their lives depend on you and them. We all have families that we need to go home too.