Is Airborne School that hard?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 14:31:14 -0500

I'm leaving for Airborne school in a few weeks, and I'm psyching myself out I think. I'm excited but also a little nervous. I'm going into it with the memtality that it's an awesome opportunity and it's going to be a lot of fun. That being said is it as bad as everyone says it is?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 10 at 2019 2:48 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 14:48:53 -0500

No. It's mentally very easy; it can be physically challenging though. Air Assault School is the opposite (mentally tough, but physically not all that challenging). You'll do fine.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 10 at 2019 2:54 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 14:54:00 -0500

I didn't think Airborne School was hard. Just make sure you can do some good PT -- long, slow runs and all the standard PT exercises. Other than that, the days of training are pretty long from what I recall. Pay attention to detail and do what you're told by the instructors. Focus on what you need to accomplish and you'll be fine. Stay away from your counterparts who may be lazy and sarcastic...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 3:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:11:10 -0500

Do people say it's bad? I thought the hardest part was running so slow my shins hurt.

Response by COL John McClellan made Jan 10 at 2019 3:11 PM

COL John McClellan — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:11:14 -0500

Here's what it is: if you are in good shape and not overly afraid of heights, it's not that hard. But that is if you go in there with eyes & ears open, and mouth shut. Follow instructions, move with a purpose, be prepared for some hurry up & wait, some harassment, and don't call any special attention to yourself! Never be last!! Stay calm, complete the next task, or drill, or whatever. The "hard" are people who trip all over themselves being knuckleheads!

Response by SGT Kevin Berman made Jan 10 at 2019 3:24 PM

SGT Kevin Berman — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:24:54 -0500

I found it to be quite easy physically, so be in shape. I went through in August, so coming from Michigan the heat was tough, just drink a lot of water.

Response by MSG Andrew Whitish made Jan 10 at 2019 3:33 PM

MSG Andrew Whitish — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:33:25 -0500

Although it was many years ago, I remember the shock and horror of arriving with a moustache. (at the time they were taboo at jump school). The cadre zero'd in and I beat my face from the bus to the barracks where I dry shaved it off ASAP. After that experience, long days, lots of PT and drills and a lot of fun. I can remember things about school that I don't about some of the units I have been in. Intense time and nothing beats the feeling of knees in the breeze. Good Luck!

Response by SSG Ernest Gonzales made Jan 10 at 2019 4:02 PM

SSG Ernest Gonzales — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:02:21 -0500

I never heard it was bad,,,tough and challenging, yes but not bad. It is an experience that you will never forget or regret doing...of course provided that you complete the course!!! Best of luck and remember you are becoming an elite member of the US Army by completing. HOOAH!!

Response by SPC Damon Hairston made Jan 10 at 2019 4:51 PM

SPC Damon Hairston — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:51:39 -0500

No, it's not hard to fall out of a plane. Just follow directions and do your PLF's correctly.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jan 10 at 2019 6:00 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:00:04 -0500

No, just the first couple of days because of the Black Hats. It get better as you go, just like Basic did.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 8:04 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:04:12 -0500

best 3 weeks in the Army for several reasons: excellent training, fun, jumping... I'd do it again tomorrow.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 9:48 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:48:49 -0500

You will love it. Stay focused and pay attention. You will run every where you go. I went in 1990 though. Have fun.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jan 11 at 2019 11:09 AM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 11:09:56 -0500

No, it's not hard at all if you can keep up with some basic PT....unless you're afraid of heights, in which case it may be a little stressful.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Jan 11 at 2019 12:58 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:58:07 -0500

Actually physically it wasn’t a challenge for me. However I’m extremely afraid of heights so tower week wasn’t fun at all. Jump week wasn’t nearly as bad and I had gained a lot of confidence in my equipment and training. That helped me a lot.

Response by SGT Jeff Bush made Jan 11 at 2019 10:13 PM

SGT Jeff Bush — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:13:14 -0500

No, Absolutely not hard if you maintain your military bearing and discipline. You run everywhere, so just get used to lots of running. When I went through in 2011 at 36 years old, there were First Sergeants there who were older than me. Start doing pullups and chinups. We used to have to knock out ten before lunch every day along with 25 pushups. We also had to do 25 pushups every time we went to and from formation. Trust the training and the equipment. It is all aimed at trying to psych you out and make you mentally tough. Good luck.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2019 6:42 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 18:42:31 -0500

Do you understand that gravity is a thing? The you can understand jump school. It's literally the easiest school. Listen to what the black hats tell you and trust your equipment. If you feel you need your reserve, pull it. Boom that's jump school.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2019 8:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:40:34 -0500

Easiest school in the Military. Don't be late and do your best not to get hurt.

Response by SGT Eric Kesseler made Feb 4 at 2019 8:52 PM

SGT Eric Kesseler — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 20:52:51 -0500

It’s not bad or hard at all!! I went through Bravo Company in SEP-AUG 1996! Anything in the Army is mind over matter! You can do it! Millions have gone before you and made it! If they can make it, so will you!! AIRBORNE! All the way!!

Response by PFC Gary Dulany made Feb 25 at 2019 6:04 PM

PFC Gary Dulany — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 18:04:10 -0500

Yes!

Response by SPC Perry Gresham made Jun 6 at 2019 1:22 AM

SPC Perry Gresham — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 01:22:42 -0400

I went in 86 and I still remember how bad it was. LOL.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Apr 26 at 2020 6:24 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 18:24:55 -0400

No it’s not at all. You’ll do a ton of pushups which as a Marine we really didn’t do. We did bends and mothers, but there’s no insane PT happening. Your coming from appropriate units so there not there to flunk you on runs, I always thought the runs were for to weed out the guys perhaps hurt. I crashed and burned on my first jump I thought I broke my ankle but didn’t. I struggled on simple runs, but completed them. That first jump it’s very difficult to judge height and your rate of fall. I crashed and burned on my first and last jump, I landed running with the wind on #5. On #3 I bounced across the canopy of another guy, I assumed the jump masters mis timed the exits, don’t know. I lifted my legs and it was like bouncing off a water bed, a foot lower I would have tangles into his risers.

Response by SSG Edward Hopkins made Apr 26 at 2020 7:05 PM

SSG Edward Hopkins — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 19:05:18 -0400

Make sure you can do pull ups or you go to the gig pit. Do not go to sick call or you will be recycled. The first week is intense, the second not as much. Jump week they lay off because they want you focusing on the jump. I got pink eye in both eyes at the start of week 2. By the time jump week rolled around I had to grab onto the uniform of the student ahead of me to go in the right direction. I went in ‘86.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2021 11:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 23:09:32 -0400

I'm in airborne school now I graduate Friday it's a fun school and easy just keep up in the runs and don't fall out