What advice do you have for someone trying to put in a 4187 to go to Airborne School from a non-Airborne unit?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:09:25 -0400

lemme give y’all a lil run down .. I’m in fort bliss trying to go Airborne. Although my unit is not an “airborne unit “ it’s still rare for me to go.. I finished my phase I & phase II airborne packet so all I need is a 4187. Any advise ? Been in this unit since may so anything can help me.

Response by SGM Jeff Bullard made Sep 20 at 2020 6:13 PM

SGM Jeff Bullard — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:13:24 -0400

All you can really do now is continue to have your unit operations NCO check on the status of your packet.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2020 6:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:47:29 -0400

Your unit can’t help you get to Airborne School, they are not an Airborne unit and not authorized to send people. Airborne is an SQI not an ASI. Like Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, or EOA you will only attend the school enroute to an assignment where you will use that. What that means for you is that in order for you to go Airborne you will PCS to an Airborne unit and attend Airborne school TDY enroute.

From your current position, there are two ways to request Airborne. The first is that you are in your Reenlistment window, 15 months from ETS, and request Airborne training as your reenlistment option. You will only need your Airborne physical completed and signed.

The second way is for your branch manager to place you on an Airborne Assignment and send you TDY enroute to Airborne school. You will need to contact your branch manager and they will need a 4187 requesting Airborne school with your company commander and battalion commander endorsement, your physical, and a memo stating you can run 5 miles in 45 minutes signed by your company commander. The example memo can be found on the school website.

The problem with the first option is that you may not be anywhere near your reenlistment window. However you only need one year on station for this route.
The problem with the second one is that your branch will usually require at least two years on station and you are an initial term Soldier. Branch managers usually have the guidance to leave Initial term Soldiers alone and tell them to work their options through reenlistment when the time comes.

If anyone from your unit tells you that they can get you into Airborne school, it is either a lie or they are unaware of the policy. The only other way to get into Airborne school is to walk on, and you have to be at Benning to walk on. If you happen to already be on TDY or leave in Benning and walk on, then you can attend. However, it is illegal for the Army to pay for your flight to a class that you don’t actually have a seat for, which makes walking on for non Airborne units nearly impossible.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2020 7:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 19:13:46 -0400

Re-enlist for it. The Army has stopped sending SM who are not in an Airborne unit or willing to do 36 months in an Airborne unit as a follow on. You can't just go and not go be a Paratrooper afterward. I had to do it this way well over 7 years ago, but have been in the 82nd ever since.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Sep 21 at 2020 10:15 AM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 10:15:20 -0400

Keep trying -- there are plenty of billets with your skillset within the airborne community -- this decision makes you a cut above -- SFC Boyd's advice is sound. Good Luck on this endeavor Airborne All The Way!