What are the benefits of going into an Airborne career? What should I take into consideration?

2015-01-15T10:04:23-05:00

Benefits of going Airborne.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-01-15T10:08:32-05:00

You get to jump out of perfectly good airplanes! lol

Response by SSG John M. made Jan 15 at 2015 11:53 AM

2015-01-15T11:53:54-05:00

You'll be better than everyone else lol Legs

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Jan 26 at 2015 3:56 PM

2015-01-26T15:56:49-05:00

Acrophobia would be a good thing to consider. ;). Benefits, good practice if you fly Malaysian airlines.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 26 at 2015 5:16 PM

2015-01-26T17:16:42-05:00

Some quick notes on advantages and disadvantages of being Airborne after six years on status (in various units deployable and non deployable):

Advantages:
+ Great esprit de corps within the unit.
+ Everyone does PT, including the GOs, who are seen doing PT.
+ Extra $150/month comes in handy.
+ Best NCOs (as a general statement) that I have ever worked with.
+ Competency focused not rank focused (all follow the jumpmaster's commands regardless of the rank of the jumpmaster).

Disadvantages:
- Wear and tear on the body. It only takes one bad jump to bust your butt or break your back.
- Being airborne is a young person's game. Ties to above comment. Not many old Paratroopers on the line.
- Travel light, freeze at night. Ensure you have your whoobie with you at all times.
- On a short leash when on DRB/DRF1 (old terminology).
- Several jumps on nights/weekends. Be prepared to waste 8+ hours of your life only to find out winds are too high on the DZ. Be prepared to do this several times in your career.

Response by SGT Drew Clark made Jan 27 at 2017 1:17 AM

2017-01-27T01:17:45-05:00

Fast Track for Promotions, Automatic Promotions Points, and First Picks for schools.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2017 9:16 PM

2017-07-12T21:16:52-04:00

You get to call anyone without airborne wings a "dirty leg."

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2017 9:17 PM

2017-07-12T21:17:30-04:00

You're working with motivated, proud and driven individuals. Some jumpers overcome their fear of heights just to be part of that type of unit. It takes a special individual to volunteer for this. Plus most careers/positions in SOF are airborne so you might lucky with one of those assignments. Disadvantages as someone said before is the wear and tear in your body. After 12 years jumping I can notice the impact that has had in my body.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2017 10:11 PM

2017-07-12T22:11:42-04:00

I'm not saying that Airborne is a better Soldier but there is something special about a bunch of Soldiers willing to jump from planes going to work. Be one of them for as long as you can.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 13 at 2017 5:00 PM

2017-07-13T17:00:43-04:00

Think of all the amazing civilian careers that open up when you're airborne! There's skydiving instructors, and freefall firemen! And....uh......hmmmmmmm.... But those are cool!

Response by MSG Johnathan Mathes made Jul 13 at 2017 9:44 PM

2017-07-13T21:44:14-04:00

Ok it's a attitude and swagger... jump pay ... faster promotions... more motivation.. as a leader you tell the squad go do something ... nothing else is needed... legs ... constantly got to explain why and how...

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2017 3:55 AM

2017-10-19T03:55:45-04:00

Benefits

1. Broadening career assignments
2. Being part of the airborne itself
3. Nothing better than getting paid to jump out of airplanes
4. Get to wear that maroon beret (even though non airborne personnel still get to wear it in an airborne unit)
5. Better chance for promotions (airborne advantage, points for wings)
6. Building esprit de corp while on mission with you unit
7. Getting some VA benefits when you retire because of your knees, hips, and back
8. One less reason to get thrown on chute detail
9. Potentially can earn foreign wings at some point
10. Reenlistments in aircraft if you want.
11. The best benefit for me is to take my soldiers to a jump, get on the same pass, rig up together, and mentor your soldier as a new jumper. This can be applied in the same aspect when you are a jumpmaster as well.

Cons:
1. Always a risk of getting injured...but hey thats part of the rush
2. Watiitng around for airborne timeline
3. A lot of times the weather doesnt cooperate or aircraft doesnt show up/break down
4. Parts of your body start aching after jumping for so many years
5. Walking to the bird with heavy equipment
6. Some people get sick in the air (had someone hurl right behind me once)
7. Follow on missions can suck depending on your viewpoint

Im sure there are more but this is all i can come up with off the top of my head.

Response by Sharon Lee made Oct 19 at 2017 6:01 AM

2017-10-19T06:01:23-04:00

Consider your ankles...consider falling down a lot. My brother falls a lot, his ankles are very weak and he is currently receiving disability.

Response by SSG Mick Rolling made Feb 24 at 2019 6:40 PM

2019-02-24T18:40:32-05:00

Back Problems, hip problems, knee problems, ankle problems and Alcohol problems....lol

Response by SSG Mick Rolling made Feb 24 at 2019 6:41 PM

2019-02-24T18:41:43-05:00

Back problems, hip problems, knee problems, ankle problems and Alcohol problems......LOL

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2019 9:59 PM

2019-02-24T21:59:03-05:00

As you can see from most of these posts, not many unselfish reasons for doing it.
Money, promotions, that's a selfish reason to do something. You should be promoted for being good at your job, not because you went to school for three weeks to determine gravity is a thing.
It provides nothing towards your civilian life, it plays hell on your body, it divides the army with brainwashing, but still gets all this attention and we feel we need it as if it could ever be effective with modern air defense being a thing in the world.

If you wish to be in a specific unit or MOS, go airborne, if you don't, no big deal you can still be a kickass soldier somewhere else.

Response by SSG Marshall Paul made Jun 4 at 2019 11:00 PM

2019-06-04T23:00:38-04:00

When a paratrooper walks into a room full of women he can count on the lovely frou-frou sound of panties hitting the floor.