Why AIRBORNE School is so Hard?
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- Опубліковано 20 чер 2024
- All Paratroopers and Special operations Forces must be Airborne Qualified. Let’s discuss how hard Airborne School is with an emphasis on Phases, Key Events, Physical Fitness, Sleep & Food Deprivation, Harassment, Airborne Operation, and then I’ll show you a video of a Mass Tactical Airborne Operation.
Never forget that Airborne is not the mission itself. It is simply a way to get to work … a way to get to the battlefield. The real mission starts once you land.
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Special Thanks to:
David Wright, Ft Benning Public Affairs
Spc. Charles Willingham, 982nd Signal Company (Combat Camera) (Airborne)
Cpl. Samuel Roque, Sgt. Manuel Serrano and Cpl. Jose Villalobos Rocha
Tech. Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, 1st Combat Camera Squadron
Senior Airman Jill Neufeld, Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
Maj. Thomas Cieslak
Just graduated last week. There is no PT test. But we did like a total of 4 3 mile runs at a 9 minute/mile pace throughout the cycle. Also you run everywhere in boots (like to training areas and chow), even if you are a slightly below average at PT I believe you'll be fine (if you are going to an airborne unit I strongly urge you to do PT at the gyms nearby in your own time if you struggle with those runs). The only people that quit were the ones terrified of jumping and/or somehow couldn't handle the running. One individual was dropped because of a piercing. (They were warned multiple times to remove it btw). The Cadre aren't there to smoke you. They are there to get you out of a plane and onto the ground safely. Lastly have fun. It's fine to be nervous, jumping out of planes isn't a normal for most humans lol. But just do it and you won't regret it.
No PT test anymore? Dang you guys are Hollywood!
I went through Jump School in 1989. No PT test=SOFT!
@@brianbutlerbk My way of saying it was nicer😂
@@wecanjump7512 Lol yeah it was incredibly easy. My great great uncle would not be impressed. The funniest part about it is despite there being no pt test, 40 people still managed to quit, I don't know what they were expecting. I heard people complain when we were rigging ruck sacks saying things like "I don't know if I'll be able to carry this" and then others whined about people who forgot their fleece cap. It was 40°... oh well, to each their own I guess.
@@IMN0TFUNNY Dang, 40 people? We only had one dude quit and that was on the bird. He was just too scared and he wouldn’t stand up. The black hats tried to talk to him but he was spooked. We all felt bad for him.
My youngest son went through airborne school. He called me very excited the day they did their first jump..."dad this is so cool, I could do this for a living ". He went on to spend the next 8+ years with the 2nd Ranger bat. You gotta love 20yr old adrenaline junkies.
👍😁👏👏👏💪💯🇺🇸🙏
Yes, they are quite fun!
Ranger battalions is dangerous work. People die in training all the time. If you ain't a Ranger, don't you dare walk across their battalion quad.
@Jack Mehoff Think you'd be great as the pivot man in a 3 some with Ricky Martin and Elton John.
@Jack Mehoff Gracias Sir😁
I was a member 43rd Company /AIRBORNE Class 43B. Graduated JUMP SCHOOL July 19, 1963. Then JUMP SCHOOL was 4 weeks rather than just 3. Served with 101st after graduation, went to Vietnam in July 1965 with 1st BRIGADE 101st. Have always been proud to have served and being AIRBORNE
I went through March 1966. How do you member all that stuff? Got drafted, jumped out of a bunch of different aircraft, 18 months later I was back home.....
I went November of 1964. Was assigned to the 2nd Brigade 101st then went to Viet Nam with the 1st Brigade. AIRBORNE!
I went thru Benning same time. Wonder if we ever met? After j-school I went to Bragg and through SF and then off to . . .
RIGHT, 4 WEEKS
Hardest thing about airborne school is overcoming the fear of jumping out of an airplane. Usually after basic and ait soldiers are very fit so the physical demands are not too difficult. The jumps are much more difficult after the school when youre carrying all your eq and food/water.
Little bit of running... to formation, for PT, to chow, from chow, to training, back from training... that's pretty much it. Just keep moving rapido and all will be fine. Then sound off with a Loud & Thunderous AIRBORNE! and you get a nice metal badge to wear on your dress uni. All good! 🤙
Edit 3 mos later: my son is always asking what’s my rush, why am I in an artificial hurry, we’re not even late, what’s all this “pick up the pace” about, anyway dad?!? To which I lovingly reply - he’s my son, after all! -
“You will address me as Sergeant Airborne!”
😉😜🪂
The black hat at the door will cure you of any hesitation to exit. lol
Actually, the first jump is easy. It’s every other one that gets hard. Cause now you know what’s going on.
Man I finished basic like 3 months ago already I’m in ait and both basic and ait I’ve done a max total of 10 pt sessions we haven’t done pt almost lmao idk why I thought I was gonna do pt everyday but yea a lot of people in my ait unit is not that fit like 4 or 5 people failed the acft
@josuevelasquez9186 wow. My basic was pt three times a day for the first two weeks and once a day 5 days a week after that. At my perm duty station was pt 5 days a week. I guess fit to fight was lost somewhere.
The toughest part was the realisation I was going to be jumping out of an aircraft after just 15 days of training.
I would say the toughest part comes after graduation when the realization that you're just a glorified leg finally sinks in. The only folks jumping into combat these days are the bearded ninjas.
@@StudleyDuderight who are the bearded ninjas
@@StudleyDuderight what do you mean by glorified leg 😭
@@nathanielnicholi2985 i think what he meant by "glorified leg" was that unless you're in certain special forces units, you probably won't be jumping into combat very often...if ever. And the bearded ninjas are probably special forces dudes.
@@nathanielnicholi2985 Bearded Ninjas are the Great Bearded One's acolytes. He carved them into his image from granite then gave them life. Their purpose is to escort heathen souls to hell. Seriously though, it's just a nickname for Chuck Norris that I apply to Spec Ops dudes.
A glorified leg is a deployed paratrooper who is walking into combat just like all the rest of us light infantry guys.
I went thru Air Assault School and then Airborne School. I caught hell, because I already had Air Assault wings first, but overall, Airborne School was not terribly hard. I actually had a great time during the school. It has been almost 40 years since I graduated and I can still do a PLF. Matter of fact, when I get to drinking, I do them from the tailgate of my pickup truck.
Got a real laugh out of that last part....and all I got to say is, man you *are* hardcore, aren't you ?
@ZyklonBeezy This, likely coming from one who has never even stepped off the bus at boot camp, much less Ft. Benning.
@ZyklonBeezy Not sure just what is meant here, but anyway, so you really never *did* step off the bus at boot camp, then?
@@HRHolm-bi6zu look who either just enlisted or never served. But either way airborne isn’t that hard, it’s just if you are mentally ok to jump or not
@@bruhroyale12123 'who just enlisted or never served' ? So who *specifically* are you referring to? (Couldn't quite be certain, just curious for some confirming specificity.)
Just a few points here regarding the excellent video . I'm a Master Blaster and Century Club paratrooper, so I guess my opinion has some weight. As far as phases, how could you forget good ol' Zero Week? The weeding out process starts even before the first day of classes, and it happens during Zero Week. Intimidation can be a strong demotivator. And I personally find the reference of disingenuous motivation to be bullshit. I was in class 5-83 in what used to be known as 44th company, until the regimental system came into effect. Back then, each of the four barracks buildings at Jump School we're literally covered in large exterior painted Jump Wings and Airborne unit insignia! Push up squares at the entrance to each barracks. Yellow cables in the formation area to toe the line. Every student was there because they wanted to be, as were the Black Hats. No one quit easily, and no one failed happily. Motivation and enthusiasm are a food group among Paratroopers. It's not taken or given easily, but it's never disingenuous. I cherish my silver wings above any and all military awards I have. I still carry my original Blood Wings on my keychain. The sharp little pins on the back broke off years ago (NOT In my scrawny little 19-year-old chest!) And to this day, I still try to apply the effort and the motivation that was demanded of me in Jump School.
Airborne! All the way!
Well said, also earned my wings in 1983 and then off to the 82nd!
@@stevebarcanic9388
@stevebarcanic9388
So you were there when it was 41st-44th Company, as well! All the big murals, decorating the barracks? And the line of "boot blacks" over at the Pathfinder building, shining boots for $10 a week?
THAT'S old school!
@stevebarcanic9388
So you were there when it was 41st-44th Company, as well! All the big murals, decorating the barracks? And the line of "boot blacks" over at the Pathfinder building, shining boots for $10 a week?
THAT'S old school!
I loved it. Every minute of it. I love how Benning schools were so true to traditions and it was like looking back in time at all the past warriors that embraced an experience that has such a great story in its founding. I miss it so much. I miss all the people. The army was my family, and I’m forever grateful to this country for letting me serve it.
Me too. Got my Blood Wings at The Pillow Talk Lounge in Phoenix city. I'll
Get back to ya. 👍
Been there done that fucked em all
The three weeks of repetition is so that in moments of great stress you will do the drill correctly. Did my “ jump” course 55 years ago but the jump commands are still imprinted on my mind! Airborne
Hit It!
@@davidkahler1311 Take two salt tablets and drive on .
Mark Fisher, Did 'jump school' 34 years ago and those jump commands are STILL imprinted in my brain! Airborne!
Check can of peas. 🤣
@@hotspur4237 HILL FUCKING LARIUS! I have never heard that one before!!!
Week 1: Separating the Men from the Boys.
Week 2: Separating the Wise from the Fools.
Week 3: The fools jump.
😂😂😂😂😂
Lol - BS 😉
I guess just showing up to jump out of an airplane proves you are a fool.
Spoken like a true leg!
Call Me A Fool - All The Way !
Airborne School for me in 1981 was much, much different than described in this video. We had to run every where in combat boots and fatigues, not shorts and Nikes, for heaven's sake. We ran 7 miles every day and lost 50 USMA cadets the first day of our PT test. No joke... The Black Hats would scream and spit in your face and we had to do 10 push-ups every time we came to a change in direction in a sidewalk. Very tough 3 weeks, but very rewarding!
I went in 2000 and honestly, I found it to be much easier than my high school wrestling practice. Basically, it felt like if you could jog you could pass. It was disappointing to say the least. Still a good time.
Same for me in 1986. I guess they got rid of the gig pit?
@@bsigmund0359 Too "soft" today... for sure
It is been 35 years, but when I saw the parachute tower, I heard, "Hit the hole pole man, hit the hole!" as if it was yesterday. So many memories.
I graduated 10 days before my 40th birthday. I was sore and my knees hurt like hell, but I made it through in one pass. Kept jumping with the 82nd Airborne and other selected units. I was 46 on my last jump.
@PatelTheBoss every branch goes to Airborne school for their combat units that have to be Airborne qualified, same thing with jump school. The ARMY handles Airborne, Jump school, and HALO school for all the branches.
You are my motivation! I’m leaving soon for ABN school
Goddamn old man , AIRBORNE!!! All the way..... and best luck to you !
Best of luck @@TheRealDevin81
I graduated at the age of 38. Airborne All The Way
I did airborne school at 18 years old. It was crazy easy, especially coming strait from basic and AIT. it was actually really really fun other than the super boring classes
Was 18 also back in 1977.
Jumped out of 1st aircraft I ever flew in.
Jumped a:
C123
C7A
C130
C141
CH47
Uh1h
Hot air baloon.
8yr in 82ND.
JM qualified.
@@hughwright1860 Hot air baloon? wow
mama never said all of us soldiers were smart or could draw a STRIGHT line!
💩💩💩💩💩
It must not have been in the 70s, Airborne school was one of the roughest toughest school's you could attend. My first hour there Sgt. Airborne told me to take off my chute. Guess I was too slow, he hit me on my chest like 7 times threw me on the ground and kick me like 6 times. Of 680 students we graduated 47, it is a shame to hear such wimpy stories. What has happened to our military?
Jump school at Fort Benning in the middle of summer1970, temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, standing under the blister bags to get cooled down with water, and living in the old WWII barracks with no AC. Wouldn't have traded it for the world. Got to my jump class a week early; those of us that arrived early did PT every day with the telephone poles. Still smile when I think of jump school.
i was in jump school in Oct 71 , i was 17 yoa , loved it cause i had never done anything that crazy ,loll
Put me down for August 1980. I think it was called San Hill. Echo 1-1.
I went through jump school as an Air Force ROTC cadet. It sucked being the only Airman in my company…spent lots of time in the gig pit. Best training of my whole career. Nothing but pride when I graduated but I was envious of those going to airborne units. Took me 13 years of active duty before I eventually landed in a jump billet and started jumping again. AATW!
I’m going into the Air Force rotc this upcoming fall and I want to do airborne school, was it hard? When did you do it?
@@braidynandrews5634 I did so years ago. I think that AFROTC now attend the Air Force Academy’s parachute training program instead of going to Army Airborne school at Fort Benning. You’d need to discuss with your ROTC detachment for the current policy.
I also went as an AFROTC cadet in 1973 in the summer just after attending the 4 week Air Force training camp (or whatever they call it now) between soph and junior year. I did a lot of running before getting to jump school, so the running was easy for me. The PT in the morning was rigorous but not impossibly tough. I do remember being so sore during the first several days that I couldn't just get out of bed in the morning. But I would have to roll out of bed onto the floor and struggle to my feet. Fire watch or guard duty in the barracks in the middle of the night was one of the worst parts about it. "Charlie 25. Third man in the stick Sergeant!" (Reporting for critique of your jump out of the 34 foot tower during the second week).
Who are you!
Airborne!
How far!
All the way! (and then some!)
Caution - Legs ahead (sign over the sidewalk heading off the base)
im going into army ROTC but im national guard which means its damn near impossible to get in to airborne, will ROTC help me get in?
I remember reading an article in a local paper after the action in Grenada. A local Air Force guy was at the base that 82 Abn was activated to do a jump onto the island. The Airman was Jump and Ranger qualified, so he was included in the operation.
Imagine being a young Airman walking around an airbase with combat jump wings, and likely the AF equivalent of a combat action ribbon.
Sir, can you make further leadership videos. Because in my life your videos have influenced my character and also paving way of pursuing career in the Indian military.
ua-cam.com/video/ECDJDc39iuk/v-deo.html
Qq
Me too! watching his vids made me a much better manager at work.
Underrated military India is no country to mess with
I make better panakes because of your vidoes
Airborne School was like a 3 week vacation. Especially considering most of the time your just coming out of basic. Having weekends and most nights off after coming off of having zero freedom is honestly one of the greatest joys in life. Plus outside of some boring classes and practicing PLFs for mulitple hours, there are alot of fun parts to airborne school.
Freedom seemed to cause more airborne failures than anything. Going off base getting drunk and coming back drunk and showing up late for PT... bye bye leg
@@jamesramsey2419 Lol, you ain't kidding.
Lies again? App Store
Same here. Very anti climatic though. Took 3 weeks to do what could have easily been done in one week. At least half the class was there for a ticket punch and would never have to jump again.
It's especially gonna feel like vacation for me since I'll have just passed ranger selection, SUA SPONTE!
I signed up immediately after I passed my basic PT test .
While we were taking our PT test, there were airborne soldiers with stop watches, click counters and clipboards
They were hand picking the standouts.
There was a table set up with all the paperwork .
Then I attended AIT and regretted signing up because I wanted to go home on leave.
After arriving at Benning, I was glad I signed up.
I just found your videos, I went thru Airborne school a Fort Benning in '91 , I had lots of fun but , I loved it , best experience I have ever had , that training stays with you thru the rest of your life, thank you for making these videos , HOOAH
I served in SOF for over 20 years....and Airborne was definitely the easiest school I attended...but as a PFC 11M in 1995...this school inspired me to no end, I was all in, the feeling of jumping, kinda like being born again...great video as always sir
You served SOF for 20 years? Can you give me any tips on how to stay alive for when I join AFSR?
Your got me respect
Ha! Cherry.
🍻😉👍🏼
Wait a sec! I graduated 1995. Jan 25th, A company
I know I'm dating myself here, but I went to Airborne school three years before you. 😳
I graduated Jump School January 27 1981, I had shin splints from Basic/AIT for Infantry from running PT in the old combat boots of that era. Jump School is about learning the safe technique's to safely exit a aircraft while in flight. I didn't find it boring or monotonous, and I find it a little offensive when you said that, but that's my opinion. I absolutely love being Airborne Infantryman, my first unit was with the first Combat Jumpers the 1st/509th ABCT in Vicenza, Italy.
I went in January 1979. Thanks to MANY weather delays the 3 weeks became 6 weeks and graduated in February.
It should also be noted that I came as an E-5. Being an NCO I had a room to myself. OK, I shared a room with another E-5. No Open bays for us!
October '83. Jump school was pretty much just fun, with the exception of "rest area procedures"when the black hats smoked the s*** out of us. Sounds like things have changed.
There’s nothing complicated about it lol now being a jump master, that’s something else
Jump schoolks about programming you to jump out of the plane. There ain't nothing safe about it. Not dissing. I loved it. But it's all about building muscle memory reaction. So When it's your turn you go.
How's your legs old man
Great video and narration. I went through jump school, early1969 at 18 years old. The trainning in your video is amazingly similar to what I went through. I eventually became a Green Beret with the 10th Special Forces. I now belong to the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard for Military Honors given at funerals. Many times we perform these Honors with active duty. I am so impressed with these young active duty soldiers and it warms my heart to see such dedication and military professionalism these young vetereans display. Your video and narration touched on long past memories that many years have past, but in some ways it is still the same. Thak You!
Thank you for making this professional video. You’ve definitely hit every major point which would give any person looking for info… on what to expect. RLTW!
I went through jump school in "88". It was fairly easy. I was just kind of nervous when I made my jumps. I remember getting dogged out in the gig pit with everyone else. It was basically remedial PT. Air Assault school was also easy. The instructors there will disqualify you for anything minor. Congratulations to those of you that have graduated from Airborne school. Not too many civilians have the courage to jump out of a C-130.
Actually there are other aircraft to fall out of...lol
about 350,000 every year
I went through this during the winter of 86-87. We had a 4-mile run (27minutes) and the black hat said we were not motivated enough., so we went another 4 miles. 600+ started in the first week and only 200+ graduated. Twenty-five medics dwindled to only 6 of us. Five of us went through Basic (Fort Bliss) and AIT and jump school together. AATW!
jumped 1955 17 years old c 119 123 c130 us navy sea plane now 85
Feb 88 for me - and yes the freedom it was a nice relief coming out of basic / AIT. On of our drill instructors from Basic came along with us. I remember getting off the bus and seeing getting smoked by a bunch of black hats! It was an intimidating experience for my 19 yr old self. The last few days I was there I caught pneumonia and had to fake it till I made it. didnt want to be recycled. Overall it wasn't a terrible experience - a little harder physically than Air Assault school but less to memorize.
I graduated 4 days ago. Personally I had a great experience. The black hats were cool and relaxed a lot of the time. Only times I got roughed up or sore was when I sat in the harness for long periods of time or jumping out of the tower. My platoon got lucky during my cycle too because we didn’t have any extra duties, details, or CQ to do. On top of that my cycle didn’t have to do any combat jumps due to the bad weather. I definitely don’t regret jumping out of the C-130 and getting my wings.
Im going in a few months. Only thing Im worried about it parachute not opening, landing in trees, or getting tangled with someone else. Would you say that is pretty rare? or did you see stuff like that happen a few times?
Just means you'll have to do your first combat equipment jumps at your unit.
You didn't dodge that bullet, you just pushed in into the future. 🤣
No trees on Friar DZ. Your third point of performance is to "keep sharp lookout during descent". If you get close to someone slip away. And yell out to them to slip away. Trust your equipment- if your chute fails to deploy, use your reserve. Pay attention in class.@@KarmaBulatovna
I just watched this video and liked it. I was in the Air Force for my military career, and I enjoyed seeing the C-17 aircraft that I worked on as an Air Reserve Technician and a DoD civilian. At JBLM I had always been curious what the soldiers in the Army were doing just next door, this is a good illustration. Thank you.
Great video and brings back memories of my airborne school experience.
Thank you! I graduated in October '81. We also had almost two weeks of zero week waiting for the class to fill up. P.T. was done in boots and fatigues right after chow and there was a "gig" pit where everyone visited at least once. IMHO it's best to go straight out of A.I.T....
Jump School in August 1966. Some things have changed in the 50 years since I attended but the basics are the same. Probably the same apparatuses. I did Basic and AIT at Ft Ord in Monterey, Calif. I’d never experienced Georgia heat, humidity, or thunder storms in my life. I loved it. Thanks for posting this. Great memories.
1965
Starting jump week tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
Went thru jump school in '73. Used the T-10 chute. Most memorable part was the pinning of the "Blood Wings". I doubt that they do that any more. Something I'll never forget. Good job on the video.
I was six years behind you. At that time, you had to request blood wings, so I agree they're probably not done anymore.
I went in August 1981. The old saying, “some things never change” is true. Your “three hours of information stretched into three weeks of monotonous training” comment was right on! Thanks for the blast from my past!
You may have already done a video on it, but I'd love a video documenting your career. You've been through so many schools and deployments, it would be cool to hear your story
Things have changed, we most definitely had a PT test. One of the best schools I ever went to. Loved every bit of it!
My son just arrived for OSUT at Benning with an ultimate goal of qualifying for 75th Regiment as a career. I'm a 14 year Navy vet, and I seem to be reliving my own enlistment all over again vicariously through him. We didn't have the luxury of video back then so I appreciate content like this. Excited for his journey. I even took up skydiving training as a civilian, but it's got NOTHING on Army airborne. Badassery that can't be matched.
Nice video. I did airborne school in 97' straight out of AIT and got sent straight to the 82nd.
I graduated from Airborne school in ‘89, right after I attended Basic, then off to AIT. Wanting to be a Parachute Rigger meant doing things in that order. I found the PT part fairly easy, although at the time they would drop you if you fell out during a run. Knowing that much, I came close when I worked my way to the side of the formation and emptied my stomach without breaking stride. I, also, badly twisted my ankle on my first live jump, landed awkwardly on a small ridge and never said a word to anyone, just rolled up my chute and ran to the meeting area. Did my last 4 jumps and PT runs through grit and determination.
Same here. So called tough Marine recons in the class couldn't handle the runs and got dropped from the class😂
Airborne brother I was in B co 407th S+T Bn 82nd Abn Div
@@B_Co.407thI also went to jump school in 89. 1st of the 507th ,(Down to Earth). I was a 52D generator mechanic then went on
to A Co. 50th Sig, 18th Air Corps.
Ft. Bragg. Do they still call non Airborne personnel "Dirty rotten
Stinken legs"? I miss all my brothers! Who-Wa, Airborne All The
Way! 🪂
Went also 89 Feb or March enjoyed it saw Cpt. Quit refused to jump people couldn't pass the physical finess agenda great memories then on to 782nd ft. Bragg now ft.Liberty ?????
Yeah, I get you. I had to train with my own D.I. to tighten up my running. To qualify I had to do 7 min miles. Which
Of course I got my wings. Then on to
Ftt. Bragg. Was also partnered up with a
Marine Captain. Side note: To me Bragg
not Liberty . Thanks for the response.
Get back to ya. Oh my Unit at Bragg.
A. Co. 50th Signal, 18th Air Corps.
I went through in 1985; my Dad did so in 1954. They ran every day, more than three miles. The morning of th fifth jump, they had a timed 12 mile run, with gear. He said that one separated those truly wanting to be paratrooper and those that did not.
Did mine in 1977, ran a lot, numerous PT test, we had no days off because of the backlog so whole thing in 17 days. 485 applicants, 270 got wings. I loved it. I moved on to Special Forces and completed that in 1978. 10th SFGA.
@@gregoryknox4444 Were there any females in your class? Carter WH mandated females and then Airborne School became a joke after that. I went in 1998.
@@LRRPFco52 none that I saw but we had 485 in Jump Training 50% failure), none in SF Phase 1, 2, and 3 none ........... this was 1977-1978
@@gregoryknox4444 There was this little chic in Airborne school who was maybe 5’ tall (with boots on) 100lbs with LCE. On Monday of jump week over Fryer DZ, she was the first in her stick to exit and last to land. She caught an air current or thermal, and actually gained altitude.
I was one of the latter jumpers in another bird after hers, watching this from the ground after I had already landed, recovered my chute, packed it up, and hit the road along the DZ waiting for pick-up. Airborne cadre were yelling at her with the bull horns to get down. It was freaking hilarious. Total waste of resources.
I was there in '85 also. My class straddled 4th of July holiday. A Golden Knight team was doing a demonstration jump and one of them had a malfunction and burned in (fatality).
I went through Airborne school July of last year (2021). Everything in the video is pretty much spot on. I will add just a couple things.
For anyone concerned about doing a PT test upon first arrival, dont worry about it. Unless you hear otherwise from someone who recently graduated within the last several months, all you have to do is a flexed arm hang for 10 seconds and pass the reach test, which is literally walking through a mock C-130, stretching your arm out as high as you can, and that's basically it.
Also, when I went through, we didnt use the 250ft. towers because they'd been deemed "unsafe." Instead, we just continued on with Jump week, jumping from the 34ft. towers, the Suspended Harness, and SLT. Again, if you haven't heard otherwise, that is likely still the case.
Anyway, this is a great video and answers basically all the questions I've been asked about Airborne school. Airborne will always be a special thing to me, but mostly because I'm a Parachute Rigger. So anything Airborne is kind of a big deal for me. :D
"I Will Be Sure Always!"
I’m a Navy parachute rigger, did you see any of us in your class ?
I graduated in August,the exact same experience.
@@JonathanFlores-mt7en I only remember seeing a handful of Navy personnel, but I dont think they were in my platoon. I was 2nd platoon, A co.
Holy shit private
Does it really need to take 3 weeks?
Completed Airborne School in 98 and what you outlined was exactly it. It was easy at the time but most who failed out did because they didnt want to jump and found a way out. For us that completed the training the jump commands will forever be in our heads. Also still remember every jump I made in school. Fun times for sure.
❤❤ 0:38 u I❤❤❤❤I ❤😮❤o😮😮ok❤44😅I❤❤or❤ 1:10 😢o😮 1:12 😢0plm❤😢ko ok I l
I for one, appreciate your honest assessment of Army training. Just the facts without the hoorah. I was Army infantry during the Vietnam war. After basic and before my Infantry AIT I was given the option of jump school. I could have spent another month in the states before deploying to Vietnam. I decided to go to Nam and start my tour of duty. Being Airborne in a jungle is not much of a called upon skill. I can relate to the tuck and roll practice however. Many of our combat assaults were in terrain covered in buffalo grass so you had little idea of what the ground was like. Thanks for your video.
I did jump school in August '76, so I may be a little fuzzy on the details. I don't recall a PT test, but we ran everywhere and PT was done in a white t-shirt, green fatigue pants and bloused combat boots. The PT uniform was yet to be invented. We had at least 2 4-mile runs that had to be completed in the then airborne standard of four miles in 32 minutes. I agree with the previous reviewer who stated the cadre was there to try to get you through the school. I was suffering badly from shin splints during jump school and I fell out of the final 4 mile run and a black hat fell out with me and ran with me to complete the run and prevent me from being re-cycled. I didn't see any mention of the saw dust pits, which I assume they still have. We did all of our PLFs into pits of saw dust. Since it was August in Benning it was hot, so to prevent heat injuries we had to roll through overhead showers (keeping out boots dry, of course) for the cooling effect. But, then we had to roll around in sawdust with a wet uniform, great fun! I had 2 mid-air collisions with other jumpers at Benning, but employed the methods they beat into us for 3 weeks and came through my 5 jumps okay. And in '76 there were no night jumps, just 3 Hollywood and 2 combat equipment jumps. But, I learned enough to complete 3 years in the 82nd MP CO, 82nd ABN DIV without any serious injuries.
LOL, I did my jump school in June-July of 1977. I to remember the sand/saw dust pits, the were horrible. Also remember when we were rolling through the showers in the pushup position at the end of the shower we had to jump up and sound off with a loud and thunderous Airborne!!! When I was there we did have to do one night jump. I'm almost positive there was not a single star in the sky it was complete darkness. But not to worry, you'll eventually find the ground. I also remember a run in the last week, I believe it was 5 miles. I remember we had one black hat that started the run with us, then after a mile he went and sat in a jeep while a new, refreshed black hat took over the run. It went that way for the entire run. A fresh new black hat every mile. If I had life to do over again, I'd go right back into jump school, followed by Ranger training then Special Forces. The biggest mistake I made in my entire life was not going back into the army after I graduated college.
William, our schools were less then a year apart. I just looked at my jump log (yeah, I still have it) and we made 2 jumps on Tus & Wed and 1 jump on Thurs. We had bad weather on Monday so no jumps and weather delays on Thurs We doubled up on Tues & Wed, then due to the time crunch we graduated on the "cables" on Thurs, instead of a formal ceremony. Maybe we were supposed to have a night jump but they didn't want us to have to jump 3 times in one day, I don't know for sure. Everybody PCS'd out on Friday (I headed to the Repl Depot at the 82nd).
For me ground week was rough, not that it was physically demanding but my body felt like I was beaten with bats from head to toe from all the pounding it took doing hundreds of PLF's. Tower week was a BLAST, jumping out of the 34 foot tower was better than almost any amusement park ride I had ever been on. The 250 foot tower was so much fun. Jump week, the adrenalin rish I got on my first jump lasted about two hours and I was high as a kite. The veins in my forearms were bulging, it was freaking awesome.
Went on to fort Bragg 82nd airborne division, permanent duty station, then the real work began.
Awesome video..thanks for sharing!
Please make some videos on the qualities of an officer in the military (especially the special forces) and how to practice them in daily life. God bless you and your family.
Are you an officer or planning to be one? Lead from the front.
Hoorah! My dad jumped in Normandy; I went Airborne, Ranger And Special Forces. Hoorah!
I graduated in 1969. Great experience. Still some of the best training I ever had. The PLF is hard wired into me. Very proud of being an ex-paratrooper.
Great vid, The biggest change for me were the seats, We had webbing back int he 70's
I went through in 74 and it was a lot different then. We did our PT runs at a flat out run, in fact, the only time we did the Airborne Shuffle was in the airplane. That was also the first time in my life that I ran 7 miles. PT was interesting in that they could only make us do 10 pushups at a time, but I remember the first day of Tower Week, we were dropped so many times it was getting reduced to 3 or 4 because we couldn't do 5 anymore. The whole purpose of Jump School in those days was to convince you that you were so bad and tough that if you went out the door of the plane and your chute didn't open, the ground would get out of your way because you were so tough. After the first jump you realized that was a lie. But you kept going to get your wings, and that was the real achievement.
How quickly things changed. Through the Vietnam Era, the point - going back to WWII - was that if you became isolated on the ground behind enemy lines you had the mindset to keep going and win. By the 1977 peace-time Army, we did the Airborne Shuffle every second we were moving; the Black Hats said it was to build up our legs for the Parachute Landing Fall (P.L.F.). I doubt the generals ever expect to use an airborne drop in a future war; the point of the 82nd is to gather some of the most gung-ho soldiers into one unit.
End of 1974 for me. I was there when a man was dropped from the 250 foot tower and ONE hook did not release. He hung suspended as they slowly lowered him to the ground. He was told when it happened to come to the position of attention and do not breathe. lol The black hats would call to him, "what you gonna be?" A frail reply, "AIRBORNE"!
I went through in May 71 after Polk 11B and it wasn't as easy as you hear now! AATW
„i played the game“
This just helped me a lot.
Thank you.
Because it takes a different type of person to jump out of a perfectly good flying aircraft! Much Respect Semper Fi!
Your presentation of jump school is exactly as I remember back in the spring of 1970. We had a week of support work before our 3 weeks of training. Our job was to make new dog tags for the guys that didn't have theirs. Don't ask me how they lost them. We would make up some "custom" tags for ourselves. I better not tell you what we embossed on them.
All the way!
My support week in 1968 was was 17 hrs a day of KP.
In 72 , a friend of mine said he lost track of push ups on wed of week one after noon chow at 1150 . Airborne school is designed to teach you how to safely jump out of a plane and land he said . Infantry school on the other hand , is one rough SOB he said . I was an MP .
Read my comment above.
Went through in August 1962 right from AIT being in a platoon of jump school bound guys so they prepared us for the physical part of it. Had some SEALS, Marines and Air Foce in our class. Went to rigger school then to the 101st to an aireal resupply platoon. Rigged heavy equipment for drop, had a blast tail gating C-130's after dropping equipment.
Got out in March 65, great three years,!
@Oldcooper
I noticed your picture is the Screaming Eagle. You said that you went through jump school and mentioned something about the 101st AB. oes that mean you were in the 101st? If so, that's cool because my Great Grandpa was in the 101st in World War II. I want to be just like him ad be a paratrooper in the 101st!
@@owenkedas5022
Yes, I was in the 101st for 3 years. I went through jump school in 1962 and we had PT every morning and then a 6 mile run.
Too bad the military has gone soft and WOKE
@Nassau Education Foundation sorry no Twitter account or other social media accounts
I went through jump school in 1960 had a blast Recondo school was awesome
Don't hear much about Recondo school from back in the early 60s General Westmoreland wanted squad leaders gualified.Everyone didn't get to go to Ranger School
3:33 great pic! 82nd from '84 - '89. Loved it...
Currently in AIT Ft Lee started my first day in class today 16 weeks till I get to start the process of airborne nervous and exited !
Airborne School wasn't all that physically demanding, but mentally, it was the toughest thing I've ever done.
Lack of sleep and hard training and chaos and stress was "relatively" easy compared to overcoming the fear that I was absolutely certain I was about to die and jumping anyway.
-The 3-mile runs can be a challenge for people at the back of the formations because the accordion effect is very strong, turning what should be a steady run into a nonstop sprint/stop/sprint cycle. The trick is to keep going steady and stay patient. Let the rest of the folks sprint ahead and stay ahead of the instructors; you'll see them again in about 20 seconds when they all stop to avoid crashing into each other.
-The third week has some bits of fun mixed in, but if the weather isn't cooperative, it *sucks*. You'll be sitting in a hanger all day long, not allowed to touch anything, move, or go pee. The silver lining is that if this happens the first 2-3 days, it means your last day will be *awesome*, as you jump 4 times in a single day.
-It takes substantial physical courage to voluntarily jump out of a plane. Just remember that tens of thousands of people do this every year, and Airborne School has a *sterling* safety record, at least in terms of its students not dying. As for injuries, yeah, they happen, but if you do what they teach you, you'll probably be just fine.
I did Jump School 1962 I think it was 5 or 6 weeks back then ended up with the 503rd Airborne Battle Group in Okinawa later became the 173rd Airborne Brigade Sky Soldiers (The Herd) Airborne
In 1984 with 43rd company, day one was the saw dust pit!! 95 degrees being sprayed with a fire hose. The Black Hats had cold beer on ice all you have to do is ring the bell.
Also when in school, even when off you run all the time!!! When passing the US Flag you did 25 push ups then continue on. 2/504 Strike Hold!!
I went to airborne school as a SSG, had a good time. Back in 2018 July 4th. Was extremely hot though, many privates became heat cats. Went to 3SFG afterwards and went from T11 to MC6 shoots, so much better.
Greatly appreciate all of these videos. Taking an 18X contract very soon and these have been incredibly helpful
Get option 40 in your contract.
@@scottbock9197 Lets me get my ranger tab right?
@@johnhand7521 it puts you in the Ranger Regiment pipeline. Once you're at a Ranger Battalion they will get your prepped up for Ranger School.
I’m talking to the SF recruiters currently as well
@@ChiefMason good luck! I’m shipping in July
There is still a mental aspect to this training that some can not surpass. I graduated jump school in 82, straight from 11b AIT. Started with about 40 from my basic company, with only about 10 graduating. The rest quit in the first couple of weeks. The difference between those that can and those that won't.
I was vacationing on planet Venus around Tate same time..
Tell off for equipment check......
Stand in the door.....
Red on....
Green on....
G O O O O O O .....😂😂
Charlie co. ? I was there July 83
⚔️ 🛡️ ⚔️
It will always be "Fort Benning" to me!
Blessings from Georgia USA 🙏
Going to the 50th Anniversary (for some of us) next week in Arizona for the 173rd Abn. Reading some of these comments makes me feel old. Nothing wrong with admitting jump school was hard. I went on to spend 2 years in Vietnam and earn a pocketful of college degrees...the only diploma on this old man's wall is my jump school diploma.
airborne !!!
Brother, it may have been in your day but it's not so much now.
Hey troops! Goggle the Jeff Daniels famous movie scene: AMERICA IS NOT THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Sobering, stressful, uncertain times. The esprit de corps and dicipline I took away from jump school and war gave me a very satisfying life. I now have pause to wonder: Do our fellow citizens have a clue, or even grasp the concept of DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY that motivated and sustained our military service? I proudly served with folks representing a dozen or more religions and ethnic backgrounds. The idealism that evolved has shaped the last half century of my life. What happened?
173rd 70 -71.Jump school was a lot tougher in the 60s.
After jump schl. was sent to Panama (jungle warfare) then on to Okinawa to S.E. Asia
This was just the cost of admission that I went through at age 39 to fly Apaches in the best Apache unit in the Army, the 1-82 Attack. of the 82nd Airborne Division. 28 military jumps and a bad L-4/L-5 disk and the best brothers in arms in the world.
3-82 flipper here brother!
Completed jumpschool at Ft Benning Dec 1973.....it was a tough physical school that demanded your attention to detail. We used the T10 chute at that time.
I went thru jump school in May of 1973. We ran (shuffled) every day of ground and tower week. Jump week was actually three days, no night jump and no combat gear when we went thru. What stands out in jump week was the morning jumps when flying over the woods of Georgia/Alabama you could see the blue haze of humidity in the air hugging the ground. We also had college cadets, Air Force, Navy and one platoon of Marines. The Jarheads made more noise sounding off than the entire company of soldiers. I remember thinking, I would rather be silent and deadly than make a lot of noise and alert my enemy of my location. We actually had a week before ground when we were assigned guard duty. There was a massive front that moved in one morning as I walked guard that still stays in my mind. The physical part was never a challenge for anyone in reasonable shape. Chin ups were the hardest but if memory serves correctly we only did 6 or 7. As the author of this video suggested, airborne is a delivery system only, the real job is once you hit the ground. Cutting roads, rails and setting up blocking action, basically causing havoc and spreading chaos behind enemy lines. Both D Day and Operation Market Garden were good examples.
Hasn't changed much since October '68. After a year in the 82nd and 20 or so more jumps, I went to flight school. But I always thought my jump wings got me more respect than my flight wings.
The PT test one was one of the hardest. I remember being stuck on 10 push-ups for what seemed like 50 push ups. Barely passed. Lots of people I went to OSUT with didn't.
The black hat wouldn’t count my last push up either. I told him “no, you’re not doing this to me.” He said “alright, then just give me one last good one.” I made sure to slam my chest hard enough to hear and he let me continue. For sit ups, he let me get up after 30 or so.
Sometimes you got to work a person a little.
Yeah they did that to a lot of us to see if you would give up.
No pt test anymore. You hold a chinup for 10 seconds and do a reach test
Went through Airborne school in 1959, jumped out of C-47's over Normandy DZ. 32 years later retired and still proud of my jump wings and Ranger tab. Best experience a young 20 year old can have. Since I had just graduated OCS the PT was a breeze.
Went through it in 73… while all the training for Marine Reconnaissance was tough, do you have great memories and camaraderie from all branches!
👍🏽🇺🇸❤️
My Dad was a "Black Hat" at the school, during a conversation with a recent graduate of the school, he casually asked "do they still give a chute on your 6th jump?" The response was stellar, a blank stare and a weak Yes Sir. Pop had more than 1200 jumps, static, halo and free fall, 3 combat jumps in WWII and 2 in Vietnam as an Airforce Fighter pilot with his friends in S/F, both Army & Australian. He was quite the guy as many WWII career guys were.
WOW,Doug,your father was a WARRIOR !!!! A BEAST !!! LOL. Wish we had MEN like him in the military today.
I'll just say there was only one combat mission drop in Nam! 173d!
Your story of your father's story does not add up, on several levels.
I went through the Airborne School in 1980 at age 40. I worked my body up over a period of 3 months to be sure I would not fail. I was told I could run with the women because of my age, going back to my unit would never be acceptable if I did that. I thought the black hats were focused on me and after I got my wings I asked one of them whether that might have been true. He told me that yes, they did focus on me and if I could do all they asked the 19 year olds could certainly do it. I did appreciate that. In the end I did 193 exits from the big iron birds, my last jump at age 71 was with a Laotian general that awarded me Laotian paratrooper wings I could wear on my SF Association jacket.
@Sam3460 Good on you. Some marvelous memories in all of this.
OUTSTANDING MY BROTHER KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT NEVER SURRENDER 💪
@@pastorbill7374 Thank you for sure. My wife and I are also a servants of the Living God and I am finding more and more people who do not even want to serve in the military because of the godlessness that is being put forward in every branch now. My time when Reagan was president was the best time to have been in as far as I am concerned.
Picture on the end is cool af. With the sideways boarding the plane.Would love to have that file and make it a poster.
It’s crazy how I remember watching this prior to the army, now I’m getting my wings tomorrow
Graduated in 1984, and went on to make many many many exits. Loved every damn one.
You nailed it with the knees and ankles, I had shin splints for 6 months after airborne school from the slow pace.
Jump week is spent sitting for hours in the pack shed until the aircraft are ready.
Unless you have weather kicking up at the end of the week like we did. We did our last three jumps in one day because they were forecasting storms. That was a bit of an endurance test.
I can honestly say it was harder in Airborne jump school back in the 80s because it were Black hats Vietnam Veterans who were very strict and tough as nail. Prime example If you ask anybody about 'Delta Company' in the 80s it was the most hardest,toughest and most strict battalion. Unfortunately, They only have 3 Battalion
Alpha,Bravo and Charlie.If you failed any type of training back then you were made fun of and embarrassed in front of everybody to see
. Plus, the percentage of falling was way higher as well. AATW. B
Better yet going to Airborne school as a cadet, and being sick as a dog, having 103 fever in January back in 1972.
I regret not joining the service in the late 70's..
I feel like I really missed out...
Thank you , gentlemen for your service..
I miss this time on my live so much. Feeling the effects of it now thou!!
My cousin was an airborne instructor at Benning in the early 2000s and loved it. He was killed in Iraq in 2005. Miss you David
Being stationed at Ft. Polk a trip to airborne school was like a vacation for me. The school is really easy, all the fun starts when you get into your unit!
Fort polk felt more like a nut house when I was there for AIT.
Fort puke
I went thru AB training in 1979. I got tendinitis in both ankles from the AB shuffle but never reported it, I didn’t want to be recycled 🤙🏻
I graduated jump school in Aug 1969. I was 18 yo and had just finished 11B training so I was in good shape. But, that run each morning kicked my butt. I was a smoker then and did drop to about 3 cigs a day in school. I really enjoyed PT. Assigned to 173rd Airborne in Vietnam so was on jump status for my two tours (one and a half). Never got to jump in Nam but did two jumps when we got back to the world.
Graduated March 1966, no NAM. Stayed with th 82nd for 18 months. Jumped the C119, C130 and HUEY. Still proud Airborne.
I went through Airborne school in 2008! I had never heard of it before, but I had done well enough in boot camp that when some packets came down I was volun-told that I was going. I had a blast!
Went through jump school in 85 Right after basic and AIT so at 18 I was in great shape and didn’t have any issues. With the exception that the long weekend between AIT and jump school my best friend and I got jump wings tattooed on our arms before graduating jump school. Week 2 the black hats found our tattoos and then the fun began, for the black hats. It was 24/7 of constant push ups and crazy stuff they made us do to make an example of us. Looking back it was all in fun and made us better, but they sure were tough on us. We didn’t have names I was 781 and my buddy was 782, and every time they called out 781 & 782 we were in the front leaning position. Wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Great times and memories. Went on to the 82nd/ 2/325. Airborne all the way.
Getting tattooed wings before graduating? How did you manage to carry those huge brass balls around with you?
@@timritchie9753 yes we were young and dumb. Looking back it was fun, they made examples out of us. Not a smart move that’s for sure.
Anybody else get their blood wings from a Black Hat?
Brings back memories. I went to Jump School right after Basic and AIT in 86. Was in the 82nd until 89. I still dream of those days and even have actual dreams of being in again and going on jumps. I miss all my larger than life friends and the great times we had.
Graduated from the University of Gravity in March of 1988. Was supposed to be unassigned Airborne Infantry, became a holdover after graduation and received my orders for Italy while at Jump School 2 weeks later. Time of my life, but since I had just finished 16 weeks of Infantry School, it wasn't really as hard as I was expecting. The runs were probably the worst of it, that and sawdust in every orifice of my body....
The PT test being removed from airborne school has let a lot of undeserved wings into units and has caused unteachable soldiers.
Well Stated !
No, I think you mean people have gotten softer and they lowered their standards. A lot of people with diplomas are terrible soliders I'd rather have one with no diploma and know that he has my back on a combat field.
@@zfouleur2904 so very right Z, was in the intelligence field and what a lot of book worms, no shined boots, not ironed uniforms, and when you say something you are the target then.
Boo fucking hoo
Graduated in March 1987 (Bravo Company). Had a blast. It was super windy so we didn't do the 250 ft towers during tower week because in the class before us the wind had blown someone into the tower at about 100 feet and it took them an hour to get him down so we did extra iterations of the lateral drift apparatus...swing landing trainer and suspended agony. We did 2 jumps on the 1st day of jump week then the winds picked up really strong for the next few days.....so on graduation day we jumped 3 times and then got our wings pinned on at Fryar DZ. Red King was our guest speaker for graduation...pretty cool....unfortunately he died the year after that. Our company mascot was a dog named Sampson. He would wait outside the chow hall and nip at your heels if you didn't give him any food on the way out. The chaplain had a special harness made and would jump with him attached tandem. He was promoted to Corporal by Ronald Reagan and his orders proudly hung in the day room for all to see. Our blackhats would tell us not to look at him because he was Airborne and we were all dirty nasty legs so we weren't worthy. Ahhhh the good ole days. Wish I had my company photo but I never ordered it.
Those 3 weeks after Sand Hill were like a vacation by comparison. I went though in the early 90s
Thank you all for your service! I was unable to go to Airborne School as I was a Mech Infantry Platoon Leader, so my toughest training was Army OCS. I envy you all.
I was one of 5 Marines in a class of about 300 or so. All the instructors called all the Marines "Chesty Puller" when talking to us. The school itself was not hard, but I went through in August and the Georgia heat is what sucked.
I went through in '92 in July, coming straight from Fort Lewis, Washington. I stepped off the plane and felt like the oxygen had been sucked out of the atmosphere. I almost passed out standing in the chow line. I'm sure a looked like a freak standing there, bent over at the waist trying to get some blood to my brain so I wouldn't have any setbacks.
Remember the Marine reps there has us do a PT test the Friday before. Those army dudes were failing Marines on push-ups. Semper Fidelis
@@bradleygonzalez1160 yep we had a couple recon studs get sent home for failing push ups. One....one.....one....one...... Ridiculous
Also August 68.
@@timothybannecke5073 I was 2005 so a bit later hahaha
Went thru jump school in '53, C-119's and T-7's and all that, seems like a different world than now. We started out with over 600, Graduated at 290. Wound up 'D' Comp. 505. Russel T. Miller, 1st SGT. Later 623rd QM. PPMAD 'Parachute Packing, Maint. and Aerial Delivery.' You Call, We Haul, You All!!! Airborne
We were jumping out of C-119's in 1970.
Fun time. I am still proud 30 years later I was airborne
Most Airborne School jumps were at night BECAUSE almost everyone had their eyes closed 😆
That's the joke, but better to look to the horizon.
@@oldnatty61 Not a joke in my case. On opening, the shock always smacked my helmet rim down on my BCGs, causing the reflex of shutting my eyes. No matter what remedy I tried.
All 31of my jumps were night jumps!