Army Air Assault School - Page 2

Mr Furious · 05-04-2011, 10:10

As a school all by itself, you’ll do fine and I echo 18C4V’s comments about where to pay attention. It also depends on how much mental “weight” is attached to someone attending. It’s a good test for a youngling.

For a young guy in the Infantry it was a big deal. For a young guy in the 327th, it was a very big deal. If you failed, you were received back at the Co as someone who squandered a precious school slot. Lepers were treated better. If you were a young guy in “Charlie Airborne”, and were attending with the rest of the legs in the Battalion…you get the picture. Similar - Ranger School is a school, but if you are sent there from the 75th (where it’s a way of life) there is a very high expectation that you will not squander that precious school slot, and the mental “weight” is upped significantly for you as compared to others to your left and right. It’s a good test.

Good luck, and stay focused.

Waffen · 05-04-2011, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Furious

As a school all by itself, you’ll do fine and I echo 18C4V’s comments about where to pay attention. It also depends on how much mental “weight” is attached to someone attending. It’s a good test for a youngling.

For a young guy in the Infantry it was a big deal. For a young guy in the 327th, it was a very big deal. If you failed, you were received back at the Co as someone who squandered a precious school slot. Lepers were treated better. If you were a young guy in “Charlie Airborne”, and were attending with the rest of the legs in the Battalion…you get the picture. Similar - Ranger School is a school, but if you are sent there from the 75th (where it’s a way of life) there is a very high expectation that you will not squander that precious school slot, and the mental “weight” is upped significantly for you as compared to others to your left and right. It’s a good test.

Good luck, and stay focused.

For mental weight at the moment its mainly the negative vibes I've been getting from the fellow Cadets here in ROTC Battalion. They always get three to four Airborne Slots and the controversial single Air Assault slot. The Air Assault Slot usually goes to the best Cadet of the semester. This semester I was the "best cadet", which angered the ones who didn't get it. They're overall acting as the major demotivational force.

However, their negative energy is my motivational energy.

I can't wait to show back up in August badged.

Thanks everyone for the motivation and advice. Air Assault sounds like they'll give me a good workout and get me into even better shape for beach season (

). In addition, I'll learn a lot of knowledge about helicopters, sling load operations, pathfinder operations, and rappeling to not only bring back to my ROTC Battalion, but my Reserve Unit as well.

Blitzzz (RIP) · 05-04-2011, 20:59

My female LTC "Boss" at Ft Campbell's PT Clinic made it...with a lot of other ladies...
Come on, be a trooper...

zuluzerosix · 05-05-2011, 14:52

I went with a platoon from my company from the 82nd (505th). The school was at Ft Rucker. We had student pilots flying the birds. A few of our folks did not pay attention very well during sling load operations and we lost three members of the 82nd Platoon who FAILED THE TESTING. Several of the NCO's I went with had bad attitudes and were flexing their jump wings in the face of the rappel master/instructors. Then, two of them ended up failing the 9-Line Medivac Request part of the testing. We were smoked often because a few folks from my unit would not stop heckling the instructors. It was very embarrassing to say the least. One of the cadre was a very young corporal who was jump qualified and had just earned his rappel master rating. He was the most impressive E4 I had ever seen.

The class leader was a Marine Major reserve (aviator). The Class NCO leader was his Gunny. The class honor grad was a Nation Guard 2LT female that was barely 5 feet tall and suffered greatly in the road marches. But never, ever fell behind in any PT event. She never received a single No-Go on anything. She was quiet as a mouse. I don't think anybody knew her name even. She was the only female out of 6 that made it.

The class was a real quick quick gut check as well as a mental check up.

Attention to detail.

Last hard class · 05-05-2011, 19:41

7th group sent 4 of us supposedly to help evaluate whether there was a need to add group slots. Things I remember putting in my evaluation upon returning:

As noted above: sling load was very useful.
On the other hand:

Australian repel off the open platform. Amazing how many maroons forgot about the stretch factor in the rope. Worth the price of admission itself.

Ruck march. The packing list included my GP net, poncho liner and rubber boots. I ran the course, got so far ahead I beat the fire guards to the turn off and ended up running the entire loop. Came in last place, waaay late. The Tacs added a boatload of push-ups for being too fast.

That phrase every time you’re left foot hit. Really?

It is a good entry level course. However, I do not believe 7th sent anyone else for a while.

LHC

Stylo · 05-11-2011, 10:57

Well, I went to the Ft Campbell one. And I got dinged my first day because they said they could tell I shaved, but not close enough. Personally, I think they had too many candidates and had to get rid of a few, so yeah, I recycled for shaving.

But really, no offense to the admin types, but REMF's go through it. Same with jump school really. It can be tough but I thought if the cute dental tech at the dental clinic had bullwinkle wings, I should have a passing chance.

And to show my age, I had to learn the link count for a gamma goat.

CSB · 05-11-2011, 20:16

Just do it.

And when you're done, you're going to be embarrassed you wrote about it.

Todd 1 · 05-11-2011, 22:36

As many others have said it’s not hard physically, you’re in good shape, no worries.

The instructors (Ft. Campbell) had their classes memorized and spoke very fast while they taught so it was difficult sometimes to keep up while taking notes. During phase 2 (Sling Load Ops) I stayed late once and reviewed some of the info with the instructor to make sure I was good to go. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or stay late if you need to.

Piece of cake, good luck.

Jefe · 05-13-2011, 06:57

It was not an easy school but certainly not something any good soldier will have trouble with.

My suggestion is to focus on the skill set you take out of there and how it will apply to your operational planning or participation in the future. Any combat soldier should know how to set up an LZ/PZ, call in an in bound advisory, sling loading (a perishable skill at least for me) etc. One of the best things I took out of it was not pushed hard in the class which was was the 5 phases of Air Assault planning.

I need not mention the importance of MEDEVAC training.

And LOL, I did my course at Fort Sherman in Panama via MTT from Fort Rucker. I remember doing the sling load phase in a storm with high winds, rain and friggin lightning.

And guess who gets the Static Probe man! LMAO, I remember feeling pretty vulnerable running out with that lighting rod in my hand to the bird.

Enjoy it and give it 110% and have a good attitude and help your buddies.

lonewolf726 · 05-13-2011, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stylo

And to show my age, I had to learn the link count for a gamma goat.

Same here

Dusty · 05-13-2011, 09:37

Let's just say that if you NoGo, you might as well hang yourself with your Swiss Army Seat.

RYANH · 05-19-2011, 23:46

I did it back in '04. It was a good course, nothing to sweat about. I think the hardest part was trying to get out of the parking lot at lunch, so make sure you pack your lunch or have an MRE and get a few gallons of water to keep in your trunk so you are not just another schmuck standing in line at the water fountain 5 minutes before you have to fall in. Its the little things that will get you kicked out (as said before) so just make sure you have all your crap in one sock. I bought some blank 3x5 cards and made flash cards and that helped me study. I agree with what the QP said up there, you will probably chuckle at yourself when you are done with it for posting the question.

**18C4V** · 05-20-2011, 00:17

Just like what Mr. Furious stated about being an 11 Bravo and having those wings. When I was an 11 Bravo, I was proud to sport those wings. We had our own AA school and if you were an 11B that was one of the schools that you were expected to go to.

Dozer523 · 05-20-2011, 10:35

In 1989 we took a bunch of Egyptian Commandos through it. They didn't even speak English. (they were granted waivers on the written test)

Hacksaw · 05-22-2011, 13:41

Having been a victim of AA as well as Rappel Master (which I still cannot believe was even a real course, I'm sure someone was screwing with me and talk 100 other guys to play along) I think someday you will look back on the school as 3 hours of training cammed into 10 days. The only useful part for me was the sling loading and they went through it so quickly and tested that I got more out of the FM than the hands on. It is the quintesential army course, attriction is the mission and it has a shiney badge. For you 7th GP guys, COL Pullys son was in my Rappel Master course, he seemed like a pretty good kid.