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Cherry
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 8/2/2006 12:59 PM
Posts: 17,
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I finally have gotten to a point where I am talking to a recruiter and moving forward on the enlistment process.
A quick THANK YOU to all members here who have givin advice on these pages.
I am waiting on waivers right now, but in about a month I will be going in front of a meps counseller, and I have a concern with my contract wording and something my recruiter is saying.
Briefly, the contract I am wanting is 19d with an airborne guarantee. Not just the chance to go to Airborne school, but to be stationed in a unit on jump status. My recruiter is telling me that you get the choice of one or the other...airborne school OR first duty station, but no way both. I asked about not choosing a fds, but getting a guaranteed airborne slot (would that be "unassigned airborne"?). He says that is the same as first duty stn.
Today I was in the office, and another recruiter just returned from meps with a guy that went engineer and airborne, and said that he couldn't get duty station, so I'm not sure that my recruiter is incorrect.
I just want to make sure the contract will be worded correctly. I don't ABSOLUTELY have to go to Bragg, as long as I am in an airborne unit. My recruiter said that I would 'most definitely' go to Bragg, but I have heard of too many people not gettin an airborne guarantee and going to a 'leg' division.
Any help would, as always, be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
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Stare Master
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Because of the few airborne 19D slots I can't say that your recruiter is wrong. If you get Bragg as your duty station I do believe the 82nd is your only option for unit, which means you would go to jump school. Getting Vicenza would probably mean the same thing.
On the other hand, if you took a place like Ft. Polk as your first duty station you would not necessarily go to jump school and the 509th. I think the 2nd ACR would be the more likely assignment in that situation(I am pretty sure that going to Alaska as a 19D would mean to the new Stryker brigade as opposed to the 501st). However, at least for 19D in the 509th, being jump qualified is not a prerequisite and you would almost be guaranteed the opportunity to go to jump school at some point if assigned as OPFOR. I don't know if this helps but good luck in any event.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Regular Joe
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Last Login: 7/10/2008 1:51 PM
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509 is right........there are very few 19D airborne assignments.
If you are determined to be a 19D and they will guarantee Jump school but not an airborne assignment then I would take it........why you might ask? Because typically if you don't complete airborne training immediately after IADT then you might not get the chance again. I know you will be told that you can apply for jump school at any time in your career.........and that may happen........it happens to other troops.........but it is much more difficult to get.
Of course if you sign up for 11B with airborne school you can almost guarantee an airborne assignment....and that opens up a slew of other school ops for your future.
 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/hardplf/album1/gixxer_Horiz.jpg">
We will not tire, We will not falter, We will not fail. Pres George W. Bush, 26 Oct 2001
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Cherry
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 8/2/2006 12:59 PM
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Thanks for the speedy replies...
I guess I have something to think abut now.
You both bring up very good points.
509, you hit on an idea I had though about, but wasn't sure about the logic. What if I got Bragg as first duty station. It would seem that since there are no NON-airborne units at Bragg, it would make sense that they would, by default, send me to Abn school before going there, right?
But gixxer also makes a good point in that if Airborne is not guaranteed in the contract, it is almost impossible to get later on. Better to get the wings and go to an armor div than to not get them at all.
I really am set on 19d, and I'm really set on ABN, also. I really couldn't choose one or the other. I know the combo is hard to get, but if it is possible, someone will get it...might as well be me, why not? As far as slots opening up, I am willing to wait. I just don't know the right approach for the contract. I guess it comes down to those two logics above.
hmmm, I'm not sure now, I didn't think that I would face this conflict.
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Stare Master
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While there are non-airborne units at Bragg those are support units, artillery, aviation, MI, etc. As a 19D going to Bragg I think the only option would be the 82nd and you would have to go to jump school first. I believe this would be the same for the 173rd in Vicenza.
As for going later, I think generally Gixxer is right I do believe there are some exceptions. If you went to a unit like the 509th or the 10th Mountain as a 19D it is much more likely you will get a slot to jump school. I know that non-jumpers in the 509th are "strongly encouraged" to go to BAC and the unit does get slots that they send people to. My feeling is that the light units such as the 10th Mountain and 25th ID also have an easier time sending their soldiers to BAC, even though they may not have an airborne slot open for them.
It sounds to me as if your best option is to go to Bragg or Vicenza, since that seems to be the way to get the MOS, BAC and a jump slot. You could try Polk and arrive a couple of days before your PCS leave ends and go to the 509th HQ to see if you can get assigned if your orders read 2nd ACR. But again, it seems like Bragg or Vicenza is your best option.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Got Silk?
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Last Login: 11/29/2008 1:51 PM
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I'm not all too sure that what the recruiter dude told you is correct. My brother just got BOTH airborne school and Bragg in his contract. His MOS is 25S and there aren't very many airborne slots for that MOS either. I would venture to guess less than 19D.
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ArmyParatrooper.org
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Cherry
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 8/2/2006 12:59 PM
Posts: 17,
Visits: 49
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Thanks for the advice, 509.
One other question, what is 'unassigned airborne'.
I have read about it in other posts, but I;m not sure exactly where it lies in the contract, if it does get in there. I am under the impression that it guarantees a unit that is on status, but not a specific unit. Is it, however, considered like getting a GSOC? or could that be specified along with BAC, to ensure a jump status unit?
OK, I lied, one more question, for anyone that might know. I have been reading lately about the changes with the 82nd and 173rd adding another brigade(UA?), and that they are adding more scout companies. I believe I read that somewhere on this sight, I post a link if I can find it. Will those slots be filled with 11b's, or actual 19d's? Just curious, as that may open quite a few slots for 19d ABN's in the near future.
Thanks again.
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Regular Joe
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Last Login: 9/9/2007 12:37 PM
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Hey Trooper thanks for going CAV!!!!!!! Each UA will have a Recon Squadron and 70 19D Cavalry Scouts per Troop, 2 Troops in the Sqdrn. SOOOOOO...that means that with the 82nd going UA soon and 173rd already UA and 501st going UA in AK after they get back fron OEF thats atleast 6 UA/BCTs that you could go to. Branch is hurting for qualified 19Ds P or V qualified not locked in an assignment. That means that 'cruits are getting choice assignments. 2ACR guys who made drug deals to get assignments priop to branch showin' up down there to help in reassignment are kickin' themselves since now all those JAFOs who got less than a year in the Army are now getting assignments like Bragg and Italy. Jump on it and fast, the longer you wait the greater the chance of not getting either. Worst case scenerio is that you go to a Bradley unit after airborne school and have to wait a coulpe of years to get Italy or AK.
"Look around, this is old school, this is Cavalry!" Bruce Willis actor eastern Iraqi FORWARD!!!
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