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Regular Joe
 
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Last Login: 3/20/2008 8:25 AM
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The bottom line is since the early '80's jump school is designed to graduate the soldiers in BAC and is not designed to weed out individuals that will not make it in an Airborne unit. I could go to any coed basic training graduation class, select 50 graduates by random and 99% of them will make it through BAC. In the end all you have is a BAC graduate. Air Assault School is infinitely more difficult. That same group I selected, only 50% will graduate AAS. So who is the better soldier? You aren't a Paratrooper until that first combat load mass tactical jump when you are laying in the sand down on Green Ramp (or Hunter AAF,etc.) after some guy you never met before is helped you get all your equipment on and you are wondering how the fuck you got there. That same stranger helps you up, you waddle out to the plane and go for a ride with two things on your mind, first, you have to piss and there is no where to go and, second, you wonder if you are going to make it out the door. I mean these guys are nuts. The order to stand up comes. You hook up, equipment check, sound off and now you are 1 minute out. These maniacs are screaming their asses off, sliding their static lines back and forth on the cable and pounding on each other's backs. Holy shit, no one ever acted like this in jump school. The light turns green and EVERYONE is screaming go, go, go, go! Hell you don't have to worry about not going out the door, there is no where else to go, you are part of one solid mass, falling, not "properly exiting" out the door, you have too much equipment on to even think of how to properly exit. You hit the ground like a bag of shit, feet, ass, head. But you are alive. Course now you have 2 weeks humping in the field, but fuck it, now you are a Paratrooper!
Kurt V We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;For he to-day that sheds his blood with meShall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,This day shall gentle his condition:And gentlemen in England now a-bedShall think themselves accursed they were not here,And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaksThat fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
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Stare Master
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Kurt, I don't think being a Paratrooper is about graduating BAC(although that is a necessary first step) or doing that first combat equipment mass tac. To me it's about the attitude you bring to the job. I've known more than a few who were in units on jump status but who never had the attitude. I've known several who never had the opportunity to serve in an Airborne unit and did have that attitude.
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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BS6's Dude
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It's all about attitude, and this freakin' thread just REEKS of it...
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Strac Trooper
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| Good post Kurt V.! Not to take away from all of the "other" Soldiers out there you are a very important part of the fight! Hell My Son is a stinking leg (for now) and I'am most PROUD of him! BUT If you ain't a Paratrooper you ain"t S***! 
HHC 3/325, 4/325 83 - 89
LETS GO!!!USPMA #11, CVMA #1271 NH 5-1
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Green GI
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Last Login: 1/23/2008 6:33 PM
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JR (10/5/2005)
"Hopefully, I can get a packet together this winter. If not, I may have to wait until spring." WTF and Geez, Louise...
See, if you were Airborne - You wouldn't be moving at LEG speed.
BTW - There's no "honor" inavoiding PLDC and remaining the highest ranking combatveteran SPC. Put all that experience to good use and getthe rank you need to really LEAD and make a difference to your troops- Hooah?!?!?!?
In the Old Guard, the mission load is far greater than any unit I've heard of. All of us from other units, 101st, 75th RGR, 82nd, 4th ID, etc are burnt out within the first few months from the intensity. So, I am moving at LEG speed but in the process have spent two months doing the Army's largest public show(Spirit of America), another three months doing shows at the White House Ellipse (Twilight Tatoo), doing Inaugural events culminating in the Inaugural Parade and I have spent over a month total in Arlington. Not to mention a few weeks doing Infantry train-up at AP Hill during the brief periods my company had between ceremonial missions. Oh, yeah, and I have worn the inevitable wig and tights that come with any Commander-in-Chief's Guard mission more than a few times as well.That's just since January.
A plus side to the above is a picture with Miss America 2004 , and a chance to talk to Darryl Worley, John Michael Montgomery, Kelsey Grammar, Kenny Chesney, Michael Peterson, the SMA, CSA, and too many other persons to list. So I admit it isn't all work and no play.
As for PLDC, well, I have little desire to go until absolutely necessary. For one, it means leaving my Soldiers for a month. Also, the Army has changed it's policy, gone are the days where one needed to attend PLDC prior to becoming a Sergeant. I am an E-5 Sergeant myself and the only thing the course affects is me getting my E-6. I should be at PLDC within a month or two and theoretically at the E-6 board by the end of next year. Truthfully, I can stay an E-5 for a few more years and be happy knowing my Soldiers are the best out there. My knowledge of paperwork is better than that of of my peers that have attended the course and it is unanimous that the course is nothing more than waste of time, if you listen to what they say. I know better and actually look somewhat forward to going and bringing back what I can. I have yet to attend a school I have not learned something useful from. Still, I don't want to miss out on too much around here.
Finally, as for rank, I learned long ago that only weak leaders need it in most cases. It is nice to earn the pay and stripes that accompany one's position. It's also nice to be able to stand up to other leaders of equal rank. Still, I have seen PFC's take charge of Specialists and Sergeants in a fireteam and lead them effectively. I saw very few Infantry Corporals at Campbell, though we had alot of E-4 teamleaders. The thought was that if they needed stripes to be leaders, they shouldn't be leaders.
Ne Desit Virtus
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Green GI
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Last Login: 1/23/2008 6:33 PM
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No, it's If you ain't CAV, you ain't [expletive deleted]!
Ai-ee-yah!
Sgt William
3/187 IN 3rd Armored Cavalry Rgt Husaybah, Iraq November 2003 http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/dec2003/a120203d.html
or is it
3/187 IN 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) Baghdad, Iraq April 2003
I'm kidding, please don't kick my arse.
Or am I?
Brave Rifles lead the way!
Edited to state my Cavness:
I had to help show 3rd ACR how to clear towns.
They ain't CAV, but 3rd ID could be and I got a little PUC with them.
My beloved 3/187 IN is now 1/33 CAV (2/187 is now 3/187).
I get the joy of attending PLDC at Fort Knox, KY. Home of Cavalry and Armor. They won't know what hit them when the 11B2leg CAV trooper with a chicken on his shoulder comes to PLDC. I might do a couple of pushups, but I'll show them what a motivated Cav trooper should be.
Ne Desit Virtus
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Stare Master
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Rakkasan, bottom line is don't take the "leg" title personally. You'll find out that BAC is more mental than physical. But there is a tremendous amount of personal pride that comes from wearing the wings once you have earned them. One of our members(I can't remember who) used to have a quote from James Gavin in his signture that went something to the effect "of course we're cocky, we're Paratroopers". Take the PLDC slot. The Army always needs motivated, combat experienced NCOs. Don't put off working on your packet for BAC, get it ready as soon as possible since it will take time for your orders to come through anyway.
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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