U.S. ARMY AIRBORNE SCHOOL

  

Airborne School consist of three phases

During Ground Week, students begin an intensive program of instruction to build individual airborne skills, which will prepare them to make a parachute jump, and land safely. Students will train on the mock door, the 34 foot (10 m) tower, and the lateral drift apparatus (LDA). To go forward to Tower Training Week, students must individually qualify on the 34 foot (10 m) tower, the LDA, and pass all PT requirements.

The individual skills learned during Ground Week are refined during Tower Week and team effort or “mass exit” concept is added to the training. The apparati used this week are the 34-foot towers, the swing landing trainer (SLT), the mock door for mass exit training, the suspended harness, and the 250-foot (76 m) free tower. Tower Week completes your individual skill training and builds team effort skills. To go forward to Jump Training Week students must qualify on the SLT, master the mass exit procedures from the 34-foot (10 m) tower, and pass all PT requirements.

Successful completion of the previous weeks of training prepares students for Jump Week.  During Jump Week students must successfully complete five parachute jumps, at 1,250 feet from a C-130 or C-17 aircraft. Trainees must run to the air field, conduct pre-jump training, and then get into their harnesses and await their turn to jump. Generally, two of the jumps are “combat equipment jumps”, in which the jumper carries a ruck sack and a dummy weapon. Three jumps are “hollywood”, in that the jumper only wears the parachute and reserve. One jump is at night, although, during training cycles where Jump Week falls on a three day week (due to a Federal holiday), a night jump is not mandatory to graduate.  Graduation is normally conducted at 0900 on Friday of Jump Week at the south end of Eubanks Field on the Airborne Walk. However, if weather, or some other reason delays the scheduled jumps, graduation may be conducted on Fryar Drop Zone (DZ) after the last jump.

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Be a contracted cadet
• Complete the MS I year of ROTC
• Pass the Army Physical Fitness Test
• Demonstrate ability to do at least 6 pullups
• Receive an approved Army/Air Assault Physical within 18 months of attendance
• Instructor Nomination
• Since attendance at Airbore School is both mentally and physically challenging, the PMS will assess each applicant, with special emphasis on overall physical fitness and the maturity level to attend and complete the course