Can I be a female Paratrooper?

[Anonymous]

I just want to know if women are allowed to go to jump school and such. I've not been able to find that answer on the web.

-Mels

Mels@sanctuary.org

[Anonymous]

Mel,

Yes you can be a Paratrooper (already female right :-) ). But as with anything there is a catch. You can go to Airborne (paratrooper) school and earn your wings but it is very hard to get assigned to an Airborne unit (those that actually still jump from planes once done with school) as a female. Here is the reason. The Army has only one Airborne Division the 82nd get assigned here and you will more than likely be able to still jump, and one Brigade in Italy that are on jump status. All the others on jump status (meaning again they still jump from planes after the school) are the elite units that females are currently not assigned too such as Delta, Special Operations (Green Berets ie Special Forces) and Ranger Battalions. Females are allowed in Support of these units although not large numbers so you may have hope there. Other than this most women (and men for that matter) attend the school and never jump again with the military, meaning that they don't get the extra pay either. So yes you can become a Paratrooper but after the school unless assigned to one of these units don't expect to use the skill that often. Good luck to ya and keep the gung-ho attitude you seem to have now and you can make it. Actually you can even have "jump school" as it is called placed in your contract when you enlist so check it out with a recruiter.



pritro454@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

Will add to Prito's that there are active jump slots available at the 101st also. Although the primary thrust of the 101st is Air Assault, there are many units that have jump required slots.

Will also add another thing. Jump qualification always helps in matters of promotion when you are a female. Even if you don't get to use the skill, it says something for you when you appear before promotion boards. Not so much in the point category, but in the perception of the board. There are not many schools that give the "illusion" of combat readiness that females can attend, this is one and people look at you twice if you have the wings.

[Anonymous]

: Will add to Prito's that there are active jump slots available at the 101st
: also. Although the primary thrust of the 101st is Air Assault, there are
: many units that have jump required slots.
:
: Will also add another thing. Jump qualification always helps in matters of
: promotion when you are a female. Even if you don't get to use the skill,
: it says something for you when you appear before promotion boards. Not so
: much in the point category, but in the perception of the board. There are
: not many schools that give the "illusion" of combat readiness
: that females can attend, this is one and people look at you twice if you
: have the wings.


If you are interested in jump school look up this website www.benning.army.mil. This website gives all the information needed about jump school. Also jump school and Airborne school are different the only way to go to jump school is if you are an E-5 or higher. The Fort benning web page has answered many of my questions. It gives great details of what is expected and what the qualifications are for all schools that are specialist in the Army.

zmiranda@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

: I just want to know if women are allowed to go to jump school and such. I've
: not been able to find that answer on the web.
:
: -Mels


Here's an easy way, yeah right, to get jump wings and be assigned to an AIRBORNE unit. Go for Rigger. That's the MOS that packs the chutes and you have to be jump qualified. It's a lot of responsibility but it's worth it. Good luck.

traumahead@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

Being a rigger is definitely a great way to get assigned to an airborne unit. Also, your recruiter has the ability to check and see which MOS's are under-strength. Just be forewarned- if you get into the 82nd with an understrength MOS, you are stuck... so make sure it is something that you will like doing.

Best of luck to you, if you want to email me with questions, feel free.



colleen@airbornewomen.com

[Unregistered]

Just because one goes to Airborne school it does not make one a "Paratrooper". You are just "Jump Qualified" signifying that you did attend and graduate the course.

Just like going to Ranger School does not make you a Ranger. Not all Rangers have successfully completed Ranger School. But they graduate Ranger Indoctrination and get assigned to one of the Ranger Battalions.

[LTC William E. Bailey]

Airborne School, also known as jump school, is a three week course of instruction that teaches service members how to safely exit an aircraft while in flight, and maneuver their individual parachute in the air and to land safely on the drop zone. The school accepts males and females of all grades from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, and is the preeminent military parachute training activity in the United States military. There are three primary phases: ground week, tower week, and jump week. During ground week, students will be instructed in the parachute landing fall, aircraft exits, the lateral drift simulator and jump simulations on the 34-foot tower. In that first week, it is imperative that you display to the instructors, the "Black Hats," your motivation, focus, strength and ability to follow instructions.
Tower week. In this second week, Airborne students will practice further on the 34-foot tower, but they will also experience training on the Swing Landing Trainer, the Suspended Harness and possibly conduct jumps from the school's 250-foot tower derived from the parachute ride tower at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The training during this second week is a combination of physical and technical. The final week is when the students' training all comes into focus. Between Monday and Thursday of that last week, Airborne students will jump five times from military aircraft including the C-130 and the C-17. These jumps will be conducted with minimum equipment "Hollywood-style" and with full equipment including simulated weapons. Four of those jumps will take place in daylight while one must be a night jump. After completing the course you will be awarded the coveted Basic Parachutist Badge to wear on your uniform.

The best way to guarantee this course is to choose an MOS (military occupational specialty) that requires this training, like Parachute Rigger. Almost everyone assigned to Ft Bragg, NC is on jump status, even the band is on jump status. If you can get assigned to COSCOM (Corps Support Command) for the XVIII Airborne Corps you will get jump status.

All officers are given the option of requesting and, assuming they can meet the minimal PT standards, attend this training. I completed this training in February 1982, and have been a proud paratrooper ever since. There is no difference between those who take the school and are never on jump status, and those who take the school and subsequently get on jump status. Jump status is in many cases a matter of luck. Obviously, the more you jump the better you will become at this skill. Good luck.

[emerald]

Hi, Thanks for the info. I might look to see if I will be eligible for Jump school.