My Airborne School Experience and Tips

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My recommended Packing List:
1. Pillow and Blanket
2. Running Boots (Garmont NFS) and Running Shoes (Hoka’s) Bring running inserts.
3. Comfortable shoes for hotel (Crocs are great if parking lot floods)
4. Buy / bring your own Canteen.
5. Laundry bag, laundry detergent (tide pods are best + easier to carry), dryer sheets.
6. Hydration Packets with Electrolytes (Drip drop is good)
Ground Week (Week 1)
• The 1st week has 2-mile runs (from the parking to the training area and back)
• During the first week you run before and after lunch to the training area.
• Introduction of how to land properly to minimize injury and to get familiar with the gear (parachute bag). (Also, introduction to your 5 points of performance).
• Begins with two physical assessments:
o Flex Arm Hang - where students perform a pull-up and remain in place for 10 seconds. Same technique used to perform a “Slip”, where paratroopers grab the handles called ‘risers’ to adjust the direction of the parachute.
o Reach Assessment - assesses a student’s ability to reach the cable in the aircraft.
• Instructors (Black hats) teach students how to wear their parachute harness and use their gear correctly.
• Students learn a technique called the parachute landing fall (PLF), which helps them land safely. Students use the lateral drift apparatus. A zip line they slide across and then let go and land.
• The first week I did the 34FT Tower and 2nd Week I did the 34FT Tower again (with ruck)
Tower Week (Week 2)
• The 2nd week has 3-mile runs (from the parking lot to the track surrounding the 250 FT Towers; 1-2 laps and back)
• 250FT Tower Demonstration you may have to do, When I went in April 2023, they took volunteers. They are bringing this tower back, but I would recommend waiting until Jump Week to prevent any injuries.
• Students are again evaluated until they have developed a proper exit technique at the 34FT Towers.
• Last exercise- The improved swing landing trainer.
o An opportunity to practice a parachute-landing fall
o You are rigged into a harness that swings like a literal swing from a playground. The instructor pulls a cord that causes you to fall. You will have to do this a lot.
• Instruction on how to rig a Molle 4K Ruck into Jump Configuration (group / with battle buddy)
Jump Week (Week 3)
• NO PT This week! (No running except to the airfield in OCPs)
• Students apply their training in five different jumps at 1250 FT (3-day time, 2 night time)
• Begins with a jog to the airfields where students pick up their parachutes
• Instructors inspect every inch of the parachute to ensure that nothing can injure the jumper or cause a malfunction.
• Must successfully complete all five jumps to receive airborne wings or “Silver Wings”
• Don’t be a jump refusal, REMEMBER all your training.

[@ayconighthawk8303]

Great video! This video had some really good and informative information about airborne school. And definitely makes me want to go volunteer for it. Keep up the hard work and keep posting more content for other to see!

[@johnpaullong7977]

Glad it was helpful! I will try to post more!

[@lauraluwhoo5978]

Thank you for making this video ! Very helpful !

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@lauraluwhoo5978 no problem!! Glad it was helpful!

[@cbax2869]

Finally! Thank you so much for this video! It's just what my daughter needed! She's going to jump school next month. So 2 mile runs the first week then 3 mile runs the second week? My information to her is kind of outdated since I went to the school 30 years ago lol. Thanks again!

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@cbax2869 that's correct!😊 the run pace varies from 9:30 plus or minus 15 seconds (9:45 or 9:15 sometimes!) Always happy to help!

[@dmbvidz]

How did she do? I’m getting ready for airborne school

[@saucealito4067]

Sir, I’m going to Airborne school this upcoming Friday and I can’t do a pull up. Will I not graduate?

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@saucealito4067 you’ll need to be able to hold your head above the bar. It’s truly up to the cadre

[@dylangirouard]

I’m on the bus right now to airborne. Looks like we’ll be in the same class. I heard if you can’t do the 10 second pull-up you can do it on a machine that’s easier than a bodyweight pull up. Good luck!

[@ChrisFulcher-y9o]

Do they do an inspection for the packin list? Also do you have to show up with sewn on nametapes and rank or can you attend with Velcro?

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@ChrisFulcher-y9o Schools NCOIC should have a packing list for you. I don’t think they had a layout. Yes, Velcro name tapes is good to wear.

[@michaelhall529]

I have a soldier who wants to reenlist for airborne but they struggle with the 3 miler. I’ve heard that falling out or finishing too slow on those runs are drops. Can you elaborate or confirm that?

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@michaelhall529varies by Company 1SG / CDR, but I think you can fall out a max of 2-3 times. There is no PT runs during the last week. There should be a max of 6 runs. Practice hill sprints. I’ve seen people graduate and fallout 3 times

[@cbax2869]

What company were you in?

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@cbax2869 Charlie company! I graduated April 21st 2023!🪂

[@jesusbarraza3050]

Do you take an ACFT?

[@johnpaullong7977]

@jesusbarraza3050 no ACFT before or during Airborne school at all. Just normal PT

[@arielipruitt1728]

Did you guys run “cardiac hill” at all?

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@arielipruitt1728 No, not for PT at all. Cardiac hill you run down hill for the final week (3rd week) but it’s in uniform and boots. Also very slow pace.

[@arielipruitt1728]

Awesome, this video helped me prepare a lot. Thanks!!

[@johnpaullong7977]

@@arielipruitt1728 Cardiac hill is really good to run to prepare. Just be careful with cars!