Posted: 5/20/2007 4:19:48 PM EDT
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*Do you have to be parachute-qualified in the Air Force? If not, is jump school an option in the AF that you can take? *Do you have to be M16, M4, and M9 qualified? How often do you have to re-qualify? Is there any other weapons qualifications you can take? *Is there an option to attend Air Assault school in the Air Force or any other type of additional training available in the Army? Thanks. |
#1 No, but you may get the chance to go to jump school #2 I'm qqualified on everything from the M-9 thru the Mk19 and M2 #3 Yes, I'm security forces and a couple of guys go to the school every year. |
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You may just want to join the Army. |
It depends on your AFSC (job). Aircrew must be parachute qualified. Also, Pararescue. But generally, across the majority of the AF the answer is no.
It depends on mobility/deployment status. These days most people have to qualify. Mainly M9 and M16. Security Forces get to play with other weapons.
I knew a captain who worked in Accounting & Finance of all places. He had an Air Assault badge on his uniform. He knew the regs & apparently in some of those high speed courses there are slots allotted to services other than the Army. However, as a general rule, no. If you want that kind of training while in the AF go CCT or PJ. Tip: You'd better be smart, tough, and determined if you chose one of those paths. |
1. No. Pretty much aircrew are the only ones that HAVE to be parachute-qualified. Yes, hard to come by though. 2. You'll need to be qualified on at least the M9 or the M-16, depends on your rank/job. Not many enlisted qualify on the M9 (except aircrew/security forces). Not many officers qualify on the M-16. Requals happen anywhere from once every 12 months, to once every 24 months, depending on AFSC/deployment requirements. 3. Yes, once again, hard to come by though. Some Airmen get to go through Ranger school, not many though. If you do ROTC in college, you can get a chance at Jump School (Free Fall), and/or Air Assault (gotta pull some good strings to get that, but it can be done). If you go through the Air Force Academy, you can get your jump wings, qualify on the M-16, or whatever else they offer. I think you'd be happier in the Army or Marines. |
1. No, not unless your AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code) calls for it. So, unless you're with Pararescue, Combat Weather, or FAC you won't see jump school. 2. Once again, depends on the AFSC. Security Forces (SF) will qualify on the M9 and M4, and other base personnel will qualify on the M16, except officers, who will qualify on the M9(unless their AFSC calls for M16 qual too). Qualification schedules are base on AFSCs. SF will qualify every 6 mos on both. Most of the rest of the USAF will requalify about every 2-3 years, unless they are deploying, and the way the deployments are going they're requalifying alot sooner. 3. There is, but it's hard to get as the USAF gets very few slots to attend any of these schools. There is a pre-Ranger training program (there was the last time I checked at least) that is pretty tough to pass, but you have to pass it before they'll let you go to the Ranger School. Or if your AFSC requires it or supports going there as a way to further your AFSC (such as Pararescue) that's another way. But to be honest don't count on it. You have to be one high speed, low drag, awesome, and motivate MoFo before anyone would approve it. (Their afraid of you making the USAF look bad in front of the Army by not completing the training) |
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I am a former Air Force Academy Cadet (medical discharge due to my eyes). Like as was previously stated, it usually depends on what job you have. We at the Academy got the opportunity for all three. There was an on-site jump school and weapons qualification for M-16, M-4, and M-9 (no M-4's when I was in, just M-16A1's and A2's), and an opportunity to do Air Assault or even BUDS for those crazy beach bums. So there is plenty of opportunity in the Air Force for any option. Weapons qualification was mandatory for us, but that might be an officer thing, not sure. Oh, and in case you were wondering, AFA Cadet is an actual active duty USAF position, they are NOT "like the ROTC or something." |
One thing to note with that is that this through the Air Force Academy which is the USAF's version of West Point and is for Officer Candidates, not for enlisted. So those options offered by the Academy would not be available to enlisted, and are only available to cadets while they are attending the Academy |
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I guess this goes back to my Air Force vs. Army ROTC dilemma and which is better for a CS major, so I was wondering how much of the "cool stuff" I can get if I follow through with the AF. Oh well, still got a year to think it all through before I sign any contract. |
| When I went through Air Assault at Schofield Barracks, we had some Sailors, Marines, and Airmen doing the course. Not uncommon for courses over in Hawaii, as all four branches are all there and we train on each others training areas. Sometimes much of 25th Inf Division could be gone on deployment and the school will call down to the training offices of the other branches saying "Hey we got a bunch of slots opened for Air Assault that we cannot fill, if you have high speed personnel send them on up." |
BUD/S is NOT available to USAF kadets. They can attend a Mini-BUDS two week indoc for fam purposes only. |