I'm an 11X waiting to leave for OUST this July. When I'm through, will I be offered airborne school, or will I have to wait untill theres an open slot maybe a year from then? Did i get the shaft because airborne isn't in my contract? Is it the same with air assault, even though my first duty station is at Fort Cambell?

you should have airborne recruiters coming to see your "class" in ait that will offer you the chance to volunteer for airborne training. I hope you get it, being airborne isn't just an identifier, it is a better way of life. 8)

I don't know what they do these days but there sure weren't any airborne recruiters coming to see me in basic back in 97. When I got to my first duty station jump school was completely out of the question (can't drop Bradleys out of airplanes) See if you can get your contract changed if you really want to go. Keep in mind too that there are a lot of good soldiers and good oprotunities in light and mech infantry units too, Airborne isn't all that great.

If you're Infantry & going to Ft. Campbell you'll have to go to Air Assault school. Not quite Airborne but you'll be able to put in for jump school once you get to your unit. Airborne recruiters will appear at basic or AIT with a few available slots. The honor graduate has a free pass. At that time you'll also be able to apply for Ranger training. You can have one or the other. At this time the 101st Abn Air Assault is just returning from Iraq so it may be a while before they get the school running again. With the 101st Air Assault is not an option but a requirement. My son tried getting Airborne in his contract but it was a no-go. He even told them he was going to the Marines where he could get jump school & they just didn't care. I even tried invoking the Old Boy Network as I'm a retired Airborne 1SG but that sure didn't work. If Airborne classes are filled they're filled. I had a CSM friend at Benning check for my son but he couldn't do anything. At one time if a recruit told them Airborne or nothing they'd bend over backwards getting it in a contract. He tried everything but the one thing he got was a $10,000 bonus for 11B by stalling. If you can go into basic with 11C (mortarman) in your contract you can get into Ranger training(at this time, subject to change) as they have an 11C shortage. Then Airborne becomes a neccessity in a Ranger Battallion. They can probably fill the 11C slots rapidly though. It seems it's just like the weather in Wisconsin- wait a few days & it'll be altogether different! My son couldn't even get Infantry at 1st & almost had to settle for Cav Scout but a few days later it was a shortage bonus MOS. with units returning it's hard to say what sort of retention problems they may have. It seems the "cool" slots- Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces, Air Assault fill up rapidly. Even straight leg Infantry. It all depends on what time of the year you join as it's very seasonal. Feb. seems to be a dead zone for recruiters.
Top out.

Hey, with all due respect, Top, nobody "settles" for Cav Scout.

K2
19D Cav Scout

I've heard both sides of the story before. A MSG recruiter said that they'le ask for vonunteers at the end of the course. I've also heard that people have gotten screwed by not having it in the contract. So I don't know if I should change my contract or not. Advice? I also only got a $1,000 bonus, should I try to renegotiate that as well?

Nothing like jumping a mortar plate to make you feel manly.

K2,
No disrespect intended to 19D. My son wanted Infantry & they kept telling him that there were no slots available. The 19D offered a 3 yr enlistment w/no bonus. After trying for about 3 months Infantry finally opened up with a 4 1/4 yr enlistment & a $10,000 bonus. In my family alone including 3 uncles 4 cousins & myself we were all Infantry & he was trying to keep a family tradition going. Nothing is more disappointing than trying to join in a particular MOS & there's nothing available. I'm sure he would have made one heck of a scout but that's not what he wanted to join the Army for. They even offered him 13B. He wanted to be an Infantryman like his old man. Rather than not join at all he [i:606a12ddad]would[/i:606a12ddad] have "settled" for 19D. If he could have gotten the same bonus but only as a CavScout I sure would have counselled him to do so tradition notwithstanding.
Top out.

You won't be able to renegotiate a contract for a larger bonus if there are non available at that time. It went from no slots available to a $10,000 bonus in a few days. Jan & Feb are barren months for recruiters, the freeze on existing soldiers was lifted & my son just lucked into it. On his contract it read "seasonal bonus". Prior to that 11B was an overstrength MOS as all the Infantry divisions went overstrength for the war. That included Airborne, Special Forces & Rangers. It was impossible for my son to negotiate for Airborne. There just weren't any slots available at that time nor any room at jump school. Maybe he'll be able to get it or Ranger school before his 1st assignment. First there has to be the needs of the service. Then room at the school & don't forget that the Airborne school trains the other Armed Services as well so there may be a waiting list. Then if all that comes together he has to be recommended by his Drill SGT & Co. Commander. Once he gets to his 1st duty station he'll have a chance to put in for it again but there too it's the needs of the service. If the Army had it's way every soldier would go through jump school or Ranger school. It's another level of skill training & leadership training.But thats not gonna happen. Just become the honor grad & you'll have a free
pass!LOL.
Top out.

Ah, Airborne. Something as a 74B I can only dream about. Meant to get it when I re-enlisted, but thought a DOIM slot was more enticing.

well the nice thing about a low density MOS is you may not be able to get airborne in your contract, but if you can get Ft. Bragg in there then you as good as Airborne. I went through it while I was afraid of heights and had never really been on a plane more then 3 times in my life. It was a lot of fun, and I would recommend it to anyone who was up for a little life risking thrill.