Anyone know if QM BOLC graduates can volunteer for airborne school and become airdrop officers?

I was an active skydiver and now that I am in the Army Reserve, I would be interested in attending jump school.

Thanks!

LT R

Airdrop Officer? Do you mean Jump Master? If so you first must go to Airborne school do your required number of jumps, to include combat simulated, night jumps, earn your senior jump wings, put in for Jump Master school and complete it.

If you mean Airdrop Officer like for equipment etc, then that would be Pathfinder school and you do not have to be jump quaify to attend. (My son just completed Pathfinder school).

Hope that answers your question.

Actually sounds more like Rigger school (aerial delivery). That shows you how to pack parachutes, rig vehicles and supplies for airdrop, etc.

Yes, you can volunteer if they have slots, although you have to already be Airborne before you can do Rigger school since you'll be packing and jumping your own chute.

Here is an article explaining the officer/warrant officers of the parachute rigger field...

http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/oqmg/professional_bul...ute_Rigger_Field.htm

I think an airdrop officer is a staff position. Not much jumping out of planes but coordinating drops and their recovery.

Actually there's a little truth/fact in each of these posts...

I was just selected for a Direct Commission in the AR as an Air Drop Officer for the 421 QM Co (LAS) here in GA and had my first drill, er, Battle Assembly this past weekend. I'm the new Platoon Leader for the Rigger Platoon. In addition to BAC, I've also been offered several other Hooah Schools...

Technically, an Air Drop Officer is a QM-branched officer who as completed the ADMOC course following graduation from the QM OBC at Ft. Lee, VA. ADMOC - Aerial Delivery Material Officer Course is the official title. Here's the intro on the QM website:

The aim of the Aerial Delivery Materiel Officer Course is to train selected officers to perform as Aerial Delivery and Materiel Officers. This is achieved through an extensive practical familiarization of all aspects of the rigger trade and then applying this knowledge in an air logistic planning phase. Students will be required to successfully jump a personnel parachute which they themselves have packed, participate in a heavy drop operation, perform parachute maintenance, pack large cargo parachutes and rig supplies for airdrop.

The best thing is this: The unit, located in middle Georgia - 15 miles from Warner Robins AFB in Macon and 90 miles from Ft. Benning - is under-manned right now and has open slots for anyone interested in attending jump school. As an officer, you can also count on opportunity to attend Air Assault, Pathfinder and possibly Ranger School. No BS - the Commander offered me these schools this past weekend.

Drop me a line for more information.

Semper Fi.

Is it basically a Rigger Officer? I will be putting in for a commission once my current enlistment is up. Im assuming that you are QM branched? I would love to get back on jump status. I have looked but only found a very few ng and reserve units that are on status, and most of them are LRS, SF, or CA units. This would be ideal for me.

quote:

Originally posted by LRSDRANGER:
Is it basically a Rigger Officer? I will be putting in for a commission once my current enlistment is up. Im assuming that you are QM branched? I would love to get back on jump status. I have looked but only found a very few ng and reserve units that are on status, and most of them are LRS, SF, or CA units. This would be ideal for me.

Yes, I'm branched QM - and, yes, it's as a Rigger officer. That said, there's one caveat - the real "Rigger" officers are the Air Drop Techs - the Warrants. As commissioned O's, we'll be tasked with the PL slots - making sure the riggers have everything they need to do their jobs and that all the admin bravo sierra doesn't get in their way or keep they from meeting the mission. Yes, we'll go to ADMOC and get our Rigger Wings but after spending a weekend watching my platoon do thier job I don't have any dreams about being turned loose to pack shoots. It's not my job and I don't want to get in the way of those who do it better than I can. Any of that make sense?

Your profile says Kentucky. If you're willing to relocate or commute, drop me a line when you can break free. I'll have you back on jump status in no time flat. The unit is very dynamic and doesn't do much sitting around.

Semper Fi.

Semper Fi.

I work for an airline so I fly for free. I would have to connect in ATL every time but it seems like I have to do that already. I think when I die my soul will have to connect thru ATL to get where its going.
Anyway, I still have some time left in the USAF. Im trying to get in on a deployment, but in about a year, year 1/2, Ill be looking for my commission and the 421rst sounds ideal for me.

Marine64

That sounds like a real cool job you got into. I'm also in GA, outside Ft. Gordon. I will be finished with my degree in about a year and I was looking into going into the Army as an officer (I'm former Marine Corps too). My interest is Intelligence but I like what I have heard about your job. How did you get a direct commission?

Semper Fi

Ryan

quote:

Originally posted by LRSDRANGER:
I work for an airline so I fly for free. I would have to connect in ATL every time but it seems like I have to do that already. I think when I die my soul will have to connect thru ATL to get where its going.
Anyway, I still have some time left in the USAF. Im trying to get in on a deployment, but in about a year, year 1/2, Ill be looking for my commission and the 421rst sounds ideal for me.

Stay in touch, brother. You'll have a home, that I can promise.

Semper Fi.

quote:

Originally posted by ryn996:
Marine64

That sounds like a real cool job you got into. I'm also in GA, outside Ft. Gordon. I will be finished with my degree in about a year and I was looking into going into the Army as an officer (I'm former Marine Corps too). My interest is Intelligence but I like what I have heard about your job. How did you get a direct commission?

Semper Fi

Ryan

Ryan, are you out completely? If you are - and working on your degree - why not join the Reserves now? You'll get a chance to get your jump wings and actually settle in while working towards your commission. The Army is close enough to the Corps, ideology-wise, that you won't have a hard time adjusting. They are great people (and not all of them are as "ate-up" as we Jarheads are...you know what I mean) and they welcome prior-service folks.

By the way, kudos for your tour as an MSG. I got selected in 1984 and got cold-feet. I should have sucked it up - it would have saved me from a 17 year mistake (that's how long it took the first wife to decide she wanted out).

I had a packet in for GA ARNG WO slot and a Reserve recruiter saw my packet and thought I had what it took for a DC. Two months later I got selected and met with my unit in January. DC is one of the Army Reserves ways of overcoming the manning shortage in the O Corps. Best for prior service. IMO, there's too much of a learning curve for non-ps to walk off the street and be expected to 1)play Soldier and 2) lead Soldiers.

The unit is just outside Macon - about 15 miles on a line between Macon and Ft. Benning. It's about a 2.5 hour commute for me - but I love it. We're billeted at Robins AFB (with a great gym and club) and the unit is very dynamic. We're doing a water-drop at Key West in May and jump on a regular basis.

Drop me a line.

Semper Fi.

I've been out for over three years so I'd have to go to the Warrior Transition Course if I came back in enlisted. I'm not interested in that at all. Also, I'm taking classes full-time so I don't want to take a break in order to go to any training, I just want to get it done! Send me an e-mail, it will be easier to talk that way.

ryn996@hotmail.com

Here is the skinny on the active duty side. Traditionally, active duty 2LTs will be offered a series of schools to follow on after BOLC III/OBC. Quartermaster branch is no exception. Rigger school is occasionally offered. When I was at the tail end of QM OBC, I was offered Airborne School (which I already completed) and Ranger School (which I didnt want). I asked about Rigger School, but the branch manager offering the schools said I could only get it if I would "blackbird" (hang out and do grunt work) for a couple weeks/months. As this risked screwing up my orders to go to Korea, I opted to nix Rigger School.

I knew a number of rigger trained officers on active duty ranging in rank from 2LT to LTC. None of them had actually done any time in rigger units. There are not enough rigger units to keep an officer gainfully employed doing rigger stuff. So those with the training might get a stab at a rigger slot or may not. Either way, they spent the vast majority of their time in more traditional QM endeavors.

Now what Marine64 describes is different. If youre in the USAR/Guard and are slotted for a rigger unit, that unit will almost certainly get you the necessary training to be a full blown rigger.

Thanks, Captain. I appreciate the backup.

Ryan, Capt 300, as usual, is locked on. For the active duty component, everything follows the needs of the Big Green. If you branch QM, there are chances for the schools. In the RC, you find your home and job. Without this Rigger unit being undermanned - both E & O - there was no other way I'd ever get a chance to be guaranteed the schools I've been chasing for over 20 years. Airborne and Rigger (actually ADMOC, not the same but the O version of Rigger school - you still have to pack and jump your own chute) are locked on. Air Assault and Pathfinder are good bets (if I'm still in one piece) and as for Ranger - God Bless `em - that ain't me.

I respect your decision to stay in school and push on through. It took 10 years of on/off deployments to finish my undergrad and I'm half through my Masters now and am looking for the next education goal...

As for WTC, for any Marine it won't be an issue. They wouldn't let me go... Get your degree, do your time and stay in touch.

I'll fire off an email your way soon.

Semper Fi.

Marine64, I must say you have found a great opportunity. Reserve airborne positions are extremely rare and the demand is high. Because of that, airborne guard/reserve units tend to be extremely choosy. I had a friend in OBC going into a rigger slot, but the only reason he got tapped was because he was a prior enlisted USAR rigger! Most of the remaining airborne slots are with Guard SF units. Had a college buddy try to get into one who wasnt prior service. Took an entire year of him badgering a local SF Company before they even looked in his direction! So if you want to be a part time paratrooper, this is a golden opportunity!

quote:

Originally posted by 300_Spartans:
Marine64, I must say you have found a great opportunity... So if you want to be a part time paratrooper, this is a golden opportunity!

I have to agree, Sir. And I'm trying to spread this golden opportunity around. Without being specific (OPSEC), let me just say the unit has many openings available - and many for enlisted riggers - or rigger-wannabees.

I'm still trying to find the best way to get this word out. I'm not sure how many officer slots exist but there are probably at least a few more. I'll gladly pass on the info of anyone who writes to me to the full-timers and the commander. Since I'm new to this I'll let them be the screeners.

Anything you can do to assist would be much appreciated.

Semper Fi.