Here is question and a little about myself. I am 38 years, maxed my last 2 APFTs, and an officer. I have read the forums and know what is expected for the school. My concern is the timed ruck march.

I have the chance to get a slot to go to Air Assault School, but I want to make sure I am in good shape. Just because I max the APFT does not mean I am good to go. I am a little older than the averagae candidate, but I could use some advice on how to prepare for the ruck march. Any other info would be appreciated also.

Hopefully the responses will help others in the future. Thanks in advance for all replies.

if you can't LOWCRAWL the 12 miles in 3 hours, you should be buried (cause you died along the way)

seriously.. wear boots that are broken in and comfortable. BALANCE your load... have plenty of water, and run as much as you can.
i did my march in 1:36 (i ran most of it) now my record was broken by a 40 year old LTC. Col Dewitt did it in 1:21

if he can do it, you can too.

It's not that bad, If you are taking the course at Campbell the first 6 miles are pretty flat, most of the big hill don't come into play untill the last half of the 12 miler. Make dam sure you hydrate, drink as much water as you can the day before and during the march. I did mine in July over 20 years ago, and it was pretty dang hot that day. My BDU's when I finshed were white from sweat. The leg cramps will come latter that night, LOL enjoy!

Elesso hit it on the head. Run as much as you can and stay ahead of the insructor at the rear, he's keeping the pace. If you are in any kind of good shape the road marches are the least of your worries.

Now this was a tower!

http://www.dunnes.net/homepage...ault/airassault.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 21580200,

Funny Steve , I got the diploma and the orders but I didn't recieve paperwork for the badge.

Me either, must have been a zoomie thing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 21580200,

quote:

Originally posted by Redburch:
Here is question and a little about myself. I am 38 years, maxed my last 2 APFTs, and an officer. I have read the forums and know what is expected for the school. My concern is the timed ruck march.

I have the chance to get a slot to go to Air Assault School, but I want to make sure I am in good shape. Just because I max the APFT does not mean I am good to go. I am a little older than the averagae candidate, but I could use some advice on how to prepare for the ruck march. Any other info would be appreciated also.

Hopefully the responses will help others in the future. Thanks in advance for all replies.

Here is the deal and it's been 20+ years since I went but still the same course.

1. Upper body strength and Upper Body endurance is going to be required a little bit for the Obstacle Course because they stress the hieght related obstacles to make sure your not fearful of hieghts. The obstacles are somewhat laid back one of them is a verticle ladder with the risers getting further and further apart as you climb. The top riser is about 30-40 feet off the ground and at chest level, you have to be able to pull yourself up on that go over the top and climb back down. There is a rope climbing exercise for like 25 feet or so to a horizontal telephone pole you have to slap with the palm of your hand and descend. Thats the worst you have to worry about in regards to climbing. I'm 6-5 and I remember the rope climb really wasn't hard, if you jump up to grab the rope your halfway there....lol.
So don't worry too much on the upper body stuff.

2. Running endurance. Here what I would stress is the ablilty of your body to take running slowly or fast walking for most of the Day. Your not allowed to walk on Air Assault School grounds, you have to double time everywhere. Not too bad. The ruck sack march is a LOT more lienient then Ft. Benning Infantry OSUT 12 miler or the EIB 12 miler. If you can run 5 miles in 45 min or less your fine with the ruck march.

3. The part that almost did me in and the part where MOST fail is the slingloading phase because it is all rote memorization and you MUST get a system down for rigging a vehicle. So thats the trick to passing. Be very attentive to watching the instructor demonstrate and follow his walk around system for inspection (memorize the checks) of a object that is rigged. They can test you on up to 7 different objects and each requires different checks. So best way to learn is to walk around the object clockwise and memorize the rigging checks that way. Where people fail here is they just run up to the object without a system and try to remember everything, and go in various directions checking things.....you'll probably fail if thats the approach you take here.

4. As with any Army school the first day will make or break you for the course if you don't do well. Follow the packing list religiously, make sure all items are clean and serviceable and shine for that first inspection and be motivated on zero day performance. Some people failed this part, which is unbelievable.

Other then the above the course is easy and if you can max the APFT you have a better then average chance of passing the school. So go for it!!!

If your afraid of hieghts or falling on the obstacle course....again get a system down for each obstacle and procedurally follow the system in your mind, don't think of how high up you are, just focus on the system for getting over that obstacle.....really, thats the trick for any obstacle.

quote:

Originally posted by 21580200:
Me either, must have been a zoomie thing.

Seeing that it pre dates his awards. I think that is some sort of diagnostic PT form from the AF. When I went through, there were a dozen or so from my Company that went at the same time. The AAS at Rucker was set up a bit differant. When AAS was not in session, many of the units trained on their obstacle course.

Sir, just come ready to cram in a lot of info quick, especially during phase II. The material itself is not difficult but there is little time to learn it in and little room for error. The saying "slow is smooth and smooth is fast" and "attention to detail" is epitmoized there, especially during the phase II practical test of the slingloads. I went last summer as a cadet so I guess I have a more recent experience than others.

Also Sir, I wouldn't worry too much about the 12 miler at the end. If you maxed your last two APFT you'll be fine. Besides, you ruck the packing list and not the 35 LBS standard so it should be no problem (which reminds me...bring a large ruck, people who brought small or medium rucks were frustrated when they had to pack and re-pack their equipment)

Oh and I second ErichG2's comment about the upper body strength. During your combat repells you will be thankful that you have it when you go upside down lol. Good luck Sir!

quote:

when you go upside down

++that's called a possum.

i used to possum on purpose when testing rapel master students/
i got quite good at looking like an idiot.

dead man'
s hookups, granny knots, possumming, no breaks on the way down.... etc.

I never went upside down. Lifting that rope on the 90 foot rappel was like doing a 40 lb barbell curl behind my back though.....lol.

The BAC students have it so much easier.

Just kidding.....we didn't have to wear all the crap they did.

Erich if I remember right we were at 120ft. And yes the rope was very heavy at that height.

quote:

Originally posted by 21580200:
Erich if I remember right we were at 120ft. And yes the rope was very heavy at that height.

the stansard issue rappel rope was 200 Ft long. doubled in half it was 100 ft, minus rigging, it left 90 ft... so the average rappel out of the AC at AASLT school is 90 feet... and yes: with the prop wash the rope felt like it weighed a ton... add to that a bilet man and you would swear you were holding a one ton anvyl off the ground...

I may be wrong but when I went thru in 87 I could have sworn they told us we would be at 120ft.

quote:

Originally posted by 21580200:
I may be wrong but when I went thru in 87 I could have sworn they told us we would be at 120ft.

It was 90 feet....lol. You and airdiablo6 used the other Aviation Brigade I think when you went through. I still think it was 90 feet for you though.

I only ever flew in Blackhawks / Chinooks my entire time at Ft. Campbell.

Lets see, Blackhawks, Shi thooks and Huyes, same time Erich, my class date was 87-45, I could almost swear it was 120, good question to ask next month! We can do some research! Oh and back then it was 5 repels to earn your wings, not 3. And we did a 4 mile phase 1, 6 mile phase 2, and a 12 mile phase 3 road march, and we did PT in BDU's and boots! Old days!

quote:

Lets see, Blackhawks, Shi thooks and Huyes, same time Erich, my class date was 87-45, I could almost swear it was 120, good question to ask next month! We can do some research! Oh and back then it was 5 repels to earn your wings, not 3. And we did a 4 mile phase 1, 6 mile phase 2, and a 12 mile phase 3 road march, and we did PT in BDU's and boots! Old days

I don't honestly remember the road march stuff that well. I do remember the PT in boots and BDU's and having to spit shine the boots everynight after AAS for the next morning....that was BS. Shine em up, scuff em up, etc.

I remember the Obstacle Course because I was trying not to laugh going through it, it was just chaos with the cadre screaming and wolfpacking on the whiners going through. Some of those people (lol), Soldiers falling all over each other (lol).

We have to start planning soon when we are going to meet at Ft. Campbell. I have no idea where they are going to let us roam on post, pretty sure some areas will be off limits.