Got much respect for that 40 year old CWO who attempted that course! I went thru OCS at Fort Benning at age 40 and it took everything I had to pass. Our PT instructors were all from the Ranger BN. When we did the obstacle course it was a winter cycle and we did it first thing in the morning with ice and water all over those logs. Believe you me those logs were slippery af and made the tough one and weaver all the more difficult. And dangerous.
I took the easy way to a commission. As an enlisted Vet, I only had to take two years of ROTC, banging all the co-eds and having a good time. Well, the Summer Camp at the end of the 1st year was certainly as rough as OCS. Anyway, I graduated first in my class for some reason, and received a Regular Army commission (back in the days when RA meant something) and got my choice of branch.
That's weird that they would make you do it in conditions like that. In BCT at Fort Benning our Commander shut the Confidence Course down due to the severity of the weather.
One of the best things the military service brings is self-confidence and the realization that, if we keep pushing ourselves hard and without excuses, we see we are much more capable than what we initially thought.
I like what you said and this should apply to all especially to the new generation. You got it made physically and mentally, seeking a better future when you join the military:-)
I remember Air Assault School like it was yesterday. On day zero I seen people give up, some people get hurt on the course and I seen the smile of accomplishment to us that finished the course but that just started our trouble. Phase one wasn't bad but phase 2 learning to sling load was to me the hardest part because you only had a few days to learn about all the helicopters and the details of what your load is. Phase 3 was the easiest as long as you're not afraid of heights and you pay attention. The last thing you do is a 12 mile road march with full gear and a dummy weapon and you only have 3 hours to do it. The 6 mile road march in the middle of the course was simple compared to this one. 30 years and I still remember all the details, it was my first of many schools in the Army.
Did I see this correctly that you did a 12 miler at the end? That was the first thing we did day one, followed by obstacle course then 5 miler run in combat boots. At the end of day one I looked like someone feed me through a blender.
regardless of whether they pass or get dropped, I’m proud of all those who attempt this and push themselves. Humble thanks from a civilian for your commitment and dedication!
SPOT ON J W : MILITARY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO TRIED AND FAILED , TRY AGAIN. WITH MORE DETERMINATION , YOU WILL MAKE IT . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE U.S.A. U.S.A. " THIS WE'LL DEFEND "
@@dmashowtime Get out of here! What information? They don't pre-teach you what you are going to go through at Air Assault school. Unless you have a former Air Assault instructor as a Squad leader, Platoon Sergeant, or 1SG; You are on your own. Them MREs don't do anything good for you either.
@@dmashowtime No there are no participation trophies, and attempting it is not the same as completing it, you're right. But it should still be commended. What would be seen as "failing" in a course or school like this, still requires more bravery dedication and clarity of purpose than most people will exhibit in their lifetimes and is no joke
There was a kid named Dewie who fell off of "Tough One" and hurt his back so he went to the hospital afterwards for a check up. I had broken my ankle so I was there too. The thing is Dewie had a waver for an unformed fontanel, the dude literally had a tennis ball sized chunk of his skull missing. At the hospital a nurse is going down the line triaging a dozen of us and sorting by severity. She looks up at Dewie who has his cover off and says "Okay trooper what hapHOLY SH*T! [yells behind her] CALL SURGICAL!" As Dewie (who wasn't very bright) had no idea what was going on and just had this dumb smile on his face. It was one of the funniest things I had ever seen.
I guess it was the first or second day in the army, we already had our heads shaved and our kit delivered and were in a long line to get vaccinated (they never told us why and we didn't ask either), there was a big guy, some 4 meters ahead of me, looked tough like nails, but he had an issue with getting vaccinated. Oh well, I've never saw a human behave like a tree with such perfection. The way he felled the moment he got it in his arm, any lumberjack would feel proud to get a tree to fell so straight. (he got a big bruise in his head, but other than he was ok).
I earned my Air Assault badge in December 2011 while I was stationed at Fort Campbell. I still think that if you are in decent shape, you should have no issue getting through zero day and the course. I was expecting it to be much tougher. The hardest part was having that damn canteen constantly banging against my leg.
Is Air Assault School required for every single 101st Airborne Division member. What’s the difference of Air Mobile and Air Assault? I am going through basic training soon and after I’m going to Fort Campbell.
They make the obstacle course so scary with how they talk, only bad part is waiting for someone to get off of it so you can go without being stuck up there
The hardest part of that course is the packing list inspection. During day 0 inspection after the course, I got flunked because the AAS Sgt's found a small hole on my sneakers where my big toe would be. Legit that is the sole reason why I failed the course. Absolutely tedious, but went back and found out the sling load test was annoying too. Passed tho.
@@BigDave113100 all the weak bodies fall out on day zero. Next big mass fail out is 6 miler and then sling load. After that it’s onesies and twosies for safeties during rappel phase. By the time the 12 miler hits everyone is pretty motivated mostly all males pass, the females struggle but the ones who do make it are beasts. Only about 3 females made it, 2 Os and one PFC.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
Recently failed air assault due to sling loads. One of the toughest failures I’ve ever experienced. It really tore me apart to go home and not earn my wings. Hope to go back in the future and start from phase 2.
Don’t feel too bad man… at least you didn’t fail day zero🤷🏾♂️ I’ve never understood how people fail day zero and after watching this I still don’t understand.
I graduated Air Assault back in '93. 12b. Picking yourself up is what its about. Learn, and adjust. Never stop moving forward. Lessons I learned in that class I still apply today. You'll get there. Ooo Raah.
Went back in 2018, Ft Hood Phantom Warrior Air Assault School. I was the youngest NCO, so I got assigned as the student 1SG. Toughest challenge that helped create my leadership skills. Had a major as my guide-on who helped me a ton. Shoutout to all of them for motivating me, which lead to earning my wings!
My friend got kicked out of Air Assault school for having a dented canteen cup. His counseling was that his dented canteen cup is a unservicable equipment, therefore, he has no canteen cup and did not have all items in the packing list.
@@armyjacky96 well you can't just drink out of a dented cup nowadays why the horror. Just imagine out in the field and you dent it your cup is unusable so you need to report so the can send air assault to come in to replace it 🤔.
@@zackzack9341 It's all about attention to detail and being able to follow simple orders. It's how it goes in the military and sometimes it is what it is. I'm in the Army, it gets really stupid.
Bunch of wussies. We had to run to the next obstacle and run in a circle around it yelling Air Assault until everyone finished the previous obstacle at which time we lined up waiting for our turn thru the current obstacle all the time running in place yelling. Air Assault. I notice students walking around. When I went through you were NEVER allowed to walk on AA campus. Only when you stepped off school campus could you walk.
The toughest part by far was the heights. I’m terrified of heights. It was very physically demanding, but overcoming my fear of heights was the worst. I remember my first sergeant pinning me and saying that he thought I wouldn’t make it. I just smiled.
The hardest part of the course is Phase 2. Link counts and break away points are critical to know; and not knowing what piece of equipment you will be tested on adds to the difficulty. Lost a lot of people in Phase 2, including officers.
@@sheridan8766 Yes. There is a written test in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Also, the rappelling portion doesn't start until you pass Phase 2. That's where you learn how to make a Swiss seat prior to doing the rappel portion (Phase 3).
I flunked out on the phase 2 test. The rigging fault I missed was literally the driver-side window of a deuce & a half was about an inch up from being completely rolled down. That was a humbling experience to have to go back to my unit and tell them I flunked for that. I went back a few months later and completed it. The 2nd time around I was more worried about that damn phase 2 test than anything else. I studied like crazy for it.
@@arkwill14 While I was at Campbell the CG became concerned at the fail rate. It was an Air Assault division yet most members of the Division were not AA qualified. They either didn't have a slot yet, or had been and flunked. For a while the bullshit let up and most people passed the course and wore the wings.
I remember when I went through school. It was tough, I earned my Air Assault wings. I’m proud to part of the history of the 101st. The school they show here is the new school, I went through the old assault school next to 3rd Brigade. Air Assault from retired Screaming Eagle
@@arneldelara7164 instructors from Ft Rucker used to go TDY to HI to teach an AA class a couple of times a year. That was back in the 80s, maybe they have built a permanent school there after the one on Rucker shut down.
I went thtough at the age of 35 11c e-5. I remember the mornings of the road marches. I could smell the lilacs in the air. I personally thought that the physical parts of aerosol school with pretty easy and so was the obstacle course and the road marches. What was difficult for me was the written test. Sign up sling loads we often did before I went to are assault School. Definitely a good course every leader should be Air Assault qualified.
I remember my time at the Air Assualt school. I had been stationed in Panama for 2 years. I survived Operation "Just Cause" and PT was simply a part of life for us Infantry soldiers. So that part of it was not an issue by the time I got there. It was in the 1990s and I was fit. I think that the hardest part for me was learning the various sling loads and the field ops for sling loading. The PT stuff probably for me was easier than most folks because I was an Infantry Soldier who was stationed at A co. 2nd of the 327th Infantry. "No Slack!". Of course, after graduation, I went on to do bigger and better things in my Army career like volunteering for the MFO mission and got reassigned to A co. 2nd of the 502 Infantry that trained and went to the Saini for 6 months. That for me was a major highlight. So Air Assault school for me was my sort of welcome back to states side duty after being stationed in a war zone in Panama. Most of Air Assault school goes easier if you understand that some of it is what we call "head games". For example, yelling "Air Assault" every time your left foot touches the ground while you double time. It's as the old Infantry saying goes; "Suck it up and drive on."
You were in about the same time as me, in the 187th Rakassanns; right next to AA School. Loved the whole bit. Trusted the cadre, for some I’ll reason & had no fear of heights. Miss ‘Auissie’ repelling.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I went through the course 43-years ago. The course had just been upped from 7 to 10 days, and the graduation rate was only 52%; only half the Division knew how to sling load cargo or rappel.... go figure. The names of the obstacles are changed, and/or new stations, i.e. the Tough One was just the Cargo Net, the Confidence Climb was the Tall One, the Low Belly was simply the Belly Flop, etc. The Weaver is still named the same, but be first in line before the rungs are covered in mud. On the Tall One (Confidence Climb), a guy fell from the top rung, and it took 46-pints of blood to keep him alive (exploded spleen). No fast roping in those days; we did the Swiss Seat rappel from the Hueys (Blackhawks not invented yet) which had skids to hit your head on if you choked the rope too soon after bailing. The toughest part was the 10-mile cross-country run with field pack and full canteen on the tip of your weapon, and the scariest part was climbing the metal troop ladder into the Chinook. The ladder was metal, covered with hydraulic fluid and you didn't have the strength left to unbutton your fly. The meaningful training could have been taught in two days; the rest of the course was just harassment typical of any Army badge qualification course. Field Grade officers stood around and were immune from harassment... they only attended instruction. The Division CG failed the course, but they gave him his wings anyway... and another star. The General wore those fraudulent wings until he retired. I was there when it all happened.
Damn, that’s some hardcore shit. I went through this in 2016. We started off with 275 and only 125 graduated, only 3 females made it, and 2 had to be rushed to the hospital after developing fevers. Day zero fails included an infantry company commander, I have no idea how he was able to go back to his company without wings. The black caps didn’t have qualms failing out Os. We had one guy drop maybe 30 feet after a safety violation and poor dude just bounced off the ground but was ok. I can’t imagine all the changes to the original course that happened over the years. I was in pretty good shape, hardest part was memorizing all that crap.
@@cajunlogicdiy he is making fun of u bro. Ignore him. Saw his other comment saying that the US lost to Afghanistan, probably referring to troops leaving recently
Brought back great memories as a 21-year old PFC me in Fort Hood heat in 1991. I never climbed a rope in my life until a couple of days prior to AA but a fellow AA candidate (NCO) coached me. Toughest for me was the 2-mile run and road march however, I didn't think that I would pass the Swing, Stop, Jump. It was sad that one of the guys from our group of 7 didn't make it through The Weaver and had to wait for the rest of us to finish school and fly back home without his wings -- but hey, we all got to see Austin and Sea World before going home!
The Weaver seems to be the only obstacle that retained it's original name. If the ground was wet, you needed to be first on the Weaver before everyone's boots covered the rungs with mud. Once that happened, NO ONE got through the Weaver. The rungs were slicker than owl shit. I saw a couple of guys at times make it down the down slope and get to within a few runs of making it, but the mud got them. My office was in a building at the intersection and I often looked at the classes go through, In those days if a female soldier couldn't finish an obstacle, the school cadre would just wave them around to the next obstacle... the gals all passed. There used to be a CS gas chamber next to the course. Troops would arrive in an Army bus and go through the chamber. One day I was looking out the window and a new Blackhawk (they had just arrived) fell from the sky and landed on the parked bus. The two pilots were killed, as well as the bus driver who was alone on the bus and had gone into the back of the bus to take a nap. I also saw one of the school sergeants fug up on a demonstration rappel from a helo, and in front of the entire class he hit the ground. I think he lived, but was in critical condition.
I graduated this program in 1984 and it’s really not that difficult if you’re in shape enough to pass a basic PT test you should be good! God times I’ll always remember
I was actually in one of the first classes to go thru the new course after they changed over from the old course on the corner right across the street from that mp unit and down the road from Rakkassan land. I actually had a former Navy Seal in my class who went the warrant route cause he wanted to fly choppers in the 160th, cool ass dude too. Had like 4 SF guys in my class too. I wouldnt call the course "easy" because it wasnt but I loved choppers and thought it was fun. A hell of alot better and easier than being back at my unit, I basically got to do my own thing for 10 or 11 days, however long it was. I thought the hardest part was the inspection on zero day and the slingload portion, you'll be remembering link-counts to every piece of equipment on Campbell for the next 2 years afterwards (hummers, trucks, fuel blivets, your mother-in-laws ass). Cool course and a must if youre at Campbell.
When I first got to Campbell, I was in that MP unit across from the old school off Indiana Avenue. I graduated from the new school within a year or so - 716 MP BN / 194th MP CO.
@@tooley_tx yep i remember that unit, you guys had one of the best chow halls on base right? I remember people lining up outside on the corner to get in.
@@manhalen7046 We ate at that chow hall on occasion. It was so close to our team shed. We would hit it up if we had time. I still think the hospital chow hall was better. There’s a reason they put out a directive that we couldn’t eat there without a medical appointment. I was a phase two guy. I remember the former seal you mentioned. 98-2000 my years at the school.
5:39 I was so glad to see this adaptation to the army like some of your most capable people don't have the same bodies as some so if a supplement pack makes them operable then it's worth it
Absolutely correct...they are trying to make it sound like ranger school...now there's the real challenge. Air assault school is actually one of the easier schools... especially physically wise to pass...at least for us infantry guys.
i feel like having insider watch me the entire time would secure the W for me, cause like now you really can't get out and embarrass yourself like that
Just got out of basic at fort Moore, bunch of “pouges” we were, I think that’s the word lol. Every last one of us done the obstacle course lol, it was awesome, and tough. Sand hill obstacle course, 2-47 IN Bravo company. I think a solid 10 people per platoon completed every course, less than that honestly. Climbing up the rope got us, and the weaver, it was tough. I’m going to do air assault at some point, it’ll be a breeze by then. Very grateful I got to go to Moore, awesome experience, will remember it forever and it has changed me as a person forever too. Was supposed to be at relaxin Jackson.
I went through in 1983. One of the instructors classic line was “if you can’t take the mustard don’t bite the sandwich.”. I loved that line. I felt like jump school was a bit tougher.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I went and graduated from Air Assault school in 2016 and this program seems very different from the one I've completed. The day zero stuff is completely different besides the obstacle course
Did you go to fort Campbell AA SCHOOL. This was the say when I went in 2004, and when I can a company commander at Campbell from 2014-2016 and sent many soldiers to the school
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I remember air assault school very fondly. Day zero seemed more intense, there was a lot of screaming. We started with 275 and 125 graduated, only 3 or 4 females made it and two had to be taken to the hospital after the 12 mile ruck because they developed a high fever after completing it.
Same. But with anything, they soften it up when they know that the media is there. It was a lot more cursing and yelling and general hazing. But that’s how it should be. They just can’t publicly acknowledge that stuff I guess.
@@preston6618 yea that’s true, I remember the smoking at 0300, the smoking seasons while running the gauntlet (3 stations where they checked gear en rout to the 2 mile run) the exercise between the obstacles. This version seemed extremely tame. We lost so many weak bodies in day zero. Hell, the dude who designed our air assault guide-on (flag thing that platoon or company guide carries, I forget the name) failed the 6 miler. Good times
@@preston6618 I just remembered, we had an infantry company commander fail out day zero. I have no idea how he was able to go back to his company without an air assault badge. I taught a CWO how to climb the rope, dude made it and paid me back on the 12 miler when I was close to passing out because my camel pack hose snapped off those shitty plastic D rings during mile 3. He reached back and gave it to me around mile 10 when he caught up to me.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
Ahhhh Sweet Memories. The Tough One and the Confidence Climb oh man. When I did air assault school, we did the obstacle courses first THEN the 2 mile run afterwards. The 12 mile rucksack March in under 3 hour minimum at the end was brutal. You better not be missing shit cause there is an inspection at the end.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
went through air assault school back in 2012, was a breeze lol. Maybe I was just in good shape, but my unit made sure we were prepared physically and we had all the book knowledge memorized prior to going. like others have said, its all about preparation.
2016, yup I was top of my game, hardest part for me was the academic part, and I almost passed out during the 12er because my camel pack hose slipped and I could get water until someone helped me get it back.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I did AA at fort hood in Aug, and that day zero smoke sesh was the worst I ever went through in my military career. Drive on Air Assault and don’t forget to hydrate!!
An entire Infantry Division of students to chose from and they go with an old aviator and butter bar female MP. It's like they were looking for people who were going to fail. The only useful training you get out of Air Assault school is Pathfinder operations and Slingload operations anyway.
I went to Air Assault School in '87. Zero Day started with an inspection, then the obstacle course - straight through - no stopping, and as soon as the last Troop came off the obstacle course we were immediately formed up for the 2 mile timed run. We had all of Zero Day basically DONE by 0900 I think? Had quite a few more drops back then. This new way seems easier to me...
Air Assault school is not "supposed" to be hard.... Its a cool experience and school and you could legit use some of those skills to sling load, or even later if you can go to pathfinder. Its hard enough so bums cant drop it, but none of those Air Assault cadre just wanna drop people to be a dick. Its not Ranger School.
300 students through the obstacle course with less than 20 cadre without taking a break? The break isn’t from hand holding it’s a byproduct of throughput. You had a smaller class or a different obstacle course.
I also got advice that, like a pull-up exercise, having well-balanced upper body muscle strength is really important for obstacle courses. If you don't, your body either swings too much or too little, causing other parts of the muscle to do extra work and wear you out.
I don't know why the CW4 didn't enroll in the gentlemen's Air Assault course...but props for getting after it. If you're in shape, that most difficult part of Air Assault is the sling load portion. I only wish I had stayed at Campbell long enough to get my Path Finder badge. I wasn't motivated to do additional schools until I passed Air Assault. It was pretty intense watching the 5th Group guys do the Aussie Repels...look that up if you don't know.
I remember as a newly promoted SGT back in 1996, went to Air Assault at Ft. Wainwright, AK. Our instructors were from the 24th ID (Tropic Lightning) from Hawaii and they were "no joke". I remember a few people got drop slips on "Day Zero" for missing items during inspection. Also, my class had about 6 "Ranger" tab wearers in which at least 3 of them fell out during "Day Zero" obstacle course. I remember we had to wear kevlars all the time which had our roster number on it. A few people got dropped during the "Sling Load" phase too. Day Zero started with around 145 troops and after 2 weeks, we graduated with 62, so "drop rate" was 50%
I remember my dad talking about Air Assault School (In the 80's and 90's) and he said it was 10 days of hell but Special Forces Training was even worse
I was Marines and went thru air assault school. Honestly wasn't physically or mentally challenging but by the end of rappel week you were incredibly proficient coming down a rope. After graduation returned to my unit extremely confident in rappeling ability. Fast ropes were just coming in to service in those days so were still doing a lot of rappel inserts. Was very glad I was able to get the school. For some unknown reason though, the pin not authorized on Marine uniform. At least was not then. Maybe has changed.
Finally a legit comment on the course. Not a hard course at all but incredibly informative and I was totally down to repel off the barracks roof after.
I went through similar obstacles at MCRD San Diego back in 1984. I thought the obstacles were quite fun. The only real obstacle that sucked was the damn heat.
In July 1984 we had to do the obstacle course TWICE, then two mile run in boots to CIF on Zero Day. I remember looking back during the run, and seeing a trail of bodies who collapsed or quit. We lost half the class that day. We did push-ups on sun baked asphalt which left burns and blisters on our hands. Me, I got my wings. I was too frightened of having to come back and try again.
In my opinion what makes Air Assault School hard is not so much the actual training itself. But how so easy it is to mess up when they demand such meticulous painstakingly precise attention to detail on everything and one little slip will get you kicked out. I guarantee no one has ever had to pay such attention to detail anywhere else in their lives.
@Sig Bauer i went to Air Assault School… You know the school this video is actually about? Not Jumpmaster, pilot, Ranger or any other school i didnt even mention. Stay on topic here buddy.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
Wow. Attended the Sabalauski Air Assault school after the end of my sophomore year at Norwich in 1995. Summers are usually full of cadidiots. Good times.
Did the course in 2016, while I was there, we had a National Guardsman, Lieutenant Colonel, 60 years old, who was psychiatrist in the civilian world. That man showed me that age is just a factor and he stressed the importance of exercise and diet. He said that he didn’t even feel his age, he showed it too. Unfortunately he missed an item after the 12 mile ruck and was booted. But man, did he hang in there and proved himself and inspired many others! God bless him!
I remember when I went back in 2013 we were the first class of the new year (so it was in January) We did the obstacle course on Day 3 because it was so cold that it was frozen on Day Zero. Our class lasted a whole month and graduated on February because so many days the base got shut down from the ice storms. I actually got hypothermia and developed Raynuads Disease because it was so cold. The school itself wasn't that bad but man the weather was brutal.
Ok so I got my wings. Here’s how I got them! Make sure you get the correct packing list before you leave. The obstacle course is very easy if you went there in shape and just don’t fear heights. Practice climbing the rope! more people failed that than anything else and that’s the first obstacle. When you’re in class pay attention. Really really close attention. They teach you how to pass. Don’t go outside of what they’re teaching you. don’t go there thinking that you know everything because you did some research. Just absorb what they teach! That’s it! When it comes to the second phase and sling loading stay in practice I don’t know how else I can say that to you. You must stay until they tell you to leave. I was one of two guys they got four for four for all sling loads. What separated me and that other guy compared to the rest was we stayed and practice so much and rehearsed mentally and in the barracks so much throughout the night I barely got sleep. Phase 3 make sure you don’t fatal hook up. All you have to do is just not fatal hook up and quit! I know a guy it was our last repelled and he quit the on the last one. After that it’s all about the ruck it’s a 12 mile just suck it up do your best have the correct packing list at the end of that Ruck and you’ll get your wings. Go there in shape don’t be afraid stay focused and just stick to what I’m telling you by the end of our class we had 173 left from 400. Good luck warriors! Air assault!
Everyone says "just be in shape, its more mentally taxing," but to be honest i am not in shape at all. still got three years before i can enlist though. Any advice for what i need to do? I currently lift weights 5 days a week.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I love how they made this school look like it’s hardcore. I PCS’n, was out of shape due to being on profile from a MMA tournament I was injured frm..took to the school the day after I got of profile (not within Regs) and passed the school like it was nothing. For future challengers, just do reg PT, pay attention to detail, and don’t forget what you were taught. Easiest course I’ve ever took!!
A lot has changed since 1977 when I went through, rained like hell during obstacle course as I remember, slippery surfaces just increased difficulty level, a few troops got seriously hurt on the climb obstacles, slipping and falling. I was a hurting unit when I finished, but I made it.
Retired 20 year active service Army Infantryman / airborne / Ranger, went to Air Assault school in 1986, was assigned to Aco 1st BN 327TH Inf. BN, i'm a disabled veteran as of 2024.
Spouse: honey what do you want for dinner? Me: AIR ASSAULT! Son: Mom/dad can you take me to practice? Me: AIR ASSAULT! Parents: Hey son/daughter how are you? Me: AIR ASSAULT! Spouse: I want a divorce! Me:….AIR ASSAULT!
Sabalauski AASLT School grad '99!! (C 2/502 INF.) I found remembering weight capacities for the different birds and slinglegs the most difficult part. The 12 mile ruck was easy for me, but I have long legs. Did it twice (for scoring purposes) that year, as I earned my EIB the same year......which also requires a 12 mile ruck, with inspection of gear at the end, in under 3 hours.
Amazing dedication from these two. Think of what our military men and women in Afghanistan had to work through, just to be left behind by our President.
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At this point business insider should just enlist
i'm starting to think this is just a paid promotion to get more people to enlist LUL
@@Madderthanjoker It's supposed to make it look difficult but doable to get more people in
Good one🤣😅
I did it, the worst part is waking up early.
idk about that they have written some pretty questionable articles about the military. look up angry cops
imagine going back to your unit to tell your commander that you failed because you forgot to bring one item.
It happens
"Damn, I actually thought they'd miss the item or forget to check it."
-some commander
I wonder what would feel worse, failing on day zero and being sent back, or failing on the very final day of training and being sent back.
Seen it happen plenty of times
I’d be more worried about 1SG.
Got much respect for that 40 year old CWO who attempted that course! I went thru OCS at Fort Benning at age 40 and it took everything I had to pass. Our PT instructors were all from the Ranger BN. When we did the obstacle course it was a winter cycle and we did it first thing in the morning with ice and water all over those logs. Believe you me those logs were slippery af and made the tough one and weaver all the more difficult. And dangerous.
Interesting
I took the easy way to a commission. As an enlisted Vet, I only had to take two years of ROTC, banging all the co-eds and having a good time. Well, the Summer Camp at the end of the 1st year was certainly as rough as OCS. Anyway, I graduated first in my class for some reason, and received a Regular Army commission (back in the days when RA meant something) and got my choice of branch.
We had a 40 some year old MAJ who went through w us, I'm a PFC who's 21 and not at peak condition so I had mad respect for that MAJ too
That's weird that they would make you do it in conditions like that. In BCT at Fort Benning our Commander shut the Confidence Course down due to the severity of the weather.
@Nicholas Fonville maybe those are the rules now, but they sure weren't back then and it wasn't that long ago
One of the best things the military service brings is self-confidence and the realization that, if we keep pushing ourselves hard and without excuses, we see we are much more capable than what we initially thought.
I like what you said and this should apply to all especially to the new generation. You got it made physically and mentally, seeking a better future when you join the military:-)
@@rosiealmy3388 Well, used to be. Now, a bunch of soft ass self entitled punks.
I was really rooting for McCurdy . Mt heart is broken that he got dropped but I appreciate all of the student for taking the attempt. That's bravery.
I remember Air Assault School like it was yesterday. On day zero I seen people give up, some people get hurt on the course and I seen the smile of accomplishment to us that finished the course but that just started our trouble. Phase one wasn't bad but phase 2 learning to sling load was to me the hardest part because you only had a few days to learn about all the helicopters and the details of what your load is. Phase 3 was the easiest as long as you're not afraid of heights and you pay attention. The last thing you do is a 12 mile road march with full gear and a dummy weapon and you only have 3 hours to do it. The 6 mile road march in the middle of the course was simple compared to this one. 30 years and I still remember all the details, it was my first of many schools in the Army.
Did I see this correctly that you did a 12 miler at the end? That was the first thing we did day one, followed by obstacle course then 5 miler run in combat boots.
At the end of day one I looked like someone feed me through a blender.
regardless of whether they pass or get dropped, I’m proud of all those who attempt this and push themselves. Humble thanks from a civilian for your commitment and dedication!
SPOT ON J W : MILITARY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO TRIED AND FAILED , TRY AGAIN. WITH MORE DETERMINATION , YOU WILL MAKE IT . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE U.S.A.
U.S.A. " THIS WE'LL DEFEND "
@@treadhead .....what?
Meh… no participation trophies. The info is out there to prepare. Show up and finish.
@@dmashowtime Get out of here! What information? They don't pre-teach you what you are going to go through at Air Assault school. Unless you have a former Air Assault instructor as a Squad leader, Platoon Sergeant, or 1SG; You are on your own. Them MREs don't do anything good for you either.
@@dmashowtime No there are no participation trophies, and attempting it is not the same as completing it, you're right. But it should still be commended. What would be seen as "failing" in a course or school like this, still requires more bravery dedication and clarity of purpose than most people will exhibit in their lifetimes and is no joke
There was a kid named Dewie who fell off of "Tough One" and hurt his back so he went to the hospital afterwards for a check up. I had broken my ankle so I was there too. The thing is Dewie had a waver for an unformed fontanel, the dude literally had a tennis ball sized chunk of his skull missing. At the hospital a nurse is going down the line triaging a dozen of us and sorting by severity. She looks up at Dewie who has his cover off and says "Okay trooper what hapHOLY SH*T! [yells behind her] CALL SURGICAL!" As Dewie (who wasn't very bright) had no idea what was going on and just had this dumb smile on his face. It was one of the funniest things I had ever seen.
Holy sssshi. T
I guess it was the first or second day in the army, we already had our heads shaved and our kit delivered and were in a long line to get vaccinated (they never told us why and we didn't ask either), there was a big guy, some 4 meters ahead of me, looked tough like nails, but he had an issue with getting vaccinated. Oh well, I've never saw a human behave like a tree with such perfection. The way he felled the moment he got it in his arm, any lumberjack would feel proud to get a tree to fell so straight. (he got a big bruise in his head, but other than he was ok).
why cant they just give a harness? thats 35 foot and every can die
@@mkmllrc they should have crash mats yeah!
What if it had just rained and it was slippy?
Everyone would try - and die
🤣🤣🥺🤦♀️
I earned my Air Assault badge in December 2011 while I was stationed at Fort Campbell. I still think that if you are in decent shape, you should have no issue getting through zero day and the course. I was expecting it to be much tougher. The hardest part was having that damn canteen constantly banging against my leg.
LOL! Yess!!!
Is Air Assault School required for every single 101st Airborne Division member. What’s the difference of Air Mobile and Air Assault? I am going through basic training soon and after I’m going to Fort Campbell.
@@issiahbernaiche6897yes the commander of the 101st wants 70% Air assault qualifed
So you will go
They make the obstacle course so scary with how they talk, only bad part is waiting for someone to get off of it so you can go without being stuck up there
Yep. It also helps if you have good upper body strength and are lean
the main reason they do that is to see if you quit
The school wasn’t hard.
I thought the O course sucked because of all the smoking in between obstacles
Smoking kills.
The hardest part of that course is the packing list inspection. During day 0 inspection after the course, I got flunked because the AAS Sgt's found a small hole on my sneakers where my big toe would be. Legit that is the sole reason why I failed the course. Absolutely tedious, but went back and found out the sling load test was annoying too. Passed tho.
heh.. "sole"
Sure u did lol
Inspection and sling load was the usual fail I heard
@@BigDave113100 all the weak bodies fall out on day zero. Next big mass fail out is 6 miler and then sling load. After that it’s onesies and twosies for safeties during rappel phase. By the time the 12 miler hits everyone is pretty motivated mostly all males pass, the females struggle but the ones who do make it are beasts. Only about 3 females made it, 2 Os and one PFC.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I was always the oldest in all my classes having joined the Army at 25. I recently retired after 35yrs of service. Hit my MRD at 60
Recently failed air assault due to sling loads. One of the toughest failures I’ve ever experienced. It really tore me apart to go home and not earn my wings. Hope to go back in the future and start from phase 2.
Don’t feel too bad man… at least you didn’t fail day zero🤷🏾♂️ I’ve never understood how people fail day zero and after watching this I still don’t understand.
Keep your head up! I wish you the best on getting your Wings if you get the Chance! Thank you for your Service!
Were you at TSAAS in class 33-21?
you’ll do it! 👍👍👊👊
I graduated Air Assault back in '93. 12b. Picking yourself up is what its about. Learn, and adjust. Never stop moving forward. Lessons I learned in that class I still apply today. You'll get there. Ooo Raah.
Good pick of two people to follow. Miller is a badass for doing all that in such a small frame. Respect to any who try.
Went back in 2018, Ft Hood Phantom Warrior Air Assault School. I was the youngest NCO, so I got assigned as the student 1SG. Toughest challenge that helped create my leadership skills. Had a major as my guide-on who helped me a ton. Shoutout to all of them for motivating me, which lead to earning my wings!
*Hulk:* “Ready to pass this course...”
*Instructor:* “Soldier you forgot your toothbrush. You are dropped from this course.”
exactly.. i think that's the only thing I'd fail.. 🤭
Adapt and overcome used to be you checked to make sure that they don't bring any proscribed material.
My friend got kicked out of Air Assault school for having a dented canteen cup. His counseling was that his dented canteen cup is a unservicable equipment, therefore, he has no canteen cup and did not have all items in the packing list.
@@armyjacky96 well you can't just drink out of a dented cup nowadays why the horror. Just imagine out in the field and you dent it your cup is unusable so you need to report so the can send air assault to come in to replace it 🤔.
@@zackzack9341 It's all about attention to detail and being able to follow simple orders. It's how it goes in the military and sometimes it is what it is. I'm in the Army, it gets really stupid.
“Students wait in line with their backs against the obstacle so they can’t observe other students attempts” as they are turned around 😂😂😂😂😂😂
lololololololololol
Damn lol
Yep weeds out the weak so they cant see where they are messing up
Just like on the apft
Bunch of wussies. We had to run to the next obstacle and run in a circle around it yelling Air Assault until everyone finished the previous obstacle at which time we lined up waiting for our turn thru the current obstacle all the time running in place yelling. Air Assault. I notice students walking around. When I went through you were NEVER allowed to walk on AA campus. Only when you stepped off school campus could you walk.
The toughest part by far was the heights. I’m terrified of heights. It was very physically demanding, but overcoming my fear of heights was the worst. I remember my first sergeant pinning me and saying that he thought I wouldn’t make it. I just smiled.
The hardest part of the course is Phase 2. Link counts and break away points are critical to know; and not knowing what piece of equipment you will be tested on adds to the difficulty. Lost a lot of people in Phase 2, including officers.
Is there a written test by any chance
@@sheridan8766 Yes. There is a written test in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Also, the rappelling portion doesn't start until you pass Phase 2. That's where you learn how to make a Swiss seat prior to doing the rappel portion (Phase 3).
I flunked out on the phase 2 test. The rigging fault I missed was literally the driver-side window of a deuce & a half was about an inch up from being completely rolled down. That was a humbling experience to have to go back to my unit and tell them I flunked for that. I went back a few months later and completed it. The 2nd time around I was more worried about that damn phase 2 test than anything else. I studied like crazy for it.
@@arkwill14 Phase 2 scared the crap out of everybody. My class leader (1LT) failed it.
@@arkwill14 While I was at Campbell the CG became concerned at the fail rate. It was an Air Assault division yet most members of the Division were not AA qualified. They either didn't have a slot yet, or had been and flunked. For a while the bullshit let up and most people passed the course and wore the wings.
Dang while y’all gotta roast them at the end like that lmao
Yeah! I was all like Good for them n stuff then BAM
15 mile road march almost got me. Everything else was fun to me. I qualified in 84. Couldn't do most of that stuff today. Lol
I was rooting for McCurdy and Miller, that last message made me feel bad for them
It made me laugh out loud.
@@arttrumbo9496 this reply made me laugh out loud
I was in this class and knew McCurdy, I thought he made it, but I guess i didn’t look around for him during graduation
@@Bearj64 he looks like an awesome guy to be honest
@@rex74t he really was. I hope he goes back for the 12 miler soon. Like 30 people heat cat lmao
They should show a winter class when climbing up the confidence climb while ice/snow covered..
That honestly sounds worse than doing it in the heat
Oh damn I would cry if I had to do it like that or at all lmao
I would love to go in the winter but I’m super short so idk how I’d do when climb up the wall.
Or be on top of the rappel tower. When I did my phase 3 testing, it was snowing.
I fell off the “tough one” during a winter storm. It iced over and I slipped right off the top. That hurt
Tremendous strength is needed here.The reportage is fantastic and the soldiers 🇺🇲 are revelational.
Great respect 🕊️
🇵🇱🤝🇺🇲
I remember when I went through school. It was tough, I earned my Air Assault wings. I’m proud to part of the history of the 101st. The school they show here is the new school, I went through the old assault school next to 3rd Brigade. Air Assault from retired Screaming Eagle
Funny, since the "old" air assault school was Ft Rucker.
If they are acting like this, the Army is beyond pussified!
@@youjackass big talk while riding your bmx?
@@dont-want-no-wrench hahaha, try again skippy. Did I touch a nerve? Is that what you looked like going through air Assault school? Cause I didn't.
I went to Ft. Hood and I heard there's one in HI. That would've been a sweet TDY for me.
@@arneldelara7164 instructors from Ft Rucker used to go TDY to HI to teach an AA class a couple of times a year. That was back in the 80s, maybe they have built a permanent school there after the one on Rucker shut down.
a snowstorm hit when I went through, so it turned the 10 day course into 25 days. got me out of a field problem so im not complaining
I went thtough at the age of 35 11c e-5. I remember the mornings of the road marches. I could smell the lilacs in the air. I personally thought that the physical parts of aerosol school with pretty easy and so was the obstacle course and the road marches. What was difficult for me was the written test. Sign up sling loads we often did before I went to are assault School. Definitely a good course every leader should be Air Assault qualified.
I remember my time at the Air Assualt school. I had been stationed in Panama for 2 years. I survived Operation "Just Cause" and PT was simply a part of life for us Infantry soldiers. So that part of it was not an issue by the time I got there. It was in the 1990s and I was fit. I think that the hardest part for me was learning the various sling loads and the field ops for sling loading. The PT stuff probably for me was easier than most folks because I was an Infantry Soldier who was stationed at A co. 2nd of the 327th Infantry. "No Slack!". Of course, after graduation, I went on to do bigger and better things in my Army career like volunteering for the MFO mission and got reassigned to A co. 2nd of the 502 Infantry that trained and went to the Saini for 6 months. That for me was a major highlight. So Air Assault school for me was my sort of welcome back to states side duty after being stationed in a war zone in Panama. Most of Air Assault school goes easier if you understand that some of it is what we call "head games". For example, yelling "Air Assault" every time your left foot touches the ground while you double time. It's as the old Infantry saying goes;
"Suck it up and drive on."
You were in about the same time as me, in the 187th Rakassanns; right next to AA School. Loved the whole bit. Trusted the cadre, for some I’ll reason & had no fear of heights. Miss ‘Auissie’ repelling.
Hey, friend. I was in HHC 3rd and 327th when the Gander plane crash with the 502nd. I was on the parade grounds when Reagan was there.
"No Slack!"
"None given 1st SGT!"
i'm triggered by the hostility and lack of sensitivity in your comment 😆
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
Only real OGs know that the real challenge of Air Assault is dodging the MPs trying to pull everyone over before they make it into the parking lot
Facts. The got my ass on like my 4th day
going through Rakkasan country no less
They pull over at 27 too
@@xaviertademy3105 make sure everyone has their seat belt on too
Spot on
I went through the course 43-years ago. The course had just been upped from 7 to 10 days, and the graduation rate was only 52%; only half the Division knew how to sling load cargo or rappel.... go figure. The names of the obstacles are changed, and/or new stations, i.e. the Tough One was just the Cargo Net, the Confidence Climb was the Tall One, the Low Belly was simply the Belly Flop, etc. The Weaver is still named the same, but be first in line before the rungs are covered in mud. On the Tall One (Confidence Climb), a guy fell from the top rung, and it took 46-pints of blood to keep him alive (exploded spleen). No fast roping in those days; we did the Swiss Seat rappel from the Hueys (Blackhawks not invented yet) which had skids to hit your head on if you choked the rope too soon after bailing. The toughest part was the 10-mile cross-country run with field pack and full canteen on the tip of your weapon, and the scariest part was climbing the metal troop ladder into the Chinook. The ladder was metal, covered with hydraulic fluid and you didn't have the strength left to unbutton your fly. The meaningful training could have been taught in two days; the rest of the course was just harassment typical of any Army badge qualification course. Field Grade officers stood around and were immune from harassment... they only attended instruction. The Division CG failed the course, but they gave him his wings anyway... and another star. The General wore those fraudulent wings until he retired. I was there when it all happened.
Damn, that’s some hardcore shit. I went through this in 2016. We started off with 275 and only 125 graduated, only 3 females made it, and 2 had to be rushed to the hospital after developing fevers. Day zero fails included an infantry company commander, I have no idea how he was able to go back to his company without wings. The black caps didn’t have qualms failing out Os. We had one guy drop maybe 30 feet after a safety violation and poor dude just bounced off the ground but was ok. I can’t imagine all the changes to the original course that happened over the years. I was in pretty good shape, hardest part was memorizing all that crap.
Yeah, I got my wings in April '75. Seems a lot different today. I sure don't remember any "Packing list inspection." What purpose does that serve?
The hardest part was the 12 mile ruck march in the hills of Kentucky.
How was in Afghanistan part lol 😂
@@abijatta Afghanistan was OK. Why do you ask?
@@cajunlogicdiy OK , or tough lol 😂
@@abijatta Slow down. Your sentences make no sense.
@@cajunlogicdiy he is making fun of u bro. Ignore him. Saw his other comment saying that the US lost to Afghanistan, probably referring to troops leaving recently
Brought back great memories as a 21-year old PFC me in Fort Hood heat in 1991. I never climbed a rope in my life until a couple of days prior to AA but a fellow AA candidate (NCO) coached me. Toughest for me was the 2-mile run and road march however, I didn't think that I would pass the Swing, Stop, Jump. It was sad that one of the guys from our group of 7 didn't make it through The Weaver and had to wait for the rest of us to finish school and fly back home without his wings -- but hey, we all got to see Austin and Sea World before going home!
The Weaver seems to be the only obstacle that retained it's original name. If the ground was wet, you needed to be first on the Weaver before everyone's boots covered the rungs with mud. Once that happened, NO ONE got through the Weaver. The rungs were slicker than owl shit. I saw a couple of guys at times make it down the down slope and get to within a few runs of making it, but the mud got them. My office was in a building at the intersection and I often looked at the classes go through, In those days if a female soldier couldn't finish an obstacle, the school cadre would just wave them around to the next obstacle... the gals all passed. There used to be a CS gas chamber next to the course. Troops would arrive in an Army bus and go through the chamber. One day I was looking out the window and a new Blackhawk (they had just arrived) fell from the sky and landed on the parked bus. The two pilots were killed, as well as the bus driver who was alone on the bus and had gone into the back of the bus to take a nap. I also saw one of the school sergeants fug up on a demonstration rappel from a helo, and in front of the entire class he hit the ground. I think he lived, but was in critical condition.
I graduated this program in 1984 and it’s really not that difficult if you’re in shape enough to pass a basic PT test you should be good! God times I’ll always remember
I was actually in one of the first classes to go thru the new course after they changed over from the old course on the corner right across the street from that mp unit and down the road from Rakkassan land. I actually had a former Navy Seal in my class who went the warrant route cause he wanted to fly choppers in the 160th, cool ass dude too. Had like 4 SF guys in my class too. I wouldnt call the course "easy" because it wasnt but I loved choppers and thought it was fun. A hell of alot better and easier than being back at my unit, I basically got to do my own thing for 10 or 11 days, however long it was. I thought the hardest part was the inspection on zero day and the slingload portion, you'll be remembering link-counts to every piece of equipment on Campbell for the next 2 years afterwards (hummers, trucks, fuel blivets, your mother-in-laws ass). Cool course and a must if youre at Campbell.
Nice profile pic
When I first got to Campbell, I was in that MP unit across from the old school off Indiana Avenue. I graduated from the new school within a year or so - 716 MP BN / 194th MP CO.
@@tooley_tx yep i remember that unit, you guys had one of the best chow halls on base right? I remember people lining up outside on the corner to get in.
@@manhalen7046 Yeah it was so crowded, I almost never ate there in five years! Damn good omelette still, though.
@@manhalen7046 We ate at that chow hall on occasion. It was so close to our team shed. We would hit it up if we had time. I still think the hospital chow hall was better. There’s a reason they put out a directive that we couldn’t eat there without a medical appointment. I was a phase two guy. I remember the former seal you mentioned. 98-2000 my years at the school.
5:39 I was so glad to see this adaptation to the army like some of your most capable people don't have the same bodies as some so if a supplement pack makes them operable then it's worth it
It’s just drip drop
Miller is a very talented worrier ❤and if I had to have someone else to depend upon miller would be a great pick she doesn’t give up
Been there, done that back in 1981. Still carry the skills with me to this day.
This is why many units of the 101st, have pre Air Assault courses. SIncerely, a proud graduated of Air Asssult , and eventual paratrooper.
Airborne
I was rooting for Miller & McCurdy. I hope they are doing well.
I’m a CW4 and there is no way I’d attempt that course at my age…good on him for trying.
He probably ended up going back, you can recycle from Day 7, if anything he probably ended up graduating anyway.
I did. Just had to complete the ruck. Smoked it the second time.
Why didn’t that CW4 show up at first formation then just come back for graduation?
As a veteran. That is hilarious!
@@T.C.216 Yeah that was a good one...
You win this comment section...good one
I never saw the WO in graduation. Chief are known to be "out of sight, out of mind" Class 7-96.
😂
The Army is so cool!
Professional and hardworking. Oorah!
this video is making the school harder than it seems trust me
yeah this course is a joke lol
Fully agree
Absolutely correct...they are trying to make it sound like ranger school...now there's the real challenge. Air assault school is actually one of the easier schools... especially physically wise to pass...at least for us infantry guys.
Yup, learn to climb a rope, ruck and run a 2 mile and you’re good
It's all relative. If you're in shape and somewhat smart it's an easy course. If you're a shitbird... or out of shape it's going to be extra tough.
i feel like having insider watch me the entire time would secure the W for me, cause like now you really can't get out and embarrass yourself like that
Yeah. That kind of thing would have me walking with my shoulders back and smiling. Speaking with my hands and using a low ass voice all day.
Just got out of basic at fort Moore, bunch of “pouges” we were, I think that’s the word lol. Every last one of us done the obstacle course lol, it was awesome, and tough. Sand hill obstacle course, 2-47 IN Bravo company. I think a solid 10 people per platoon completed every course, less than that honestly. Climbing up the rope got us, and the weaver, it was tough. I’m going to do air assault at some point, it’ll be a breeze by then. Very grateful I got to go to Moore, awesome experience, will remember it forever and it has changed me as a person forever too. Was supposed to be at relaxin Jackson.
I went through in 1983. One of the instructors classic line was “if you can’t take the mustard don’t bite the sandwich.”. I loved that line. I felt like jump school was a bit tougher.
yeah because you cant cut the muster with a knife. Therefore don't bite the sandwich or dont use mustard...
I did both schools almost back to back and I thought they're equally hard given that I don't like to run. lol!
Airborne School was much easier than Air Assault.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I went and graduated from Air Assault school in 2016 and this program seems very different from the one I've completed. The day zero stuff is completely different besides the obstacle course
Did you go to fort Campbell AA SCHOOL. This was the say when I went in 2004, and when I can a company commander at Campbell from 2014-2016 and sent many soldiers to the school
I think they moved to a new facility recently
That’s what I thought the weaver is made out of rounded logs now which is even more slippery
2016, and yea the video seems super tame. Maybe it was mainly non combat arms MOSs? Or the cameras prevented the full experience?
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
My son just passed air assault school!!! This mama is so very proud of her boy!!!
I remember air assault school very fondly. Day zero seemed more intense, there was a lot of screaming. We started with 275 and 125 graduated, only 3 or 4 females made it and two had to be taken to the hospital after the 12 mile ruck because they developed a high fever after completing it.
Same. But with anything, they soften it up when they know that the media is there. It was a lot more cursing and yelling and general hazing. But that’s how it should be. They just can’t publicly acknowledge that stuff I guess.
@@preston6618 yea that’s true, I remember the smoking at 0300, the smoking seasons while running the gauntlet (3 stations where they checked gear en rout to the 2 mile run) the exercise between the obstacles. This version seemed extremely tame. We lost so many weak bodies in day zero. Hell, the dude who designed our air assault guide-on (flag thing that platoon or company guide carries, I forget the name) failed the 6 miler. Good times
@@preston6618 I just remembered, we had an infantry company commander fail out day zero. I have no idea how he was able to go back to his company without an air assault badge. I taught a CWO how to climb the rope, dude made it and paid me back on the 12 miler when I was close to passing out because my camel pack hose snapped off those shitty plastic D rings during mile 3. He reached back and gave it to me around mile 10 when he caught up to me.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
Not gonna lie I'm old school. No women was around in combat mos when I was around but millers attitude and drive is on point. No excuses
Tht shit is a joke
Earned my Bullwinkle badge when I was 27. Loved the course and watched a lot of people get broke off.
Ahhhh Sweet Memories. The Tough One and the Confidence Climb oh man. When I did air assault school, we did the obstacle courses first THEN the 2 mile run afterwards.
The 12 mile rucksack March in under 3 hour minimum at the end was brutal. You better not be missing shit cause there is an inspection at the end.
Had a guy forget his dog tags of all things and didn't realize it until after completing the 12-miler. He got recycled.
@@joshp5563 OUCH!!!😖😖😖
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
went through air assault school back in 2012, was a breeze lol. Maybe I was just in good shape, but my unit made sure we were prepared physically and we had all the book knowledge memorized prior to going. like others have said, its all about preparation.
Gotta prepare! Gotta be coachable. You’ll get far in life
Yeah and it's only gotten easier since then.
2016, yup I was top of my game, hardest part for me was the academic part, and I almost passed out during the 12er because my camel pack hose slipped and I could get water until someone helped me get it back.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
I did AA at fort hood in Aug, and that day zero smoke sesh was the worst I ever went through in my military career. Drive on Air Assault and don’t forget to hydrate!!
An entire Infantry Division of students to chose from and they go with an old aviator and butter bar female MP. It's like they were looking for people who were going to fail. The only useful training you get out of Air Assault school is Pathfinder operations and Slingload operations anyway.
I don't know why it's called air assault. Its just sling loads. Hell we don't even ride in birds here. What a joke lol
I went to Air Assault School in '87. Zero Day started with an inspection, then the obstacle course - straight through - no stopping, and as soon as the last Troop came off the obstacle course we were immediately formed up for the 2 mile timed run. We had all of Zero Day basically DONE by 0900 I think? Had quite a few more drops back then. This new way seems easier to me...
Air Assault school is not "supposed" to be hard.... Its a cool experience and school and you could legit use some of those skills to sling load, or even later if you can go to pathfinder. Its hard enough so bums cant drop it, but none of those Air Assault cadre just wanna drop people to be a dick. Its not Ranger School.
That's all of society. Lowering standards in the name of equality.
I went through in ‘88…. it was fun!!
I grad in 84. They didn't give us breaks back then. I couldn't do it now. Too old lol
300 students through the obstacle course with less than 20 cadre without taking a break? The break isn’t from hand holding it’s a byproduct of throughput. You had a smaller class or a different obstacle course.
I also got advice that, like a pull-up exercise, having well-balanced upper body muscle strength is really important for obstacle courses. If you don't, your body either swings too much or too little, causing other parts of the muscle to do extra work and wear you out.
I don't know why the CW4 didn't enroll in the gentlemen's Air Assault course...but props for getting after it. If you're in shape, that most difficult part of Air Assault is the sling load portion. I only wish I had stayed at Campbell long enough to get my Path Finder badge. I wasn't motivated to do additional schools until I passed Air Assault. It was pretty intense watching the 5th Group guys do the Aussie Repels...look that up if you don't know.
My last PT test I was 49 years old, 2 mile run in 17:20, max out on push ups and did the required sit ups for my age group.
Honestly I recommend this as the first school you try. It’s probably the easiest one I’ve been through so far 💪
I was in their class, sad they didn't pass the 12 mile.
I remember as a newly promoted SGT back in 1996, went to Air Assault at Ft. Wainwright, AK. Our instructors were from the 24th ID (Tropic Lightning) from Hawaii and they were "no joke". I remember a few people got drop slips on "Day Zero" for missing items during inspection. Also, my class had about 6 "Ranger" tab wearers in which at least 3 of them fell out during "Day Zero" obstacle course. I remember we had to wear kevlars all the time which had our roster number on it. A few people got dropped during the "Sling Load" phase too. Day Zero started with around 145 troops and after 2 weeks, we graduated with 62, so "drop rate" was 50%
I got mine there at the same time. I had SSG Mustafa. My God, no one could slap the back of your thigh like he could!
You mean the 25th ID out of Hawaii right?
She is moving threw everything without a breath 😮wow she very impressive even for her size
I remember my dad talking about Air Assault School (In the 80's and 90's) and he said it was 10 days of hell but Special Forces Training was even worse
This is basically identical to the Air Assault School video they did a few weeks ago.
Greatest accomplishment, 5 years at Campbell and never let anyone pressure/force me to complete.
Same here...year and half at Campbell. They quit asking after a while.
I was Marines and went thru air assault school. Honestly wasn't physically or mentally challenging but by the end of rappel week you were incredibly proficient coming down a rope. After graduation returned to my unit extremely confident in rappeling ability. Fast ropes were just coming in to service in those days so were still doing a lot of rappel inserts. Was very glad I was able to get the school. For some unknown reason though, the pin not authorized on Marine uniform. At least was not
then. Maybe has changed.
Finally a legit comment on the course. Not a hard course at all but incredibly informative and I was totally down to repel off the barracks roof after.
Same thing if a Marine goes through ranger school, they can’t wear the tab.
I was only authorized to wear the Airborne badge when I switched to USNR.
I went through similar obstacles at MCRD San Diego back in 1984. I thought the obstacles were quite fun. The only real obstacle that sucked was the damn heat.
the first 2 seconds caught me off guard
The 2 seconds that play when your mom walks in the room
Two of some of the most amazing human beings out there. Thank you for your service!
the main thing to remember about ALL military schools, give it everything and don't quit.
LT Miller!!!! Worked with her briefly at Campbell! Literal BEAST.
I’m not gonna lie to you that shit was a vacation. When i graduated I realized i had to go back to work and i got sad 😂
it's a joke honestly . how the hell does this look tough
@@AmazonWebService98 it's cause half the candidates are out of shape.
Right? A break from my actual company
Literally a vacation from work, except for the days where you get off later than your company, but that’s rare Lol.
Lmfaooo fr
I never knew Air Assault School was this tough, let alone day zero.
In July 1984 we had to do the obstacle course TWICE, then two mile run in boots to CIF on Zero Day. I remember looking back during the run, and seeing a trail of bodies who collapsed or quit. We lost half the class that day. We did push-ups on sun baked asphalt which left burns and blisters on our hands. Me, I got my wings. I was too frightened of having to come back and try again.
In my opinion what makes Air Assault School hard is not so much the actual training itself. But how so easy it is to mess up when they demand such meticulous painstakingly precise attention to detail on everything and one little slip will get you kicked out. I guarantee no one has ever had to pay such attention to detail anywhere else in their lives.
@Sig Bauer i went to Air Assault School…
You know the school this video is actually about? Not Jumpmaster, pilot, Ranger or any other school i didnt even mention. Stay on topic here buddy.
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
My unit only allowed two slots per year. Needed to have top pt scores also. One of the coolest trainings I did in the military 🤙🏼
Wow. Attended the Sabalauski Air Assault school after the end of my sophomore year at Norwich in 1995. Summers are usually full of cadidiots. Good times.
Did the course in 2016, while I was there, we had a National Guardsman, Lieutenant Colonel, 60 years old, who was psychiatrist in the civilian world. That man showed me that age is just a factor and he stressed the importance of exercise and diet. He said that he didn’t even feel his age, he showed it too. Unfortunately he missed an item after the 12 mile ruck and was booted. But man, did he hang in there and proved himself and inspired many others! God bless him!
It’s not hard lol
I did my Air Assault school in Bitburg Germany back in 1990. Passed pretty easy, it was hard but I was 20 years old and was in shape for it.
I remember when I went back in 2013 we were the first class of the new year (so it was in January) We did the obstacle course on Day 3 because it was so cold that it was frozen on Day Zero. Our class lasted a whole month and graduated on February because so many days the base got shut down from the ice storms.
I actually got hypothermia and developed Raynuads Disease because it was so cold. The school itself wasn't that bad but man the weather was brutal.
Ok so I got my wings. Here’s how I got them! Make sure you get the correct packing list before you leave. The obstacle course is very easy if you went there in shape and just don’t fear heights. Practice climbing the rope! more people failed that than anything else and that’s the first obstacle. When you’re in class pay attention. Really really close attention. They teach you how to pass. Don’t go outside of what they’re teaching you. don’t go there thinking that you know everything because you did some research. Just absorb what they teach! That’s it! When it comes to the second phase and sling loading stay in practice I don’t know how else I can say that to you. You must stay until they tell you to leave. I was one of two guys they got four for four for all sling loads. What separated me and that other guy compared to the rest was we stayed and practice so much and rehearsed mentally and in the barracks so much throughout the night I barely got sleep. Phase 3 make sure you don’t fatal hook up. All you have to do is just not fatal hook up and quit! I know a guy it was our last repelled and he quit the on the last one. After that it’s all about the ruck it’s a 12 mile just suck it up do your best have the correct packing list at the end of that Ruck and you’ll get your wings. Go there in shape don’t be afraid stay focused and just stick to what I’m telling you by the end of our class we had 173 left from 400. Good luck warriors! Air assault!
Everyone says "just be in shape, its more mentally taxing," but to be honest i am not in shape at all. still got three years before i can enlist though. Any advice for what i need to do? I currently lift weights 5 days a week.
This school is all about attention to detail. Everything else is a piece of cake. Nickel and Dimes!
It takes a heartbeat.... Easiest 10 days in the army and a huge break from the office
Seriously?
Hardest 11 days in the army
@@alex112223333 literally the easiest thing. I’d rather do this than staff duty all day long 😂
I went through Air Assault School in 1985 at Schofield Barracks HI. The first day they told us look to your left and look to your right and that one or both the men standing next to will not be here at graduation due to a 50 percent failure rate. It was true in two weeks we went from 60 down to 29. Back then you had to do the timed 12 mile road march first to get into the school as well as a 2 mile run on the PT Test in boots and utilities. No way the school is as hard now as it was back then. The majority of the class were Grunts and no women of course.
With that intro I had to lower the volume real quick, well played editor 👏🏻😂
😂
Lmao fr
This course was a 10 day vacation from my unit
Seeing that CW4 there is like seeing a Leprechaun riding a unicorn.
Legend has it he only showed up for filming. Other days he was at the golf course drinking coffee and smoking cigars. Chief is gonna do chief stuff.
I love how they made this school look like it’s hardcore. I PCS’n, was out of shape due to being on profile from a MMA tournament I was injured frm..took to the school the day after I got of profile (not within Regs) and passed the school like it was nothing.
For future challengers, just do reg PT, pay attention to detail, and don’t forget what you were taught. Easiest course I’ve ever took!!
Thx man I’m gonna start this shit next Friday
This reminds me of my fathers stories of going to school in his day. He didn’t have shoes,uphill both ways.
hardest part of air assault is finding a parking space
A lot has changed since 1977 when I went through, rained like hell during obstacle course as I remember, slippery surfaces just increased difficulty level, a few troops got seriously hurt on the climb obstacles, slipping and falling. I was a hurting unit when I finished, but I made it.
Woah
Retired 20 year active service Army Infantryman / airborne / Ranger, went to Air Assault school in 1986, was assigned to Aco 1st BN 327TH Inf. BN, i'm a disabled veteran as of 2024.
Like air assault is hard!! Lol!! I passed it 1st time go no problem. If you meet the army standards you can pass.
Spouse: honey what do you want for dinner?
Me: AIR ASSAULT!
Son: Mom/dad can you take me to practice?
Me: AIR ASSAULT!
Parents: Hey son/daughter how are you?
Me: AIR ASSAULT!
Spouse: I want a divorce!
Me:….AIR ASSAULT!
Lol
I want to see a Hollywood movie where the army soldier says Air Assault before any kill (or action sequence) lol
@@ccheetah You mean AFTER? AIR ASSAULT!
@@MrDK0010 oh yeah after every action
I forget but one of the units was "balls of the eagle", swear to god, maybe it was Arty?
Sabalauski AASLT School grad '99!! (C 2/502 INF.) I found remembering weight capacities for the different birds and slinglegs the most difficult part. The 12 mile ruck was easy for me, but I have long legs. Did it twice (for scoring purposes) that year, as I earned my EIB the same year......which also requires a 12 mile ruck, with inspection of gear at the end, in under 3 hours.
respect for mccurdy for even attempting this at 40
People really out here thinking they can pass Air Assault School without being able to run 2, 9 minute miles without a ruck
... probably forced into going by their leadership...
Crazy. I still remember stuff I learned from air assault school.
"for some students..."
consistently looks at the short-haired strawberry girl
Amazing dedication from these two. Think of what our military men and women in Afghanistan had to work through, just to be left behind by our President.
They failed the course
Those legs really put their hearts into it. 🇺🇸
That first scene had my whole family looking over at me.
The real ones know that the hardest day is sling load inspections.
Damn fuckin right
Goddamn A22 Cargo bag…
Not that hard
Phase 2 is no joke
@@Twizzzums facts