Airborne, or Air Assault?

This post has two questions. (1) Between the two, which would you rather do if you could only do one, and why? (Bonus points for those who've actually done one or both.)

Airborne


Air Assault


(2) For the military-minded, with our current-style of conflict in the world, which insertion operation do you see more useful to our military? I've been hearing from many that airborne operations, especially large-scale invasion tactics (like those used during WWII) are absolutely dead, and things are looking in favor to air assault.

What's your opinion?

 

rather do airborne, more practical: Air assault, but both would be fun

 

Can't say I've done either (wish I could), but i would say that large scale airborne missions are almost non-existent but small team based airborne insertions seem to be more common.
just my view, who knows

 

Airborne: you jump out, decend real SLOW, with a BIG chutte = an EASY target, for the enemy.
Air Assault: go in fast and low = harder, smaller target.

Just look at the pics you post, if you was the enemy, which would be easier to shot ??? that sould answer your own question...
But you got my respect for wanting to join either

GO ARMY

 

I am AIRBORNE, it's a joke of a school. You basically can teach a monkey to jump out of a plane, static line does the rest.

Been to AIR ASSAULT, much more physical and mentally challenging then AB, but the only practical skill tought there was Fast Roping. No one is going to repel into combat. Fast roping allows for quick insertions on to roof tops and such.

Besides that, both are worth promotion points, one earns you cash if on status, and in the end they should both be done away with the changing operational enviorment we are encountering.

 

I wouldn't want do either of them. In the service, for me, it was all about ribbons and medals. If you had them then you where moving up. The closer you got to getting out the less you wanted them. Why? It's a risk. It's not about what looks cool, job or uniform, it's about doing your job and coming home. Now someone has to do it, but if you get a chance to do something that will help you out in the civilian world, then that's your best bet. For me, I'm stuck doing what I do. There isn't much of a demand for cannon cockers or ground pounders in our job market here in the US of A. I loved training and shooting and being a Marine but it's not much help out here? BLOOD MAKES THE GRASS GROW! KILL! KILL! KILL!

Life changes everyday, so choose wisely!

 

I was just reading a thing on a military forum about airborne school:

That's crazy. But I still want to jump outta airplanes.

 

wow. thats one lucky sumbitch

 

Which did you like better? Or were they both the same to you?

Hooah.

 

I have been to both courses and even taught one , served I'm both types of units in combat. Aas is more physical and more technical, the thing taughtthere that is most used is slingloading equipment, its true you learn to rappel and fast rope . I even went to rappel master and fries master. Never used that shit in real life, only sling load.
Abn on the other hand, I have over 120 jumps and served in Abn units for 17+ years. The troops must volunteer, they get new equipment first. If they have poor soldiers they can boot them easier. Extra pay is nice, Abn school though being easier is reqiired for special ops in all services. Also contrary to popular belief, is used quite regularly and I would never rule out a mass tactical invasion! As to the argument of easy target I have to call BS which is harder target to hit , helo hovering at 60-90 feet or airplane moving 130 knots at 800- 1250. Can you rappel or fastrope out of a crashing helo? Hell no, but I can jump out of a crashing A/C! No brainer! Also have to call bullshit on the towed jumper story, first off you are required to attempt a recovery of said jumper(unless its a combat jump). Second they would have to request, permission to cut him free and no general officer will give that permission. Third I was stationed in Alaska and read the history of jump accidents, also am still in contact with many jump masters currently there, None of them is aware of said fairy tale cause I emailed 6 of them with 4 of them reply with BS, other no response yet!

 

stay home and smoke some crack..Why does it matter which one you do? I would tell vote for Airborne, I say this because you will have more OPS' and travel fun.In Grenada there was soem funky shit going on when the 101 pooped on them. Dont be a Pussy.

 

My brother did the Air Assault school at Fort Hood last year. He's been wanting to go to Airborne school, but his unit wouldn't pay to send him. Chances are, he will only get to go if he reenlists, which he probably won't do at this point. He said the rigging was cool, and the fast roping was sort of fun, but that it hurt too much using the rope harnesses, instead of a real climbing harness. Said he had a bunch of bruises around his legs and groin area from the ropes. Other than that he had fun riding up in the helicopters.

 

you need airborne to jump out of planes, but you dont need air assault to do a air assault.

 

To compare the two is impractical. First, they are 2 separate operational concepts. Airborne is a method of delivering troops to the battlefield via parachute. Air Assault is not merely repelling out of helicopters, it's doing operations with helicopter support. It includes using helicopters for assault ops, sling loading equipment, and yes repelling and fast rope exercises. Air Assault as a concept brings great capabilities to infantry units, and enables light infantry units to deploy very rapidly on the battlefield. Air borne units don't typically have the helicopter support to do the types operations air assault units do. Jumping out of airplanes will always be hooah as heck, and it is always going to have a role, particularly in special ops units, but air assault units are much more rapidly mobile, having vast helicopter resources organic to the unit. So the answer to the question goes beyond just attendance at the school to prepare one to serve in that type of unit. In reality, the importance of the school isn't to just attend the school for the sake of going to another school, but gaining a basic skills set to equip one to serve in that unit.

 

Air Assault only.