Can i join the Army then the 82nd Airborne?

Question

I am thinking about joining the 82nd Airborne, so in order to do that would i have to join the the infantry in the Army and then apply for Airborne training? or could some1 just tell me step by step how to do it and i dont need to hear all that bullshit about how physically and mentally tough it will be. Thanks!

Answer 1

step by step (assuming you want to be infantry, and not just airborne):

1) go to the recruiter tell him you want to be airborne infantry.

2) the recruiter will take you to the military entrance processing station (MEPS).  Tell the sergeant at the MEPS that you want to be airborne Infantry, and that is all you want to be.  Make it clear that you don't want to be anything else, and that you won't sign an enlistment contract that doesn't have Airborne School and infantry on it.  Don't be a prick about it but make it clear.  These guys tend to be like used car salesmen.  Your enlistment contract will mention "airborne" or "airborne school" and "infantry" on it.  If it doesn't mention both, then chances are you aren't guaranteed either.  It will also list your MOS (your specific job code) this should be 11X until you graduate from basic training.  

The same goes if you want to ba an airborne cook, ranger infantry, a ranger cook (belive it or not they exist), etc.  

Also:  Just because you get airborne school on your enlistment contract doesn't mean that you will end up in the 82nd airborne division.  There are 3 other airborne infantry brigades and a few other non-infantry airborne units.  That bieng said, being in the 501st airborne in Alaska, or the 173rd airborne in Italy is just as hard core.

Answer 2

IF you enlist in the Army, IF you make it through basic, IF you make it through AIT, and IF you are selected for, and complete, Airborne training, you'd best be prepared to hear more BULL**** than you've ever heard in your entire life.

And there is no guarantee that you'll be assigned to the 82nd. It's all a matter of what the Army's needs are at the moment.

Answer 3

You don't "join" the 82nd Airborne...it isn't a club or something. It is just a unit that you can get assigned to.  

Answer 4

First off the 82nd is not all infantry. They  have a wide range of MOS's or jobs that you may want or qualify for. Every thing fro Clerk to Medic and Cook to Engineer. All can be Airborne. If you want airborne, just make sure its in your contract. in writing, the recruiter will be happy to assist you.

My thanks and salute to your future service.

Answer 5

Yeah man you can't just "join" the 82nd.  Its just a unit you can get assigned to.  You don't have to be infantry to be in 82nd anyway.  You can be pretty much whatever you want I believe.  You might have a better chance of going there if you enlist in an Aviation MOS, like a helicopter mechanic or something.  You can always request to go there after you enlist, but trust me, with the Army, there are NO guarantees lol.  But I'd suggest if thats where you want to go, first enlist in active duty, then choose your job (I'd recommend 15R, 15T, or 15U...those are all helicopter mechanic jobs...I'm a 15U and its awesome by the way) and then you'll get a form to fill out where you get like 3 choices of where you would like to go and just put Ft. Bragg as your #1 choice, Ft Campbell is good too (101st Airborne).  Whatever you decide to do, good luck with it.