US Army Airborne: What It Takes To Be The Best!
Airborne candidates must be in excellent physical condition and highly fit. Airborne operations can be physically demanding – jumping out of an aircraft with heavy gear isn’t easy! Secondly, mental toughness is crucial as well. The training program for becoming airborne-certified pushes soldiers to their psychological and physical limits. Regarding technical requirements, all applicants should at least have completed basic combat training (BCT). They would then proceed to the Basic Airborne Course (BAC) to learn parachute skills over three weeks. Also important is eyesight – prospective members must possess vision correctable to 20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other. But beyond these standard criteria lies another requirement that can’t be measured – determination. It takes a lot of grit and perseverance to become part of this elite group since not everyone who starts finishes the course due to its rigorous nature. Moreover, working effectively within a team environment is vital, too, because once deployed into battle zones or behind enemy lines, your fellow paratroopers often make up your immediate support system. Lastly, but certainly not least, remember age matters! Candidates typically need to enlist before turning 36 years old.