Questions about MOSs and 506th/101st ABD

M

Malnutrition

New member
So I am interested in Joining the 101st ABD. I haven't applied yet, but I noticed on the Current Available MOSs post that the aviation units are more or less packed. If I was to apply, complete my training, and (assuming there are no spots open) opt into the 504th infantry, would that jeopardize my spot in the 101st? If not, is this recommended vs joining the reserves, and what are the pros/cons between them, if any?

Also, how much wiggle room is there, in what you do in the 101st? I noticed that if you go 504th infantry, you have choices during application (between riflemen, machinegunner, healthcare specialists, bradley crewmen, etc.) Is there similar options in the 101st, or would I just be assigned a role based on current openings? My goal would be to train, and provide CAS in an Apache. (That sounds super '13 year old with an Apache poster on their wall, I know ) I don't have anything against any other jobs in the 101st, but if my chances are not very high to get a position like that, I would consider just going infantry.

Lastly, what is the relationship between the 101st ABD and the 506th? Is the 101st it's own unit that closely works with the 506th, that also works with other sim units? Or does it strictly work with the 506th, whenever they do an op requiring them? If they only work with the 506th, how often are they involved in the ops? How many ops/month on average would you say they get?
 
There's a lot of questions here, I'll try to answer what I can.

1. Everyone goes in as an 11B  to begin with. Everyone does Recruit Training, and Everyone does OSUT. So, no matter what you end up doing, you start out as an Infantryman.

2. If there's a spot available in the 101st, your Recruit Training instructor will let you know, just be sure to ask. Then you can elect to sign up for that. If there's not a spot available, you can always request a transfer if a spot opens up. It's usually first come first serve for open spots, so just keep your eyes up.

2b. If there's no spot open, after you graduate OSUT, you'll be placed in a unit as a fireteam member, and from there you do ground stuff. They're pretty flexible from what I've heard on the fireteam level, but perhaps one of the Team or Squad Leaders can clarify that.

2c. Medic and Bradley Crewman are a bit more specialized, and those require extra training and open slots.

2d. If you sign up as a pilot and there's not an opening, you won't get thrown out of the 506th, and you won't get locked into something forever and ever. There are individuals here who have transferred all over the place, and while you do lose some rank and time if you do it too often, you'll have some flexibility.

3. If there's an Aviation opening, and you've completed OSUT, and you've reported in, and set up training times, and done your 8ish hours of flight training, and a bunch of other stuff, you'll be a WO1 in Delta Co. Once you've got that, you'll be qualified on all Rotary Airframes the 101st uses (UH-60, AH-6, CH-47, and AH-64). That means, once the op comes around, it'll be up to your Section Leader to decide who goes in what. Most pilots will have flown everything by their 3rd or 4th op, so you will get to fly and gun the Apache eventually.

4. This 101st D/Co. is strictly for the 506th. They participate in every op, once a week (soon to be twice a week with Saturday Ops starting soon), with two ops running at a time, one section (out of 4) for each op. So, if you're a Rotary Pilot, you're required to fly in an Official Op twice a month. A few pilots do more than that, if say one section has an absent pilot, and they need a fill in, or if they participate in unofficial ops (which there are a ton of).

4b. As a pilot, you are required to fly in two operations a month. BUT, for the ops you're not on, you can fill in as Infantry, if they need them. So, if flying gets a little dull, you can often jump into some boots and run around.

5*. If you're not sure about what you'll choose, but are definitely interested in the 506th, go through the the training, sign up as whatever, and try to get in on some unofficial ops. Obviously, they'll be quite different than what you'll be doing on Sundays, but it's a good way to spend some time with some great, trained 506th guys and get a feel for the roles and procedures.

I hope that clears some things up. Good luck!
 
If aviation is filled after you complete training, then you can go do infantry/bradley/etc until a spot opens, then you can transfer in. It's first come first serve as far as spots go.

The Rotary aviation and the 506th Infantry are both subordinate units of the entire 101st ABD (Air Assault.) Rotary, as well as the units that are not organic to the 101st ABD  (A-10's, Bradleys, etc) are all directly attached to the Infantry battalion to provide combined arms support, or in the case of Bradleys, work in conjunction with the 506th.

They are involved in every operation. We are an air assault battalion, so there will always be helicopters.
 
As a new Recruit, I would like to say that the answers from WO1 Moreno answered allot of my questions and what any new recruit would ask I guess.

If I may, I suggest this be stick'ed :-)
 
Guyv3r said:
If I may, I suggest this be stick'ed :-)
Click to expand...

A lot of this information is actually available in this sticky in the recruiting forum, but OP had a few unusual questions about unit organization that needed to be put into context.
 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FfG-pp7Hmxv1Kys5G304oWOurrQZ9Jh2hCX2N8cd1VI/edit?pli=1

This document should clear up any more questions you might have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top