Basic Airborne Course FAQ

Ground Week, Tower Week, Jump Week.
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Silverback
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Basic Airborne Course FAQ

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11th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry
Administrative Information

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This section provides the prospective Basic Airborne Course, (BAC) volunteer with information on the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry organization, administrative information, student appearance standards, the physical training demands of the course, and a BAC training summary.

The purpose of the BAC is to qualify the volunteer in the use of the parachute as a means of combat deployment and to develop leadership, self-confidence, and an aggressive spirit through mental and physical conditioning.

The BAC is conducted IAW the authority contained in AR 600-8-22. Volunteers selected for training must meet the requirements specified in DA PAM 351-4.

Airborne soldiers have a long and distinguished tradition of being an elite body of fighting men and women–people who have always set the example for determination and courage. When you volunteer for this training, you accept the challenge of continuing this tradition. The Airborne soldiers of the past set high standards–it is now up to you to maintain them!

Unless otherwise stated, whenever the masculine gender is used, both men and women are included.


BAC ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer, Enlisted personnel, and qualified cadets

Volunteer for the course

Be less than 36 years of age on ATTRS report date

Physically qualify for parachute duty IAW AR 40-501
Pass the APFT with a score of 180 points (60 points per event) using the 17 to 21 year age-group scale as the standard, administered on day one of training. Applicants must be able to complete a 5-mile run within 45-minutes (9-minutes per mile).

USMA Cadets must complete Cadet Basic Training

ROTC cadets must be under scholarship or contracted.

Enlisted personnel must have completed basic combat training, OSUT, or other service equivalent training

Commanders selecting personnel to attend the BAC will refer to ARs 614-110 and 614-200 for information on airborne volunteer selection and processing POC for questions: Student Accountability DSN 835-4874.

BAC CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Military identification card
Identification tags: One long and one short chain interlaced, with one ID tag per chain. One key, any medical alert badge and barracks pass (if issued) are allowed to be suspended from the chain

Military issue eyeglasses 2 pair with retainer straps, as required. (Due to fragility of civilian eyeglasses, it is suggested they not be worn during BAC training.) Contact lenses are NOT authorized.

BDU cap 1 each

Personnel who require a size extra large Ballistic Helmet (Kevlar) and have been previously issued this item and still possess the item are required to bring this item of equipment to the Basic Airborne Course. Personnel who have not been issued a size extra large Ballistic Helmet (Kevlar) will be provided with one at the course.

BDUs with appropriate rank, insignia, nametapes, and branch tapes, minimum 3 sets

Web belt 2 each

Buckle, subdued 1 each

Brown undershirts or other service authorized undershirts (worn with BDUs) 5 each

Underwear 5 each

Service PT Uniform. To include Army T-shirt, shorts (summer), sweat top, sweat pants, gloves with inserts, and black wool cap (winter). For those services not issued organizational PT uniforms (such as some Navy and Air Force units), appropriate civilian PT clothes are acceptable. Appropriate colors include solid black, gray, brown, or dark blue attire free of unit and commercial logos.

Standard issue combat boots (Boots should be broken in and must be highly shined; spit shine is not required.) 2 pair

Cushion soled socks black or green (for wear with boots) 5 pair

Civilian running shoes

Civilian white athletic socks 5 pair (no ankle socks)

Boot shining gear

Towels 3 each

Washcloths 3 each

Toiletries

Heavy duty padlocks 2 each

Headband for Ballistic Helmet (sweatband)
AR 40-5, PREVENTIVE MEDICINE And AR 40-63, OPHTHALMIC SERVICES Do not authorize contact lenses for wear in field (dirty or dusty) environments, because BAC students are trained in a dirty, or dusty, environment CONTACT LENSES CANNOT BE WORN DURING BAC TRAINING.

BAC students are not authorized to wear Jungle Boots, boots with toe and heel caps (e.g. "Jump Boots"), and boots with waffled, or rippled soles.

White atheletic socks will have NO stripes or commercial product markings and will extend beyond the ankles to near mid-calf. Atheleticx socks which extend only to the ankle are NOT AUTHORIZED for wear.

Personnel must provide their own military issue black gloves with liners.

During winter season (October - March) black watch cap, and authorized cold weather jacket (i.e., Field Jacket with liner, or Gortex-lined waterproof parka).

The Airborne School issues all items of organizational equipment (TA-50) required for Airborne Training (e.g., Helmet, poncho, and canteen).
NOTES:
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE BY ANY PERSONNEL ATTENDING COURSES ON FT BENNING. THESE SUPPLEMENTS ARE SOLD UNDER A VARIETY OF BRAND NAMES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RIPPED FUEL, METABOLIFE, XENADRINE, ETC.

STUDENT MILITARY APPEARANCE AND INSPECTION STANDARDS

There will be a roll call inspection on Friday of the report week to familiarize you with roll call, inspection standards, and procedures. Personnel from Reserve Components, National Guard, and other services, or countries, will wear Standard Issue BDU or fatigue (utility) type uniforms for training. Jungle-boots, boots with toe and heel caps (e.g., "jump boots"), and boots with waffled or rippled soles are not authorized for wear by BAC students. ALL students will comply with U.S. Army Regulations concerning grooming.


MORNING INSPECTIONS

Instructors will conduct inspections the morning of each training day
Hair: Hair will be cut to the standards contained in
AR 670-1

Face: Male students will be clean-shaven unless they have a valid medical shaving profile. Students will NOT wear make-up in the training area

Helmet: Helmets will be inspected by the company trainers to ensure that the helmets are properly rigged and serviceable

Uniform:
BDU shirt and trousers, cold weather jackets, black gloves with inserts, and brown undershirts will be clean and serviceable IAW AR 670-1. NO corporate advertisements, logograms, or printing are authorized on undershirts. Uniforms will NOT be starched.

Belts will be clean, serviceable, and worn IAW the student's branch of service.

Boots will be shined to a high luster, free of all dirt or gravel and laced prior to the first work formation

All services must wear a BDU hat or equivalent while on duty. Foreign students are discouraged from wearing berets, but may do so if no other headgear is available for their uniform.

Military identification card and identification tags: One long and one short chain interlaced, with one ID tag per chain. One key, any medical alert badge, and barracks pass (if issued) can be suspended from the chain
NOTES:
STUDENTS WILL NOT WEAR THE ARMY BLACK, MAROON, OR GREEN BERET PRIOR TO GRADUATION. THE ONLY AUTHORIZED HEAD GEAR IS EITHER THE BALLISTIC HELMET OR PATROL CAP.

Students wil not wear jewelry in the training area. One designated student per class will wear or carry a watch.

Male student's hair will be IAW AR 670-1.

Female students may not wear metal pins or barrettes in their hair. When wearing the parachutist helmet, they MUST wear a hair net.

Student headgear in the training area is a serviceable Parachutist's Helmet.

NO TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE AUTHORIZED IN THE TRAINING AREA
PERSONAL CLOTHING AND CIVILIAN CLOTHING APPEARANCE STANDARDS

Wall locker storage space for personal clothing in the billets is limited. However, students may bring a reasonable amount of appropriate civilian clothing may be brought to the BAC. Soldiers at Fort Benning are expected to wear appropriate civilian clothing and present a neat, clean, military appearance during off-duty time. Students must be aware that Fort Benning Regulation 600-5, which addresses the wear of civilian clothing on Fort Benning, is strictly enforced in on-post facilities. Examples of clothing prohibited for wear in on-post facilities are: clothing which presents a provocative appearance, dirty clothing, underclothing worn as an outer garment; mesh T-shirts, "muscle shirts", tube tops, tank tops, bikini swim suit tops, any shirt which has had the sleeves cut off, or clothing that presents a ragged or torn appearance; modified items of military clothing (cut-off BDU trousers, BDU jackets with the sleeves cut-off or shortened), the Army PT uniform, clothing with profanity written or printed on it, shorts which do not present a proper or tasteful appearance, or shower shoes. Soldiers are expected to comply with all changes to AR 670-1 that impact personal appearance standards while in civilian clothing.

PERSONAL CONDUCT

Students attending the BAC must conduct themselves in an appropriate and disciplined manner, on-duty and off-duty. BAC students are not authorized to consume alcoholic beverages within 24-hours prior to a training day and are not authorized to possess alcoholic beverages in the billets. Students who violate provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) will be quickly disciplined, and may be permanently dropped from airborne training with subsequent assignment as a non-graduate. DOD policy in reference to body piercing is strictly enforced, (i.e. NO BODY PIERCING OF MALE OR FEMALE SOLDIERS ARE AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON OR OFF DUTY WHILE ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION, FEMALES ARE AUTHORIZED EARRINGS WHILE OFF DUTY).

MONEY REQUIREMENTS
While each student must bring sufficient money for personal expenses, the student should not bring more than $50.00 in cash. Additional funds should be in traveler's checks or money orders. Money orders should be made out in the student's name before arrival. It is highly suggested that amounts over $50 be stored in the company safe.

BILLETING
Barracks: Housing will be provided in the training company barracks for all enlisted personnel in the pay grades E-1 through E-7. Soldiers must clean their living areas daily and perform additional duties as directed.

BOQ/BEQ: BOQs for TDY status Commissioned or Warrant Officers and BEQs for NCOs (E-8 and E-9) are available on a limited basis. Contact the Fort Benning Billeting Office at (706) 689-0067 for booking BOQ/BEQ space. Local hotels are available with a statement of non-availability.

PCS Status Personnel: Post Guest House lodging is available to PCS status personnel. Contact the Fort Benning Billeting Office at (706) 689-0067 for booking.

Family Members Visiting Fort Benning for BAC Graduation: Post Guest House (The Gavin House) lodging is available to the student’s family members who are at Fort Benning for a short time to view Jump Week jumps and attend the BAC graduation ceremonies. Contact the Fort Benning Billeting Office at (706) 689-0067 for booking. The actual graduation can vary based on weather and operational constraints. It is highly recommended to call (706) 545-6495 prior to any travel. Students are briefed to keep their graduation guests informed of graduation changes.

DINING FACILITIES. Students in the grade of E-1 through E-7 will be issued a Meal Card and are required to eat in the battalion dining facility (DFAC). Officer Students and Enlisted E-8 and E-9 may choose to eat in the DFAC provided they pay for their meals. During Jump Week, Officer Students and Enlisted E-8 and E-9's are required to eat DFAC provided meals.

MAIL. The S-1, 1-507TH Infantry maintains a roster of all personnel in training. Before your arrival at Fort Benning have your mail addressed to:
(YOUR NAME)
Headquarters, 1st Bn (Abn), 507th Inf
Fort Benning, GA 31905


Upon arrival and assignment, substitute your assigned company to expedite mail delivery. Do not have mail sent to you during the third week of training; you will soon graduate and redirecting of mail will result in mail delivery delay.

LEAVE AND PASS POLICY

Leaves during the course are only granted for valid emergencies; the Company Commander approves emergency leaves. After graduation, if the student has a follow-on assignment within the continental U.S., he will normally be granted 10 days leave. Students being assigned to units not within the continental U.S. may be granted up to 30 days leave.

During non-duty hours, students are normally free to travel within a 50-mile radius of Fort Benning, GA without a valid leave form. Travel outside a 50-mile radius requires an authorization from the Company Commander. You must return well rested and on time for company designated formations and training.

The Airborne School supports Hometown Recruiter Assistance Plan. Soldiers must have a DA4187 signed by an O-5 or higher upon arrival.


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Last edited by Silverback on February 10th, 2005, 2:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Silverback »

11th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry
Airborne Physical Training


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WARNING: WHEN CONDUCTING PHYSICAL TRAINING PRIOR TO THE BASIC AIRBORNE COURSE AT YOUR HOME STATION, DESIGN A PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING: COMPLETION OF A 5 MILE RUN WITH A TIME OF 45 MINUTES OR FASTER AFTER CONDUCTING 30 MINUTES OF STRENUOUS ACTIVITY (MUSCULAR STRENGTH EXERCISES, MUSCULAR ENDURANCE EXERCISES, CALISTHENICS, AND GRASS DRILLS).
You must be physically fit before you start the BAC. The physically weak are more likely to either not complete the course because of an injury, or fail the course due to an inability to qualify on the training apparatuses. You will have PT the first period each day, followed by seven hours of demanding, vigorous training.

Typical PT Session. You must qualify during daily PT by completing the exercises and distance run. Any student who fails to complete two runs during the entire course will be eliminated from training. A typical daily PT session includes warm up exercises, calisthenics, guerilla/grass drills or a 3.2 to 4 mile formation run. Males and females run in the same formation during PT and the average pace is 9-minutes per mile.

DAILY PT SCHEDULE

Ground Week
Day Event Distance Pace

1 APFT PU/SU/2MR Individual
2 Guerilla/Grass Drills
3 1st Run 3.2 Miles 8:45 - 9:15 Per Mile
4 Guerilla/Grass Drills
5 2nd Run 3.2 Miles 8:45 - 9:15 Per Mile



Tower Week
Day Event Distance Pace

1 1st Run 5 Miles 8:45 - 9:15 Per Mile
2 Log Drills
3 2nd Run 4 Miles 8:45 - 9:15 Per Mile
4 Circuit Training
5 3rd Run 4 Miles 8:45 - 9:15 Per Mile

PT UNIFORM
Summer (APRIL thru SEPTEMBER): Army T-shirt, PT Shorts, (IPFU or PFU).
Winter (OCTOBER thru MARCH): sweat tops, sweat pants, (IPFU or PFU), gloves with inserts, and black wool cap.

Those services not issued organizational PT uniforms (such as some Navy and Air Force units): appropriate civilian PT clothes are acceptable. Appropriate colors include solid black, gray, brown, or dark blue attire free of unit and commercial logos.
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Post by Silverback »

11th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry
Airborne Ground Week

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During Ground Week, you begin an intensive program of instruction to build individual airborne skills, which will prepare you to make a parachute jump, and land safely. You will train on the mock door, the 34 foot tower, and the lateral drift apparatus (LDA). To go forward to Tower Training Week, you must individually qualify on the 34 foot tower, the LDA, and pass all PT requirements.


The Mock Door
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The 34 - Foot Tower
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The Lateral Drift Apparatus Parachute Landing Falls
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Post by Silverback »

11th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry
Airborne Tower Week

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The individual skills learned during Ground Week are refined during Tower Week and team effort or "mass exit" concept is added to the training. The apparatuses used this week are the 34-foot towers, the swing landing trainer (SLT), the mock door for mass exit training, the suspended harness, and the 250-foot free tower. Tower Week completes your individual skill training and builds team effort skills. To go forward to Jump Training Week you must qualify on the SLT, master the mass exit procedures from the 34-foot tower, and pass all PT requirements.


The 34 - Foot Tower
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Swing Landing Trainer (SLT) Tower
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The Suspended Harness
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250 Foot Tower
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Post by Silverback »

11th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry
Airborne Jump Week

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Successful completion of the previous weeks of training prepares you for Jump Week. Graduation is normally conducted at 0900 on Friday of Jump Week at the south end of Eubanks Field on the Airborne Walk. However, if weather, or some other reason delays the scheduled jumps, graduation may be conducted on Fryar Drop Zone (DZ) after the last jump. Guests and family members are welcome to observe all of the jumps at the DZ, attend the graduation ceremony, and participate in awarding the wings. Fryar DZ is located in Alabama on the Fort Benning Military Reservation. To get to Fryar Field DZ, visitors should drive to Lawson Army Airfield (LAAF). Drive to the left around LAAF. At the stop sign turn left and drive about 5 miles to the next stop sign. Follow signs to the drop zone parking area. Following graduation you are allowed to depart for leave, or your next duty assignment. Guests and family members may qualify for billeting privileges at the Gavin House on Fort Benning. They can determine their billeting eligibility by calling the Fort Benning Billeting Office at (706) 689-0067.


Inside Aircraft
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Fryar Drop Zone (DZ)
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RC 2-87
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