ARMY QUESTION - Will I most likely be stationed at Ft Bragg if I go airborne?

I am joining as a 13D Field Artillery and I really want to be stationed at Ft Bragg in North Carolina since it's close to home. I didn't get Airborne in my contract, but I was told by my recruiter that I could volunteer for it in Basic or AIT.

I heard that most Airborne soldiers get stationed at Ft Bragg and that the 82nd in fact has 4 Artillery battalions. I also heard that you get some sort of a "wish list" during Basic for where you want to be stationed after training. When do you get to fill out that wish list? You pick 3 in state bases and 2 overseas(including Hawaii and Alaska) bases right?

Totally lost here lol please clarify. Thanks!
Additional Details
When do I fill out that wish list though?

And what's wrong with Bragg?

DOOM

You can volunteer for it, but it'll be much harder to get than if it was in your contract. As Airborne combat arms, you're basically looking at Fort Campbell or Fort Bragg. Those are the Airborne "black holes".

Victory Soldier

Your best bet is to get North Carolina as a guarenteed first duty station WRITTEN IN YOUR CONTRACT. There are a very few, very minor posts there, but mostly, that means 82nd Division.

Failing that, you need to set your regimental affiliation to an 82nd regiment.

Airborne school doesn't really matter. If you get assigned and you don't have it, they will send you. If you have it, the will send you anywhere anyway.

Good luck, and thanks for serving.

BTW, any time a recruiter tells you you can do something not written in your contract, you should treat that as if you are dealing with a used car salesman. Only, it is a less-than-ethical used car salesman.

Don't trust any recruiter any farther than you can throw an M1 tank. Put EVERYTHING in writing.

JScott

You do get a wish list which you'll probably pick right when you get to reception before you begin BCT so you can put NC on the top of that list. Also there most likely will be a chance for you to volunteer for airborne school while in BCT but if you don't have duty station of choice in your contract you might now get what you want. There are 3 main airborne units: 82nd, 173rd BCT, and a BCT from the 25th ID (the one in Alaska--can't remember exactly which one that is). You could go to any of those or you could just go to a regular unit--there are plenty of guys that go to airborne school then get sent to a non-jump unit.

Bill H

Chances are, they keep the best interests of your career in mind. The best place for you to develop those combat skills after BT/AIT is probably going to be Iraq, Afghanistan or Djibuhti. Then a stateside deployment.

But hey, just because you are stationed at Ft. Bragg, does not mean you will actually live or work there. In high optempo, you'll be stationed at Bragg for 4 months before shipping off where the Army needs you, finish a year there and come back for 4-6 months to recouperate before going off again.

a good army wife

That is not always true. You will not always get one from your wish list. you can pick 3 of both. Are you really sure you want to go to Bragg?

pvt.tuggle

well well for airborne school you will go to fort benning in georgia thats where the airborne school is but its only 3 weeks long

Animal

You do not get to choose where you are stationed, period. A 13D is not an airborne MOS, and 13D's are used everywhere across the country, especially in Ft. Hood, TX and Ft. Irwin, CA. There is a wish list but it is exactly that...it's simply a tool to get you to think you have a choice, but in reality the army will send you where they want to place you and you have no say in that whatsoever. I agree with the above poster that recruiters should be treated as a used car salesman. Their job is to get a certain number of recruits and you will never see them again so they are allowed to stretch the truth or even flat out lie to you to get the paperwork signed. Now I'm not knocking the Army experience, as I was in for 5 years and was stationed in Texas, germany and Ft. Bragg. Just be sure that you understand that you are property of uncle Sam and they will send you wherever they want to, just as if you were piece of machinery like an armored tank. A 13D is a very physically demanding position and can be very hard on your body over the years. Good luck and be sure to read up on your MOS!

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