The US Army plans to open a new air assault school at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The school will initially be open to troops based at Fort Polk, but by October, it will be open to any soldier (including reservists, guardsmen, and Air Force personnel) who applies. Priority on available spaces will be given to soldiers who re-enlist. Graduation from an air assault school gives a soldier 9 promotion points, and makes it more likely that he can obtain desired assignments. This will, in theory, make soldiers more likely to remain in uniform. --Stephen V Cole