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Parachutist Badge (United States)
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The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which is awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The United States Coast Guard is the only service which does not issue a Parachutist Badge, however Coast Guard members are entitled to receive the Parachutist Badge of another service, if the proper training was received.
Army Parachutist Badge is awarded to all military personnel in any service who complete United States Army Airborne School, 3 weeks of training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
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Encyclopedia
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which is awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The United States Coast Guard is the only service which does not issue a Parachutist Badge, however Coast Guard members are entitled to receive the Parachutist Badge of another service, if the proper training was received.
Army
The Army Parachutist Badge is awarded to all military personnel in any service who complete United States Army Airborne School, 3 weeks of training at Fort Benning, Georgia. It signifies that the soldier is a trained Army Parachutist, and is qualified to conduct airborne operations.
The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Lieutenant General (then Major) William P. Yarborough and approved by the Department of the Army in March of that year. The Parachutist Badge replaced the Parachutist Patch which had previously worn as a large patch on the right side of a Paratrooper's garrison cap. The flash that is worn behind the badge is also a contribution of William P. Yarborough
The Army Parachutist Badge is issued in three degrees, being that of Basic, Senior, and Master Parachutist. The various degrees are signified by a star and wreath above the decoration. The current awards criteria are:
Parachutist Badge (Basic)
To be eligible for award of the basic Parachutist Badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump as follows:
- A member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission for which the unit was credited with an airborne assault landing by the theater commander.
- While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
- While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
Senior Parachutist Badge
To be eligible for the Senior Parachutist Badge, an individual must have been rated excellent in character and efficiency and have met the following requirements:
- Participated in a minimum of 30 jumps including fifteen jumps with combat equipment to consist of normal TOE equipment including individual weapon carried in combat whether the jump was in actual or simulated combat. In cases of simulated combat the equipment will include water, rations (actual or dummy), ammunition (actual or dummy), and other essential items necessary to sustain an individual in combat. Two night jumps must also be made during the hours of darkness (regardless of time of day with respect to sunset) one of which will be as jumpmaster of a stick. In addition, two mass tactical jumps which culminate in an airborne assault problem with either a unit equivalent to a battalion or larger; a separate company battery; or an organic staff of regimental size or larger. The soldier must fill a position commensurate with his or her rank or grade during the problem.
- Either graduated from the Jumpmaster Course of the Airborne Department of the Infantry School or the Jumpmaster School of a separate airborne battalion or larger airborne unit, or infantry divisions and separate infantry brigades containing organic airborne elements, including the U.S. Army Alaska Jumpmaster Course or served as jumpmaster on one or more combat jumps or as a jumpmaster on 15 noncombat jumps.
- Have served on jump status with an airborne unit or other organizations authorized parachutists for a total of at least 24 months.
Master Parachutist Badge
To be eligible for the Master Parachutist Badge, an individual must have been rated excellent in character and efficiency and have met the following requirements:
- Participated in a minimum of 65 jumps including twenty-five jumps with combat equipment to consist of normal TOE equipment, including individual weapon carried by the individual in combat whether the jump was in actual or simulated combat. In cases of simulated combat the equipment will include water rations (actual or dummy), ammunition (actual or dummy), and other essential items necessary to sustain an individual in combat. Four night jumps must also be made during the hours of darkness(regardless of the time of day with respect to sunset) one of which will be as jumpmaster of a stick. Five mass tactical jumps must be made which culminate in an airborne assault problem with a unit equivalent to a battalion or larger; a separate company/battery; or an organic staff of regimental size or larger. The individual must fill a position commensurate with their rank or grade during the problem.
- Either graduated from the Jumpmaster Course of the Airborne Department of the Infantry School or the Jumpmaster School of a separate airborne battalion or larger airborne unit, or infantry divisions and separate infantry brigades containing organic airborne elements, including the U.S. Army Alaska Jumpmaster Course, or served as jumpmaster on one or more combat jumps or as jumpmaster on 33 noncombat jumps.
- Have served on jump status with an airborne unit or other organization authorized parachutists for a total of 36 months (may be non-consecutive).
Combat Parachutist
Although not an official Parachutist rating, any soldier who completes an airborne jump into a combat zone can wear the Combat Parachutist Badge which is the standard Parachutist Badge upgraded to include service stars pinned on the decoration. In such cases, the Parachutist retains the title as Basic, Senior, or Master Parachutist but is said to possess the Combat Parachutist Badge. The maximum number of combat awards that may be shown on the Army Parachutist Badge is five. These service stars are commonly referred to as "Mustard Stains".
Background trimming
Army units with airborne status wear background trimming, an oval cloth insignia, underneath the parachutist badge. Each airborne unit has a unique design that often shares design with that unit's beret flash. The original flash was a contribution of William P. Yarborough
HALO/HAHO
Qualified personnel may go on to earn the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge in special operations training for High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) or High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) jumps.
Navy and Marine Corps
The United States Navy and Marine Corps issue parachutist insignia in two degrees: Basic Parachustist Insignia and Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia. Parachutist insignia is available to personnel who perform jumps as a:
- Static-Line Parachute Jumper,
- Military Free-Fall Parachute Jumper, and
- High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Parachute Jumper (used for premeditated personnel parachute (P3) operations)
Training is accomplished by successful completion of the prescribed course of instruction while attending the:
- U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course,
- U.S. Army Basic Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course, or
- other training certified by Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET) or approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
Basic Parachutist Insignia
The right to wear the Basic Parachute Insignia, which is a silver metal pin with an open parachute flanked on either side by wings that curve upward, is awarded to personnel who complete the prescribed training. MCO 3500.20B is the only current Naval doctrine dictating the minimum requirements for the Basic Airborne course of instruction.
When an enlisted member initially qualifies as a static-line parachutist, an entry shall be made on NAVPERS 1070/613 (commonly referred to as a "Page 13" entry) of the service record indicating the date of qualification, type(s) of aircraft in which qualified, and unit at which the training was received. Enlisted members are authorized the parachutist (PJ) designator added to their rating.
A qualified Static-Line Parachute Jumper who successfully completes the prescribed program of instruction while attending a formal, interservice training facility including a minimum of 10 military free-fall parachute jumps, at least 2 of which must have been conducted carrying full combat equipment (1 day/1 night), may qualify. Enlisted members are authorized the military free-fall parachutist (FPJ) designator added to their rating.
When an officer initially qualifies as a static-line parachutist, an entry will be made into the officer's record via their detailer (NAVPERS). An officer and qualified static-line parachute jumper will carry the additional qualification designator (AQD) of BT1. A free-fall parachute qualified officer will carry the AQD of BT2.
All military free-fall parachutists will meet the basic parachutist requirement as well as the additional five jumps required to wear the Naval Parachutist breast insignia. Therefore all military free-fall parachutists are Naval Parachutists.
For both the Static-Line and Military Free-Fall Parachutist Jumper qualified personnel, a service record entry shall also indicate whether or not the member is HALO-qualified.
The Basic Parachutist Badge is a prerequisite for the Special Warfare Badge since parachutist training is an integral part of the Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) program. SEAL personnel generally do not wear the Basic badge once they earn their Special Warfare insignia, but will wear their Naval Jump Wings in addition to the "Budweiser." Navy EOD technicians are generally also jump qualified with a number of them also being qualified in military free-fall (HALO/HAHO). Currently, due to a recent change, newly pinned EOD techs are required to attend Airborne School upon graduation. As well, a small number of SWCC personnel earn Basic badges in conjunction with their assignment to a Special Boat Team detachment that uses the Maritime Craft Air Delivery System (MCADS). This enables them to drop small watercraft and their crews from C-130 aircraft.
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
The Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia (formally known as the Naval Parachutist Insignia) is a gold embroidered or gold metal winged pin with a gold open parachute in the center. Enlisted personnel and officers are authorized for those members who have previously qualified for the Basic Parachutist Insignia, and have, under competent orders, completed a minimum of five additional static-line or P3 jumps.
While all Marines can be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Badge, it in conjunction with the Combatant or SCUBA Diver insignia are the two identifying badges of Battalion Recon and Force Recon Marines.
The recon Marines that are parachutist qualified are entitled to wear the USN/USMC Parachutist Badge. It is remodeled after the "parachute" symbol from the Paramarines and the aviation wings from the naval pilots' wings during World War II.
The Parachutist Badge was authorized by Admiral George W. Anderson for the sailors and Marines Major Bruce F. Meyers of the MCTU #1 made the decision and recommended to Admiral George W. Anderson to sign the authorization for the parachute badge to be worn on Navy and Marine parachutists. Changing it from the United States Army's silver wings" to the Navy/Marine's "gold wings".
Air Force
Like the Army Parachutist Insignia, the Air Force Parachutist Insignia is issued in three degrees being that of Basic, Senior and Master. The level of degree is determined by the number of jumps the wearer has successfully completed, as total years in service to the Air Force, and other requirements as specified by AFI 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Badges. The most common units for enlisted and officers to receive parachutist badges include the:
Air Force Basic Parachutist Insignia
The Air Force Basic Parachutist Insignia is similar in design to the Army Parachutist Badge. Air Force personnel may be awarded the decoration following completion of basic parachute training through a designated Air Force Air-Ground Training Program.
Air Force Senior Parachutist Insignia
The Air Force Senior Parachutist Insignia consists of the standard Air Force Parachutist with a star atop the parachute.
Air Force Master Parachutist Insignia
The Air Force Master Parachutist Insignia consists of the Senior Air Force Parachutist with a star centered within the wreath.
See also
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