Parachutist Badge (United States)

Award

Parachutist Badge
File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif
Military Parachutist Badge
TypeBadge
Awarded forAirborne training course
Presented byUnited States Armed Forces
StatusCurrently awarded
Last awardedCurrently awarded
Total awarded posthumously86
Army Precedence
Next (higher)Expert Field Medical Badge
Next (lower)Parachute Rigger Badge[1]
Senior Parachutist Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Navy & Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia

The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces. Some services, such as the Marine Corps, officially refer to it as an insignia instead of a badge. The United States Space Force and United States Coast Guard are the only branches that do not award the Parachutist Badge, but their members are authorized to receive the Parachutist Badges of other services in accordance with their prescribed requirements. The DoD military services are all awarded the same Military Parachutist Badge. The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force issue the same Senior and Master Parachutist Badges while the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps issue the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia to advanced parachutists. The majority of the services earn their Military Parachutist Badge through the U.S. Army Airborne School.

Army

The Army's Parachutist Badge is awarded to all military personnel of any service who complete the US Army Basic Airborne Course at Fort Moore, Georgia. It signifies that the soldier is a trained military parachutist, and is qualified to participate in airborne operations. The badge and its sew-on equivalent may be worn on the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).[2]

Original sketch for the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, by William P. Yarborough (Patent #134963)[3]

The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Captain (later Lieutenant General) William P. Yarborough and approved by the Department of War in March of that year. The Parachutist Badge replaced the "Parachutist Patch" which had previously been worn as a large patch on the side of a paratrooper's garrison cap. LTG Yarborough also designed the Senior and Master Parachutist Badges and the addition of stars to portray the number of combat jumps. The airborne background trimming that is worn behind the badge of those assigned to airborne units is also a contribution of Yarborough.[3]

The Senior and Master Parachutist Badges were authorized in 1949.[4]

Parachutist Badge

To be eligible for award of the Parachutist Badge, an individual must have completed the Basic Airborne Course of the Airborne School of the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Moore, Georgia. To graduate, a student must complete the three-phase course consisting of a ground phase, a tower phase, and a jump phase. By the end of the course, a student will have completed five jumps in varying jump configurations, from a "no load" jump all the way to a full combat load jump at night.[1]

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Either graduated from the Jumpmaster Course of the Airborne Department of the Infantry School or from the Jumpmaster School of a separate airborne battalion or larger airborne unit, or infantry divisions and separate infantry brigades containing organic airborne elements (e.g. the United States Army Alaska (USARAK) or the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Jumpmaster Course), or served as jumpmaster on one or more combat jumps or as a jumpmaster on 15 noncombat jumps.
  3. Have served on jump status with an airborne unit or other organizations authorized parachutists for a total of at least 24 months.[1]

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:

  1. 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, one 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Have served on jump status with an airborne unit or other organization authorized parachutists for a total of 36 months (may be non-consecutive).

The 25 combat equipment jumps necessary to qualify for the Master Parachutist Badge must be from a static line.[1]

The master parachutist badge is 1+1⁄2 inches (38 mm) wide at the widest part of the wings and 1+13⁄64 inches (31 mm) from the top of the wreath to the bottom of the parachute where the risers meet in a point.

Accoutrements

A Parachutist Badge from a WW2 veteran with the 506th Parachute Infantry—as indicated by the airborne background trimming—who made two combat jumps—as indicated by the two combat jump devices on the badge.

Soldiers assigned to Army units on airborne status wear a cloth oval, known as airborne background trimming, underneath their Parachutist Badge, which are uniquely designed for each airborne unit.[5][6] This is one method by which an individual can identify a parachute qualified soldier serving in a unit on active jump status, called a "Paratrooper," versus a parachutist serving in a non-airborne unit. The original airborne background trimming was also a contribution of Captain Yarborough who attempted to address a concern that the Parachutist Badge was too small and did not stand out on the uniform.[5] Today, each unit's airborne background trimming design is created and approved by The Institute of Heraldry who evaluate unit lineage, military heraldry, as well as proposed designs by the requesting unit.[7]

If a soldier completes an airborne jump into a combat zone, they are authorized to wear a combat jump device on their Parachutist Badge turning it into what is officially called a Combat Parachutist Badge. The device consists of a star or arrangements of stars, indicating the number of combat jumps (up to five) conducted by the paratrooper.[8] The use of stars as combat jump devices did not gain official approval until after the 1983 invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury). The stars are awarded as follows:[9][10]

US Army Master Parachutist Badges with Combat Jump Devices.png
1 combat jump A bronze star on the shroud lines
2 combat jumps A bronze star on each wing
3 combat jumps A bronze star on each wing and one on the shroud lines
4 combat jumps Two bronze stars on each wing
5 + combat jumps A large gold star on the shroud lines
List of known U.S. combat parachute jumps[11][12][13][14][15][16]
Date Unit Operation Troopers Country Dropzone
8 November 1942 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB) Torch 556 Algeria Tafaraoui airfield, La Senia
15 November 1942 509th PIB Torch 300–350 Algeria Youks les Bains
24 December 1942 509th PIB, HQs Co; Two French paratroopers 32 Tunisia El Djem
9 July 1943 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment 3rd Battalion (Jumped first); 505th Regimental Combat Team (RCT), Includes: 505th PIR, 456th PFA & Co. B, 307th Engr. Husky I 3,406 Italy Gela, Sicily
10 July 1943 504th Regimental Combat Team (RCT), Includes: 504th PIR, 1st & 2nd Btn.; 376th PFA & Co.A, 307th Engr. Husky II 2,304 Italy Gela, Sicily
5 September 1943 503th PIR 1,700 New Guinea Nadzab, Markham Valley
13 September 1943 504th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) Includes: 504th PIR, 376th PFA & Co. "A" 307th Eng. Avalanche 1,300 Italy Paestum, Salerno
14 September 1943 505th Regimental Combat Team (RCT). Includes: 505th PIR, 456th PFA & Co.B 370th Engr. Avalanche 2,105 Italy Salerno, Paestum
14 September 1943 509th PIB Avalanche 640 Italy Avellino
6 June 1944 82nd Airborne Division (507, 508) 505th RCT, Includes: 505th Parachute Infantry Reg., Co. B/307 Engineer Battalion and 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion. 28 Pathfinders, 504th PIR, (7 returned). Overlord, Titanic (Dropping of parachute dummies, "Oscar"). 6,418 France Normandy
6 June 1944 101st Airborne Division [326, 377, 501, 502, 506] Overlord, Titanic (Dropping of parachute dummies, "Oscar"). 6,638 France Normandy
3 July 1944 503rd PRCT, 1st Bn. Table Tennis 739 New Guinea Noemfoor Island
4 July 1944 503rd PRCT, 3rd Bn. Table Tennis 685 New Guinea Noemfoor Island
15 August 1944 1st Abn. Task Force (460th PFA, 463rd PFABn.; 509th PIB; 517th PCT; 551st PIB; 596th PCEng. Co.) Dragoon 5,607 France Cote d' Azur, Riviera
17 September 1944 82nd Airborne Division (508), 505th RCT, Includes: 505th PIR, 456th PFA, & Co.B, 307th Engr.; 504th RCT, Includes: 504th PIR, 376th PFA, & Co.A, 307 Engr Market Garden 7,250 Netherlands Grave & Nijmegen
17 September 1944 101st Airborne Division [501, 502, 506] Market Garden 6,769 Netherlands Eindhoven
29 November 1944; 5 December 1944 Co.C, 127th Abn.Eng, Bn. Co.C., 1st Pl.., 187th P/GIR 221st AB. Med. Co.; 457th PFA 11th Abn. Div. Hdqt's Group 511th Pcht. Signal Co. 11th Abn. Div. RECON Pl. Tabletop 241 Leyte Manarawat
3 February 1945 511th PIR, 457th FABn. Shoestring 1,830 Philippines Tagaytay Ridge
16 February 1945 503rd PRCT, 462nd PFABn; 161st Airborne Engr. Btn. Topside 2,050 Philippines Corregidor
23 February 1945 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment: 1st Btn., Co.B; Hdqt's Co., 1st Btn.; Hdqt's Co., 1st Btn., Light Machine Gun Platoon Rescue 2,147 internees 130 Philippines Los Banos Prison Camp
24 March 1945 17th Airborne Division (507 PIR, 513 PIR, 464 PFA, 466 PFA, 139 AEB, 224 AMC, 155 AAB, 411 AQM, 517 ASC, 680 GFA 681 GFA, 717 AOC & 194 GIR). Also small units: MP's, Division Artillery, Reconnaissance Platoon, & Parachute Maintenance Co. Varsity 4,964 Germany Wesel
23 June 1945 511th PIR Gypsy 1,030 Philippines Aparri
20 October 1950 187th ARCT, 2nd Battalion DZ Easy 1,203 Korea Sukchon
20 October 1950 187th ARCT, 1st, 3rd. Bn's. DZ William 1,470 Korea Sukchon
21 October 1950 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (ARCT). DZ William 671 Korea Sukchon
23 March 1951 187th ARCT, 2nd & 3rd Bns; 674th ABN Field Artillery Bn; 2nd & 4th ABN Ranger Cos, and Indian army surgical team. Tomahawk 3,486 Korea Munsan-Ni
12 February 1962 FTT-1 White Star SF Team Nam Beng Valley Campaign vs. Pathet Lao 12 Laos Nam Tha airstrip
2 January 1963 Joint General Staff reserve ARVN Paratroopers with U.S. MACV "Red Hat" Advisors from Saigon Ap Bac 300 South Vietnamese, 2 Americans South Vietnam Ap Tan Thoi
22 February 1967 173rd Airborne Brigade, 503rd P.I.R., 2nd & 3rd Btl's,; 3/319 Airborne Field Artillery Regiment (AFAR). Junction City 845 Vietnam Katum
2 April 1967 5th Special Force Group (ABN), 1st Special Forces: Detachments, A-503 Mike Force & A-344, Operation Harvest Moon (Includes Montagnards) Harvest Moon 356 (includes Montagnards) Vietnam Bunard, Phouc Long "Happy Dragon" Province
5 September 1967 USMC, 1st Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) Oregon 10 Vietnam South
5 October 1967 5th Special Forces Group (ABN): Pathfinder Detachment (12 SF, 37 ARVN Pathfinders), "B" Co II CTZ (Pleiku) Mike Force (50 SF) & 275 LLDB (Includes Montagnards) Blue Max 374 Vietnam Bu Prang CIDG fighting camp, Quang Duc "Great Virtue" Province
1968–73? Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) Airborne Studies Group (SOG 36) Eldest Son, Italian Green, Pole Bean North Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
28 November 1970 Recon Team Florida, CCN, MACV-SOG (High Altitude Low Opening [HALO]) 3 Americans, one ARVN officer and 2 Montagnards Laos NVA road inside Laos
7 May 1971 Captain Larry Manes' Recon Team, CCN, MACV-SOG (HALO) 4 Americans South Vietnam Between Ashau Valley and Khe Sanh, NVA trail extension of Laotian Highway 921
22 June 1971 Sergeant Major Billy Waugh's Recon Team, CCN, MACV-SOG (HALO) 4 Americans South Vietnam 60 miles SW of Danang
22 September 1971 Captain Jim Storter's Recon Team, CCC, MACV-SOG (HALO) 4 Americans South Vietnam Plei Trap Valley, NW of Pleiku
11 October 1971 Sgt. 1st Class Dick Gross' Recon Team, CCC, MACV-SOG (HALO) 5 Americans Vietnam 25 miles, SW of Pleiku in the Ia Drang Valley
23 October 1983 Navy SEAL Team and USAF CCT Urgent Fury 15 Grenada Port Salines
25 October 1983 75th Ranger Regiment LRS Detachment; 82nd Abn Div combat controllers (CCT), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), 12 troopers; 4 troopers, 1st Bn, tactical air control parties (TACP). Urgent Fury 16(?) Grenada Point Salines
25 October 1983 Navy SEAL Team Urgent Fury 11 Grenada Governor's residence
25 October 1983 75th Ranger Regiment 1st and 2nd Bns; and two paratroopers (SGT Spain and SPC Richardson from 307th Engineer Bn) Urgent Fury 500 Grenada Point Salines airfield
20 December 1989 Unit: 75th Ranger Regiment; 82nd Airborne Division Ready Brigade Just Cause 4,000 Panama Rio Hato east to Fort Cimarron
20 December 1989 75th Ranger Regiment; 82nd Abn Div, 1st Brigade Task Force: 1-504th PIR, 1-505th PIR; 2-504th PIR; 4-325th PIR, Co B and C; A/3-505 PIR; 3-73rd Armor (Abn); 82nd MP Co (Abn), 3 platoons. All joined to form: Task Force Pacific. Just Cause 2,176 Panama Torrijos-Tocumen Airport
15 January 1991 Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (HAHO) Desert Storm 12 Iraq Northwest desert
Dec. 1991 Navy SEAL Team 6 Raw Deal Haiti Navassa Island
19 October 2001 75th Ranger Regiment Operation Enduring Freedom 200 Afghanistan Objective Rhino at Dry Lake Airstrip
13 November 2001 3-75th Ranger Regiment Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan In the vicinity of Alimarden Kan-E-Bagat
25 February 2003 2-75th Ranger Regiment; 3-504th PIR Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan Near Chahar Borjak, Nimruz Province
24 March 2003 3-75th Ranger Regiment; 24th Special Tactics Squadron Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq Northwestern desert region of Iraq, in the vicinity of Al Qaim
26 March 2003 173rd Airborne Brigade Operation Iraqi Freedom 954 Iraq Bashur Drop zone
28–29 Mar 2003 27th Engineer Battalion; 3-75th Ranger Regiment; 24th Special Tactics Squadron Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq At H1 Airfield
3 July 2004 75th Ranger Regiment, Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment (HALO) Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan Southeastern Region
31 July 2004 USMC 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (HAHO) Operation Iraqi Freedom 6 Iraq Near Baghdad
30 May 2007 ODA 074, 3-10th Special Forces Group (HALO) Operation Iraqi Freedom 11 Iraq Ninewah Province
11 July 2009 75th Ranger Regiment, Regimental Reconnaissance Company, Team 1 Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan
25 January 2012 Navy DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) Hostage Rescue Somalia
31 October 2020 Navy DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) Hostage Rescue 30 Nigeria

Air Force

Like the Army, the Air Force issues the same parachutist badges in the same three degrees (Basic, Senior, & Master) but have different criteria for the awarding of these badges. The level of degree is determined by the number of jumps the wearer has successfully completed, years of service on jump status, and other requirements as specified by AFI 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Badges.[17] Additionally Airmen who have earned the Parachutist Badge while serving as members of a sister branch then transferred to the U.S. Air Force are allowed to continue wear of the badge without having to requalify.[18]

USAF Parachutist Badges from 1956–1963
File:USAF Parachutist Badge-Historical.png
Basic Badge
File:USAF Senior Parachutist Badge-Historical.png
Senior Badge
File:USAF Master Parachutist Badge-Historical.png
Master Badge

In 1956 the Air Force began issuing a unique Basic, Senior, and Master Parachutist Badges. These parachutist badges were modeled after the Air Force's Medical Badges. Due to popular demand, the Air Force decided to revert to issuing the Army style parachutist badges in 1963.[19]

Parachutist Badge

The Parachutist Badge may be awarded following completion of basic parachute training through a designated Air Force Air-Ground Training Program. Air Force personnel generally earn the Military Parachutist Badge either through the Army's Airborne School at Fort Benning, or the United States Air Force Academy's AM-490 freefall parachute training course taught by AETC's 98th Flying Training Squadron.[17]

Senior Parachutist Badge

The Senior Parachutist Badge consists of the Military Parachutist Badge with a star atop the parachute. Awarded for 30 static line jumps with a minimum of 24 months of cumulative time on jump status. The 30 jumps must include:[20]

  1. Two jumps during the hours of darkness
  2. Fifteen jumps with operational equipment IAW AFI 11-410
  3. Actually perform one night jump as a Primary JM (PJM)
  4. Seven jumps performing as PJM

Master Parachutist Badge

The Master Parachutist Insignia consists of the Senior Parachutist Badge with a star centered within the wreath. Awarded for 65 static line jumps with a minimum of 36 months of cumulative time on jump status. The 65 jumps must include:[20]

  1. Four jumps during the hours of darkness
  2. Twenty-five jumps with operational equipment IAW AFI 11-410
  3. Two night jumps performing PJM duties
  4. Fifteen jumps performing as PJM

Navy and Marine Corps

The United States Navy and Marine Corps issue parachutist insignia in two degrees: the Military Parachutist Badge, also called the Basic Parachutist Insignia (the same badge that's awarded to all DoD military services), and the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia. Parachutist insignia is available to personnel who perform qualifying airborne jumps as a:[21][22]

  • 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:[21][22]

Military Parachutist Insignia

The right to wear the Military Parachutist Insignia is based on the completion of prescribed training defined in OPNAVINST 3501.225 and MCO 3120.11:[22] The Marine Corps refers to it as the Basic Parachutist Insignia.[22]

When a US Navy 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 US Navy enlisted service record indicating the date of qualification, type(s) of aircraft in which qualified, and unit at which the training was received. Navy enlisted members are authorized the parachutist (PJ) designator added to their rating.[22]

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. Navy enlisted members are authorized the military free-fall parachutist (FPJ) designator added to their rating.[22]

When a US Navy officer initially qualifies as a static line parachutist, the additional qualification designator (AQD) of BT1 will be entered into the officer's record by their detailer (NAVPERS). Free-fall qualification will result in an AQD of BT2.[22]

For both Static Line and Military Free Fall Parachutist qualified personnel, a service record entry shall also indicate whether or not the member is HALO-qualified.[22]

The Military 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 Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Badge in addition to the Special Warfare Badge, the latter nicknamed the "Budweiser" badge. 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 Navy EOD technicians are required to attend the U.S. Army's Basic Airborne School upon graduation. As well, a number of SWCC personnel earn the military parachutist 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.[22]

Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia

The Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia (originally issued as Navy Parachute Rigger wings) is a gold-colored embroidered or metal insignia depicting an open parachute with outstretched wings. It is authorized for officers and enlisted personnel who were awarded the Military Parachutist Badge and, under competent orders, have completed a minimum of five additional static-line or P3 jumps, to include: (1) combat equipment day jump, two (2) combat equipment night jumps, and employ at least two (2) different types of military aircraft.[22]

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia was originally known as the U.S. Navy Certified Parachute Rigger badge and designed by American Insignia Company in 1942 for graduates of the U.S. Navy Parachute Rigger School. During WWII, despite being against uniform regulations it became common for U.S. Marine Corps paratroopers who were issued the silver U.S. Military Parachutist Badge to wear the gold Navy Certified Parachute Rigger badge because they believed the gold "Rigger wings" looked better on their uniform.[23] This out of regulations wearing of the Parachute Rigger badge became so common that in July 1963, the Commander of United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Bruce F. Meyers sent a request to the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral George W. Anderson Jr. via Marine Corps Commandant General David M. Shoup requesting to officially make the Navy Parachute Rigger badge the parachutist badge for the Navy and Marine Corps. The request was approved by Admiral Anderson on 12 July 1963 per BuPers Notice 1020.[24] Originally the badge was worn upon graduation from Navy PR school, but since 1963 being a certified parachute rigger, survival equipmentman, and graduate of the U.S. Navy Parachute Rigger is no longer a requirement to earn the badge. Currently, the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia only requires the completion of the minimum five additional jumps in a jump billet, but service members can request to attend Navy Parachute Rigger School for further training and specialized occupational duties such as Special Operations Parachute Rigger (SOPR) who work within Navy SEAL teams and Naval Special Warfare and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) units throughout the world.

Military Freefall Parachutist Badges

Main article: Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
Army & Air Force HALO/HAHO Badge
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
File:US Military Master Free Fall Parachutist Badge.jpg
Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge

Qualified Army and Air Force personnel may go on to earn the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge in special operations training for High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) jumps. HALO/HAHO training is conducted by the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School of the US Army Special Operations Command, on behalf of the US Special Operations Command. It is awarded in two degrees: Basic and Master. To earn the basic badge, the jumper must have graduated from Army Airborne School and the Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course.[25] To earn the master badge, jumpers must have graduated from Army Airborne School, Army Jumpmaster School, Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course, and the Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course.[26]

As with the Army's Parachutist Badges, Army parachutists that have earned one of the Military Freefall Parachutist Badges are also eligible to earn Combat Jump Devices.[1][10][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, Official Department of the Army Regulation, dated 11 December 2006, revised 15 September 2011, last accessed 4 October 2011
  2. ↑ Army Directive 2011-11, Change to Wear of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) Items Archived 10 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Secretary of the Army, 13 June 2011, last accessed 18 February 2013
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Research Center, Parachute Badge History, U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, last updated 30 December 2015, last accessed 15 April 2022
  4. ↑ Dorr, Robert F. "U.S. Army Airborne Badges Developed Over Time". Defense Media Network. Faircount Media Group. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lanham, Howard G. (2001). "Insignia of Airborne Units U.S. Army". American Military Patches, Other Insignia and Decorations of World War Two. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  6. ↑ "Beret Flashes and Background Trimmings". The Institute of Heraldry. United States Department of the Army. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  7. ↑ FAQs – Organizational Insignia, Department of the Army, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 31 January 2022
  8. ↑ Qualification Badges, Parachutists Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army, last accessed 16 April 2022
  9. ↑ U.S. Army Parachute Badge, U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, last accessed 18 February 2013
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Department of the Army Pamphlet 670–1, Uniform and Insignia Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia", Department of the Army, dated 26 January 2021, last accessed 6 December 2022
  11. ↑ United States Combat Jumps, GlobalSecurity.org, last updated 7 May 2011, last accessed 17 February 2013
  12. ↑ Plaster, John L. (1997). SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 295-301. ISBN 0-684-81105-7.
  13. ↑ Units Credited With Assault Landings, General Orders No. 10, Department of the Army, dated 25 September 2006, last accessed 30 April 2017
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Hitting the ground with coalition partners; Special Warfare Magazine; Valume 21, Issue 6; dated November–December 2008, last accessed 17 February 2013
  15. ↑ History of Military Operational Parachute Jumps, Special Forces Association, dated 7 March 2013, last accessed 30 April 2017
  16. ↑ These are the only 5 combat jumps by US troops that we know about since September 11, Business Insider, by Eric Milzarski from "We Are The Mighty" program, dated 7 October 2019, last accessed 9 July 2020
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 AFI 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Badges Archived 12 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Air Force Instructions, dated 13 December 2010, last accessed 11 January 2014
  18. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ↑ Obsolete USAF Insignia Archived 2 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine, USAF Flag Ranks website, last accessed 1 June 2012
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 3501.225, U.S. Navy Airborne Operations Program, dated 20 March 2020, last accessed 9 November 2021
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.8 22.9 U.S. Marine Corps Order 3120.11, U.S. Marine Corps Parachuting Policy and Program Administration, dated 17 December 2014, last accessed 9 November 2021
  23. ↑ Mason, Chris (2004). Paramarine!: Uniforms and Equipment of Marine Corps Parachute Units in World War II. Schiffer Pub Ltd. pp. 175–177. ISBN 9780764319242.
  24. ↑ "Evolution of Naval Wings" (PDF). Coast Guard Aviation History. THE U.S. COAST GUARD AVIATION ASSOCIATION. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  25. ↑ MFFPC ATRRS Information Changes, U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence, last accessed 22 April 2017
  26. ↑ Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course (MFFJMC), U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence, last accessed 22 April 2017

External links

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