Parachutist Badge
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Parachutist Badge (United Kingdom)
| Parachute Badge with Wings | |
|---|---|
 Parachute Badge with Wings |
|
| Awarded by the United Kingdom | |
| Type | Military Badge |
| Eligibility | Soldiers of the British armed forces and Allied nations |
| Awarded for | Military Parachutist Proficiency |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Description | Comes in several versions |
The British Armed Forces award a range of Parachutist Badges to those qualified as military parachutists. The version awarded depends largely on the unit or role that the individual fills following qualification.
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Contents
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History
During World War II with forming of the first British Airborne units parachute training was a 12 day course carried out at the No. 1 Parachute Training School, RAF Ringway. Recruits initially jumped from a converted barrage balloon and finished with five parachute jumps from an aircraft.[citation needed] Anyone failing to complete a parachute jump was returned to his old unit. At the end of the course, new Paras were presented with their maroon beret and parachute wings and posted to a parachute battalion.[citation needed]
Currently British military personnel must complete Basic Parachute Course, which is held by No 1 Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton which includes the following desents[1][not in citation given]:
- 1000 ft single stick formation (no equipment)
- 1000 ft single stick formation (with equipment)
- 800 ft single stick formation (with equipment)
- 800 ft single stick formation (with equipment) at night
- 800 ft simultaneous stick formation (with equipment)
- 700 ft simultaneous stick formation (with equipment) at night
- 600 ft simultaneous stick formation (with equipment).
On successful completion of their eight descents, trainees are presented with their 'wings'[2] by the Officer Commanding No. 1 Parachute Training School, and return to their units as qualified parachutists.
Versions
Army
The British Army has three parachute qualification badges for non SF qualified soldiers:
- Assistant Parachute Jump Instructor;
- Parachute Badge with Wings (also used by the Royal Marines), and
- Parachute Badge without Wings.[3]
The Parachute Badge with Wings insignia, which depicts an open parachute embroidered in white flanked by a pair of wings embroidered in light blue, is only to be worn by a qualified parachutist who has subsequently been on the posted strength of a unit where he may be ordered in the course of his duties to parachute.[4] Those who do not serve with a parachute unit are permitted to wear the Parachute Badge without Wings, colloquially known as the 'Lightbulb'.[5]
Special Forces
The parachutist's badges for personnel of the SAS, SBS are of different designs, Special Forces Communicators attached to the SBS wear SBS pattern wings.[6]
SAS pattern parachute wings, designed by Lieutenant Jock Lewes and based on the stylised sacred Ibis wings of Isis of Egyptian iconography depicted in the décor of Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo, are worn on the right shoulder.[7]
RAF
Qualified RAF Regiment personnel wear a badge similar to the Army's Parachute Badge with Wings, but on an RAF blue backing, there is an RAF equivalent to the 'lightbulb'.[8] The Parachute Jump Instructor badge is categorised as a Flying Badge.
References
- ^ Army.mod.uk - Basic Parachute Course
- ^ "The Sign of a Specialist". http://www.zerooneairsoft.net/images/0469.jpg.
- ^ "The Sign of a Specialist". http://www.zerooneairsoft.net/images/0469.jpg.
- ^ Adjutant General's Administrative Instructions Para 43.198 a.
- ^ Adjutant General's Administrative Instructions Para 43.198 b.
- ^ "pecial Boat Service Dress Regulations". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Reference-Library/~/media/Files/Navy-PDFs/BR3/br3book/an40f.pdf.
- ^ Davis, Brian Leigh (1983). British Army Uniforms and Insignia of World War Two. Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-609-2, p. 67.
- ^ http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/9647CE1A_E2F1_FD48_EE58A77DCDE87EBE.pdf AP 1358 - Uniform Dress and Appearance Regulations, Chapter 7 - Distinguishing Insignia
See also
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