Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
| Military Freefall Parachutist Badge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Awarded by U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force | |
| Type | Badge |
| Awarded for | Qualification as a high-altitude parachutist |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1 October 1994 |
| Last awarded | On going |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Parachute Rigger Badge |
| Next (lower) | Army Aviator Badges |
The Military Freefall Parachutist Badge is a military badge of the United States Army and United States Air Force awarded to qualified U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force personnel as high-altitude military parachute specialists.
To earn the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, the military member first must receive all necessary ground training, already have earned the Military Parachutist Badge (jump-qualified), and must have completed the requisite freefall (night, combat equipment, oxygen) jumps and graduate from the Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course.
A star and a laurel wreath, centered above the badge, is authorized for soldiers and airman qualified as a Master Military Freefall Parachutist (Jumpmaster). Such qualification requires completing the Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, wherein the student learns how to be a jumpmaster in military freefall operations.
As with the U.S. Army's Military Parachutist Badge, small bronze and gold stars are placed on the badge to represent participation in combat jumps, known as Combat Jump Devices, and can be awarded with either the basic and master versions of the badge.
The Military Freefall Badge original design was submitted in March 1983 by Sergeant First Class Gregory A. Dailey of SFODA-552, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. Updates on the design, adding a Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge were submitted by General Wayne A. Downing of USSOCOM and James Phillips of the Special Forces Association. The badge was approved for wear by soldiers assigned to Army Special Operations Command on 1 October 1994. Unrestricted wear was approved on 7 July 1997 by General Dennis Reimer.
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