So its purely a rank/position thing then?
No, nothing to do with Rank/Position... It's an honorary appointment and everyone understands that, (except, perhaps, you...
). He could have simply worn the wings and got on with it. He chose to at least jump. Kudos to the man for that...
He is not some ne'er do well who finds that they can big themselves up because regulations potentially allow utter throbbers to wear insignia that implies they have actually achieved something. Before you tell me that jumping is an achievement I'll tell you it's not. People who will jump are predisposed to do so and no amount of Pre-Para or P Coy will change that in the man. Actually, that's not entirely true. Either course can persuade a man that he doesn't want to jump but neither course can convince a man to jump.