Parachute wings

[3winged]

Having now got 3 wings, I thought 5 would be fun! So, how does one go about getting a nice set of shiny para wings to wear on ones number ones? Clearly I have no interest in doing pre para so any advice would be appreciated.

Pull pin, 1 thousand 2 thousand - throw! ;)

[cynicalint]

Try jumping out of an aeroplane?

[Melchett01]

You'll be after a light bulb rather than a set of wings then if you don't want to do pre-para.

Alternatively you could just stick them on like certain people have done in the past. I think one that did it even had his own thread on here recently ;)

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Oh dear; how predictable.

[wg13_dummy]

GBZ, I see you have seen the veiled direction this thread has taken too. :rolleyes:

It’s a real shame some people can’t see the difference between a normal person such as the likes of me and you and certain other people who may or may not be in the media spotlight at present. Maybe those that berate would prefer a republic of sorts?

If I owned, for example, Burger King, I would be very proud of any of my offspring spending a couple of days getting experience on the shop floor prior to taking over the company. Certainly better than just waltzing in to the board room and not having any idea what the **** it was about, eh?

Its not as if we expect the person who may or may not be in question to be a crucial part of the flypro or be the chap leading the likes of us into battle?

At least he's not chosen to run a theatre company or god forbid be an actor!

[Dream Land]

Good luck with your jumps, remember though that a real parachute jump involves terminal velocity! :ok:

[Dan D'air]

Clearly I have no interest in doing pre para so any advice would be appreciated.

Now that IS funny, nearly sprayed me porridge all over me laptop.

[the real gas man]

what about doing an AFF (accelerated freefall course) course. The accelerated is the speed you progress thru the training which i believe can be done in a day. Look up JSAT , (joint services adventure training) I think you will find options there.

[Al R]

For the life of me, I can't understand why some people aren't happy to wear with pride what they work so hard for.

http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/images/P2F940.jpg

[3winged]

Gentlemen, ladies and members of the Royal Navy - thank you for your kind words of advice, support and encouragement, exactly what I expected from the keen readers of pprune. I had heard that the 'light bulb' was what you would be entitled to wear without doing pre para, but having seen many many people wearing para wings on their blues who clearly have never in a million years done pre para, I naively thought that was a myth.

I now stand corrected but will probably do the trg anyway - you never know when it might come in handy.........:ok::}

[richatom]

Everybody has to pass P-Company first if they are to be awarded parachute wings - that includes (well it did in my day) Royal Marines and newly badged SAS if they weren't already para-trained.

Even those with legitimate operational reasons to be para-trained (eg RN SPAG) only wear a light-bulb if they haven't done P-Company.

I would have thought that in these days of tight budgets you would have a hard-time convincing anybody to let you do P-Company and then a four-week static line course just so you can collect another badge. Even then, you might not be allowed to wear it - I knew a lad who was in TA Para through uni, so legitimately earned his para wings, but on joining the RAF he was told he would probably only be allowed to wear a lightbulb as he no longer had an operational reason to be para-trained. That was a few years ago though, so may have changed now.

[AlJH]

3 winged,

I'm not totally sure if you're being serious, but you had me in stitches from the start.

Try here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITISH-ARMY-PARACHUTE-REGIMENT-PARA-WINGS_W0QQitemZ130212591827QQihZ003QQcategoryZ36078QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[MATZ]

The requirement to wear British parachute wings is:

1 - to have completed the British Military Basic Parachute Course.
2 - serve in a 'parachutist' annotated post on an British Military Unit.

Nowhere does is say in QRs that you must have completed pre-para/P Coy.

To wear the 'lightbulb' you just have to complete the course. For example, at least 1 Admin (Trg) branch Officer has been on No 1 PTS and has qualified for the lightbulb. Getting a place on the course 'because I want the badge' is just not going to happen (unless you are a Saudi Prince...)

The sports courses refered to above do not qualify you for any military badge.

MATZ

[Al R]

The mystique and attraction of badges (especially towards those who aspire so lustily) is an interesting concept. Some unenlightened souls might argue that there’s nothing sadder than seeing a set of airborne soldier WINGS (not BULB) on someone who is not even employed in an infantry role. But I say.. hey, live and let live – after all, if I ever wanted to stand behind a counter dishing out blankets all day, I’d be mightily annoyed if some fellow told me I had to undergo months of demanding training first! So let’s look a little closer and see if we can’t cut the chaps a bit of slack.

"The parachute badge is a mark of distinction and evidence of technical achievement. Every officer and soldier who is a qualified parachutist and is granted the right to wear the badge may, unless deprived of the right, continue to do so even though no longer liable to carry out parachute duties.

To qualify for the award of the parachute badge every parachutist must either:

a. Have made a parachute drop on operations against the enemy.

b. Have successfully completed the appropriate selection course and a basic parachute course at a recognized RAF Parachute Training School and have subsequently been on the posted strength of a unit where he may be ordered in the course of his duties to drop by parachute; or

c. Have successfully completed the appropriate selection course and a basic parachute course at a recognized RAF Parachute Training School without subsequent service in a unit where he may be ordered to parachute in which case qualifications relates to the parachute badge without wings." (aka the 'Lightbulb'.)

So, technically, in order to qualify even for the 'lightbulb' you must do 'the appropriate selection course' which in the Army is P Company, and for the RAF is Pre Para. The only difference between someone who wears the lightbulb and someone who wears the para wings badge is whether or not they have "been on the posted strength of a unit where he may be ordered to drop by parachute". Both should have done exactly the same course, but of course all units have different requirements.

Interesting to ponder now, the business of ‘the role’. Given that even the Parachute Regiment’s airborne infantry role has been decimated, and that the army funds much of the Herc fleet, does the RAF have a secret unit that drops in at the drop of a HAT to dish out duvets and Don 10 under enemy noses? In fact, thinking about it, has any RAF chappie ever deployed by parachute? I’m thinking back to Op Silkman (Yongro DZ), Palliser, Oracle, Telic, Grapple, Herrick.. and I’m scratching my bonce here.. maybe there has been something I’ve missed? I remember too, back in 1995 when II Sqn RAF Regiment’s airborne role was about to become chairborne, the edict was that parachute wings would not be able to be worn. Huh, the fools actually had respect for a concept which went above and beyond their own wishes and aspirations. How daft is that? :ugh:

But I’m being churlish. I recall seeing an impressive looking chap with USMC wings and Belgique wings too, and basking in lots of admiring glances. Thinking about it, what he didn't know about inventory codes and demand proformas really wasn't worth knowing.. everything in fact, that any airborne infanteer could ever aspire to. So.. if wearing the badge brings happiness to someone who is in a decision making position, then so be it - who are we to deny them a sense of self fullfilment? I’ll always defer to a better level of knowledge and I’d hate to undermine a chap’s human right to wear the badge of his choice.

[airborne_artist]

I had "hooligans" wings once I completed PTS, and I didn't do P Coy, in fact, I've never been to Aldershot in/out of uniform. Rules may have changed, but I think MATZ is on the money. My guess is that the "appropriate selection course" for 21/23 at the time was Selection.

RN may have changed the regs., but I joined BRNC with a lad who ex-RMP Para, and he put his wings up. He (a Midshipman) and the Captain of the College were the only people there at the time sporting them.

[richatom]

My guess is that the "appropriate selection course" for 21/23 at the time was Selection.



They have to do P-Company after selection. It is slightly abridged and does not involve milling (a bit too beastly for SF). Same goes for 22 SAS who are not already Parachute trained.

1 - to have completed the British Military Basic Parachute Course.
2 - serve in a 'parachutist' annotated post on an British Military Unit.

Nowhere does is say in QRs that you must have completed pre-para/P Coy.


How comes RN SPAG only get a lightbulb then? They are serving in an annotated parachutist post in a British Military unit.

[johnnypaveway]

AI R is absolutely correct in his post for the criteria for the award of badge parachutist (with wings). Notwithstanding this several light blue self proclaimed SMEs decided that they were 'invaluable' in para operations and therefore had to do the jumps cse without any "arduous selection".

Special Loads before they had even got the LLP and kit on:*

[Two's in]

If you're not sure, just sew them on, put your uniform on and pop into a few bars in Colchester. There's bound to be a couple of "Blue Badge of Courage" experts drinking there who are prepared to spend the time to acquaint you with the Airborne traditions of correct badge wearing, or nailing the Hat as it's known.

[itsallhappeningagain]

Generally only way to get them is via completing an "arduous selection course" ie P Company, Commando Course, Hills Phase, Raf Regt Pre Para and I think possibly the Army Special Observer course.

Plus you must be posted to a unit with an airborne role. You used to be able to do the course and get the lightbulb (this was if you were'nt going to an airborne roled unit, you would still have done one of the above) but it would be practically impossible to get on the course if there was no operational requirement, unless of course, you were going to be King.

There are a few randon RAF blokes - TSW/TCW that get on the course as well as every now and then some specialist will convince HQ 16AA that they just have to have them because they'd be so valuable etc. They won't have done a selection course.

[Gainesy]

a. Have made a parachute drop on operations against the enemy.



There's yer loophole, just bang out over Helmand.

[Grimweasel]

Give RTS(A) at RAF Hoington a call and ask the FSergeant there on his opinion of 'guins' not doing his beloved Pre-Para!!

There are a few RAF units that have a para role and have not done Pre-para/P Coy as they have argued that they would not jump in with the Airborne TF. Give TSW/TCW a call and find out how they managed to put the blue badge of courage up without doing a 'selectio' course!!

[charliegolf]

I jumped out of a ballon at WOTG during my LM course (and a Herc a week later), and all I seem to remember getting was a bollocking from a jumpin' bean about the landing!

CG

[3winged]

Thanks guys, some good advice and some good banter. In all seriousness, if that is possible on here, I have met a few chaps who served with 16 AA or their previous incarnations, as BALOs/BASOs etc they have done the jump cse and wear para wings. I appreciate they are posted in a para roled org - but working on what a few of you have said on here...........

That said, they do look good on a nice blue jumper along with a shiny set of pilots wings.

Does Prince Charles wear para wings? Bet he didn't do P Coy! ;)

[rmac]

Would have thought that wearing a set of pilots wings and parachute wings at the same time doesn't quite send the right message :}

On the subject of arduous selection courses, I believe a number of other friendly forces don't quite see it the same way. A reserve Danish Marine who I do business with recently popped down to Holland and picked himself up a pair of Dutch ones on an exchange course....

Notwithstanding all of this, isn't this all about to get a bit irrelevant as there is a moratorium on Parachute training even for Paratroopers ?

[StopStart]

Bloody wish there was then at least I wouldn't have to spend tomorrow throwing them at Oxfordshire from a great height......... :rolleyes:

[richatom]

Does Prince Charles wear para wings? Bet he didn't do P Coy! ;)


He did do P Coy, though he was excused milling as it was a bit unfair on the other chap. He then did a jump and was awarded his wings. When on Parachute Regiment duty he wears one of the 1970s smocks which are still much cooler than the modern version.

[rmac]

Wonder what type of wings AQ gives its "Pilots"...........:ouch:

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Wonder what type of wings AQ gives its "Pilots".......

Can you imagine the look of disgust when they get issued with a harp, a pair of wings and a free pass to the brewery? They'll be pretty urined off when they figure out the infidels had it right after all.....:}

[Grimweasel]

The 70's smock is the classic Dennison Smock a la WWII era. Ally as though!

[Airborne Aircrew]

Having now got 3 wings, I thought 5 would be fun! So, how does one go about getting a nice set of shiny para wings to wear on ones number ones? Clearly I have no interest in doing pre para so any advice would be appreciated.

Pull pin, 1 thousand 2 thousand - throw!I'd suggest that the characteristics required of the wearer of parachute wings compared to the characteristics required of the wearer of aircrew wings transfer far more readily from the former to the latter. It's one thing to fly an aircraft but it's entirely a different thing to willingly depart from a healthy one and trust your life to a tangle of strings and some cloth with 100 pounds of kit strapped to your chest. Face it, a military parachutist has gone that "one step further"...:E

Now... that's a grenade... :p

[itsallhappeningagain]

I'd suggest that the characteristics required of the wearer of parachute wings compared to the characteristics required of the wearer of aircrew wings transfer far more readily from the former to the latter. It's one thing to fly an aircraft but it's entirely a different thing to willingly depart from a healthy one and trust your life to a tangle of strings and some cloth with 100 pounds of kit strapped to your chest. Face it, a military parachutist has gone that "one step further"...:E

Now... that's a grenade... :p

Having earned the former and shortly going to be attempting to earn the latter I'll give you my perspective in 4/5 years... :{

[Britace]

Having earned the former and shortly going to be attempting to earn the latter I'll give you my perspective in 4/5 years... :{

Having completed a BPA (Freefall) course at an Army training establishment, then completing tens of Freefall jumps, I was told I was entitled to wear the Lightbulb. Having read this thread, it seems that may not be correct - I never did, and have been out for 30+ years, it doesn’t much matter to me, but I’d be interested in the Actual Facts please folks?