Basic Parachutist Badge

Criteria: Awarded to all soldiers in any service who complete the U.S. Army Airborne school’s three weeks of training at Fort Benning, Georgia. It signifies that the soldier is a trained Army Parachutist, and qualified to conduct airborne operations. The Army Parachutist Badge is issued in three degrees, being that of Basic, Senior, and Master Parachutist. The various degrees are signified by a star and wreath above the decoration. To be eligible for award of the Basic Parachutist Badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump as follows: (1) A member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission for which the unit was credited with an airborne assault landing by the theater commander; (2) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; (3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 and approved by the Department of the Army in March of that year. The Parachutist Badge replaced the Parachutist Patch which had previously been worn as a large patch on the right side of a Paratrooper's garrison cap.