§ 578.79 - Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.

(a) The Military Free Fall Parachutist Badges identify Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel who have qualified in one of the military's most demanding and hazardous skills, military free fall parachuting.

(b) Badge authorized. Two degrees of the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badges are authorized for award: Basic and Jumpmaster.

(c) Eligibility requirements. (1) Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Basic. To be eligible for the basic badge, an individual must meet one of the following criteria:

(i) Have satisfactorily completed a prescribed program of instruction in military free fall approved by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWC&S); or

(ii) Have executed a military free fall combat jump.

(2) Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Jumpmaster. To be eligible for the Jumpmaster Badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed a prescribed military free fall jumpmaster program of instruction approved by USAJFKSWC&S.

(d) Approval authority. (1) The Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command is the approval authority for award of these badges.

(2) The Commanding General, USAJFKSWC&S is the approval authority for award of the badges to qualifying personnel upon their graduation from USAJFKSWC&S Military Free Fall Parachutist basic and Military Free Fall Parachutist Jumpmaster courses.

(3) Retroactive award. Special Operations Forces personnel who qualified in military free fall prior to October 1, 1994 must obtain approval prior to wearing the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badges. Requests for award of the badge will be submitted in writing to Commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, ATTN: AFJK-GPD-SA, Fort Bragg, NC 28307-5000. Applications will include the following:

(i) Name, rank, SSN, and MOS;

(ii) Copy of official jump record, DA Form 1307 (Individual Jump Record), and any other supporting documents (that is, graduation or qualification certificates).

(4) Veterans and retirees. Veterans and retirees may request update of their records to show permanent award of the badge by writing to the NPRC (§ 578.16 (a)(3) for address). Requests should include copy of official jump record, DA Form 1307 (Individual Jump Record), and any other support documents (that is, graduation or qualification certificates).

(e) A bronze service star is authorized to be worn on all degrees of the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge to denote a soldier's participation in a combat parachute jump. Orders are required to confirm award of this badge. A soldier's combat parachute jump credit is tied directly to the combat assault landing credit decision for the unit to which the soldier is assigned or attached at the time of the assault landing. Should a unit be denied air assault credit, no air assault credit for purpose of this badge will accrue to the individual soldiers of that unit. Each soldier must physically exit the aircraft to receive combat parachute jump credit and the Military Free Fall Parachutist badge with bronze service star.