Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
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| Military Freefall Parachutist Badge | |
|---|---|
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| Awarded by United States Army | |
| Type | Badge |
| Awarded for | Qualification as a high altitude parachute specialist |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1 October 1994[1] |
| Last awarded | On going |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | (Group 3 badges) Astronaut, EOD, Aviator, Flight Surgeon |
| Equivalent | (Group 4 badges) Pathfinder, Parachutist, Air Assault |
| Next (lower) | (Group 5 badges) Diving Badge, Driver and Mechanic, Rigger |
The Military Freefall Parachutist Badge is a military badge of the United States Army awarded to soldiers qualified as a high altitude parachute specialist. It also is called HALO (High Altitude Low Open) Wings.
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[edit] Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Basic
To earn the Military Freefall Badge, the military member first must receive all necessary ground training, already have earned the Parachutist Badge (jump-qualified), and must have completed the requisite free fall (night, combat equipment, oxygen) jumps. The Military Free-Fall Course is taught by Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) and lasts four weeks. The first week, ground week, is spent at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where students learn body stabilization, high altitude physiology, and aircraft procedures. The remaining three weeks are spent at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, where students conduct airborne operations.[2]
[edit] Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Jumpmaster
A star and a laurel wreath, centered above the badge, is authorized for soldiers qualified as a Military Freefall Jumpmaster. Such qualification requires completing the Military Freefall Jumpmaster course, wherein the student learns how to be a jumpmaster in military free fall operations; course requirements include experience as a military free fall parachutist and completion of the static line jumpmaster course.[1]
[edit] Symbolism
The dagger is a Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife, used by the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, represents infiltration techniques.
The arched tab represents tabs worn by special operations forces.
The parachute is a seven-celled MT1-X, the first parafoil to be adopted by the U.S. Military as the standard freefall canopy.
The wing represents flight and airborne capabilities.[1]
[edit] History
The first Military Freefall Badge was designed in March of 1983 by Sergeant First Class Gregory A. Dailey of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. The current MFF Parachutist and Jumpmaster Badges were designed 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.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Military Free Fall Parachute Badge". Army Quartermaster Museum. United States Army. http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/airborne/freefall_badge.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
- ^ "Military Free-Fall Parachute Operations" (PDF). John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. United States Army. 2007-07-05. http://www.soc.mil/swcs/MFFfactSheet.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
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