Posted on 10/20/2001 2:22:30 PM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
The first Parachute badge was designed by Captain William P. Yarborough of the 501st Parachute Battalion during World War II . A memorandum of record written by Captain Yarborough on April 22, 1941, tells the story of the birth of the parachute badge.
The link will provide all the information you may want about jump wings.
Basic Parachutist: Awarded to the individual who has satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School; or participated in at least one combat parachute jump
I find it interesting that you can earn your jump wings without going through jump school, all it takes is one combat jump.
A combat jump would be from about 500 feet (no reserve) you will hit within seconds of leaving the plane, anything goes wrong, there no time to do anything about it.
Sorry to say I earned mine the old fashioned way, at jump school.
Now THERE is a brave soldier!
Well there were a couple of guys who were taking advantage of her sweet nature. (I normally don't think guys take advantage of girls any more than girls do boys but in this case they did).
During the Summer her Father visited. I am not going to say which branch of the service he was with because some people would probably figure out who he was, but he was a member of one of the most elite military units, and I also noted he wore a parachute emblem on his uniform. He was also a chaplain. Since I was his daughter's supervisor, we talked quite a bit. Despite the fact that he was about as personable and pleasant as one could imagine, he also looked like he could chew nails if he wanted to.
The amusing thing about this story is that he had a talk with the guys who were dating his daughter. I have no idea what he told them but the poor girl could not get a single boy to take her out the rest of the Summer.
They made quiting very easy. Just stop and say you did not want to go on, and it was over. As hard as they made jump school, it was not as hard as quiting would be.
To have your first Parachute jump a combat jump would take some courage.
Not quite the same thing, but the first time I was ever in an airplane was for my first jump.
With helicopters there were many saying the days of the paratroopers were over, I was very happy to see here in 2001 a video of Paratroopers jumping into combat. There were able to put over 100 combat infantryman on the ground in less than a minute. Makes you proud.
Were you responding to me? I hope you didn't misunderstand me, I wasn't saying anyone was cheating, or that anyones badges were worth more or less. I was just making a joke.
I ain't no dirty leg either!
Ironmike Regards,
TS
I understand it's now (Benning) like a Sky-Diving School, rather than a physical challenge--so the ladies can ease through and wear the once unique badge awarded only to those earned it.
Similar to the black Berets story...
I was making a joke ;-)
Similar to the black Berets story..."
I'm very sorry to hear that.
If you see an AF officer wearing the badge, know that he is an AF Academy grad; one of the few ways to earn that little prize. I went through Benning the summer after my doolie year there; '74. I'd hate to think that Airborne has been "dumbed down" to the level you describe. I'm not doubting it; I just fear you're right.
I was assigned to Troop B 17th Cav (Scout) with the 101st before going to Viet Nam where I was reassigned as an Infantryman (with no training) and assigned to 1st/503rd Infantry 173rd Abn 65-66.
Airborne
Also, getting your wings were just the first part, when you were assigned to your first unit you were still a "cherry" until you proved yourself.
You do not become a "band of brothers" just because you are in the same outfit. Those that are already there want to know if they can trust you with their live. Once they know that, then you become a part of them.
Airborne! All the way and then some! Co. C 2/504 (Abn)(Inf)
I went through the Benning School for Boys in '88, and am in no way, shape or form, an advocate of the feminization of the military...Indeed, that played a big part in my resignation. Having said that, '88 was the last year of the "gig-pit," when an airborne student passed out in the front leaning rest and suffocated in the granola. I don't know what it's been like since then, but at that time, women had the option of doing PT seperate from the guys. One young female LT told SGT Airborne she'd run with the guys...The black-hats mocked and joked her...unbeknownst to them, she'd ran in the '84 Olympics. At the end of the run, she was dogging the various Sgt Airbornes, asking them who wanted, "a little bit more?"
I will be the first to admit that there are some individual females that could out perform some individual males. However, in general men are bigger and stronger, and in any head to head competition would beat out any woman.
Are there some females that would do well in combat, perhaps, but that still doesn't make it right. I do not believe there is any place for woman in combat.
Perhaps it just shows my age.
:-)
I will be the first to admit that there are some individual females that could out perform some individual males. However, in general men are bigger and stronger, and in any head to head competition would beat out any woman.
Are there some females that would do well in combat, perhaps, but that still doesn't make it right. I do not believe there is any place for woman in combat.
Perhaps it just shows my age.
:-)
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