Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Display Recognition

Site Index

      • Example Display Recognition
      • Applicable Military Branches
      • Display Types
      • Issue Requirements
      • Issue Regulations
      • Who May Apply
      • Administration Processing and Delivery
      • How To Apply For This Display Recognition and/or Medal
      • Mailing Address
      • Questions?
      • Other Display Recognitions
      • Example Display Recognition:
        Actual Size: 8 1/2 x 11
        US Army shown. All Five Branches are available.

        Military Branches

        All Military Service branches are applicable:
        Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy

        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure

        Heavy Bond Enclosure
        Colors: Regal, Black, Navy
        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit:

      • A photocopy of your DD-214 (post WW2), OR A photocopy of your WD AGO 53-55 (WW2), OR photocopy of ERB/ORB (Army), MPF (Air Force) NPC/BOL (Navy) IAW (Marine Corps), Or copy of military orders acknowledging qualification.
      • NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Your photocopy must be mailed to the address below

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Admin Shipping Total
        Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
        Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50

      • Total/Shipping fees, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
      • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
        Don't forget to include a copy of your DD-214 or other required document(s).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: Free Fall Parachutist Badge Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Copyright ©  The American War Library
        Military and Veteran Websites
        The G.I. Photograph Museum of Honor
        Locator Registry Applications
        Accessing The Worldwide Military Personnel Database

        Issue Regulations

        Free Fall Parachutist Badge

        DESCRIPTION: A silver colored metal badge, 1 31/32 inches (5.00 centimeters) in width, consisting of a dagger and arched tab superimposed over wings and a deployed 7-cell ram-air square parachute.

        SYMBOLISM: The dagger, a Fairbairn-Sykes knife used by the rangers and Office of Strategic Services in WWII, symbolizes infiltration techniques used by special operations forces; the arched tab symbolizes the tabs worn by special operations units; the wing suggests flight and airborne capabilities; the parachute is a depiction of an MT1-X, the first square parachute to be adopted by all military services as the standard military free fall canopy.

        BADGES AUTHORIZED: Two degrees of the military free fall badge are authorized for award: Basic and Jumpmaster (basic badge design with the addition of a star and wreath)

        HISTORY: The first design for a proposed military free fall (MFF) badge came in March 1983 from Sergeant First Class Gregory A. Dailey, then of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. The final MFF parachutist and jumpmaster badges were developed by General Wayne A. Downing with historical assistance from Mr. James Phillips of the Special Forces Association.

        AWARD ELIGIBILITY: The commander in chief, US Special Operations Command is the approval authority for award of these badges. To be eligible for the basic badge, an individual must 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 or have executed a military free fall combat jump. To be eligible for the jumpmaster badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed a prescribed military free fall jumpmaster program of instruction approved by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

        DATE APPROVED: The badge was originally approved for wear only while assigned to US Army Special Operations Command or subordinate commands on 1 October 1994 by the US Special Operations Command. It was approved for unrestricted wear by the Chief of Staff of the Army on 7 July 1997.

        SUBDUED BADGES: A subdued badge in black metal finish of the same design is authorized.

        MINIATURE BADGES: A dress miniature badge, 1 inch in width is authorized.

        Go To Top of Page
        Go To Issue Regulations for Other Medals and Badges