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Military Insignias
Parachute Badges & Wings
Here is my personal collection of "Parachute Wings".
I completed my Basic Parachute Training in the British Army when I was serving with the UN Force in Cyprus in 1985/86.
The course was conducted at the Cyprus Joint Service Adventure Training Centre (CJSATC) – Parachute Wing (CCSPC) on the Kingfield Airstrip which is located in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA) in Dhekelia.
The Cyprus Combined Services Parachute Centre (CCSPC) is a British military training centre that is also affiliated with the British Parachute Association (BPA).
The training at this centre is usually for British personnel serving in the British units in Cyprus, but others (both military and civilian) may be lucky and be offered a slot...
Cyprus Combined Services Parachute Centre (CCSPC)
Unfortunately, this course did not result in an award of the British Military Parachute Wing.
This (of course) led to the introduction of an unofficial pocket tag for the Danish students as Dancon Para.
Since the desire to acquire a "real" military parachute wing was still present after my service at UNFICYP in Cyprus, it did not take much consideration when a chance suddenly arose to acquire the military parachute emblem from the Soviet army.
The badge was acquired during a trip to the former East Germany in 1994 – we jumped from an old Antonov AN-2 aircraft with a lightly used Russian military parachute.
Quite an interesting experience – however, there was one problem with this trip, there were more East Germans on the airfield than Russians, yes there were actually no Russians at all...
An example of what an enterprising "businessman" from the Viborg DK area was able to organize for Home Guard personnel and other soldiers who dreamed of getting a military parachute badge.
Unfortunately, over the years, there have been quite a few cases where people, despite a very high payment, have not acquired an official parachute wing – but only been given a badge that was certainly not official in any way – of course despite various promises and explanations that it was all quite official and approved by the relevant authorities.
A practice that can only be described as 100% FRAUD!
USSR Parachute Badge
In 1994, I participated together with personnel from the SF Danish Jægerkorpset & LRRP Patrol Company – Danish Division in an advanced military parachute course in Belgium.
The course was held at the Belgian Army's Parachute School in Schaffen - "Trainingscentrum voor Parachutisten"
Among other things, there was also jumping from Balloon – quite exciting to jump from a gondola suspended under an old barrier balloon.
Finally, it became a completely official parachute wing!
Belgien - Militair A Brevet van Parachutist.
In the year 2000 after service in Bosnia and Iraq, it was time to resume parachuting – I joined EMPA (Association Européenne de Parachutisme Militaire), which at that time was a serious organization for personnel who had roots in various countries' airborne units.
I was active in EMPA for a number of years, where I had the opportunity to jump and acquire different countries' parachute wings.
Unfortunately, the EMPA has quietly died down after especially the U.S. Army no longer had "time" to participate and a war between the German chairman and pretty much everyone else, regrettably...
Brevet Association Européenne de Parachutisme Militaire
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Association Européenne de Parachutisme Militaire
Skoczek Spadochronowy Wojsk Powietrznodesantowych.
PARA WING from the Polish Army
Fallschirmsprungabzeichen des Fallschirmjäger-Traditionsverbandes Ost
PARA WING from the association of former paratroopers in the GDR
Fallschirmspringerabzeichen der Bundeswehr - here made as a ribbon for the dress uniform, totally irregular according to the official German regulations, but widely used among German reservists.
Fallschirmspringerabzeichen der Bundeswehr.
Awarded during training with Kommando Spezialkräfte - KSK.
As the normal practice in NATO after a Joint Airborne Operation, I have been awarded the parachute badge of the U.S. Army.
An exciting experience to be presented with a parachute wing that has as much history as this particular wing! The fact that it is the General who is the head of SOCEUR and his Command Sergeant Major who is behind it does not make the experience any less – and yes – of course no holders are used for the pins – the tag is "mounted" directly on the skin....
U.S. Army Parachute Badge
E Company 51st Infantry Regiment
(Airborne) (Long Range Survilance)
Name & Parachute Wings for flight jacket; these patches was made locally in Afghanistan.
Parachute wing from The Holy Military Order of Saint Adrian and Saint Sebastian - an American Order (Order's society) for persons who have served in the armed forces, which also admits persons from countries other than the United States as members.
The parachute wing can only be awarded to members of the order who have completed military parachute training.
The Holy Military Order of Saint Michael - an International Military Lodge for personnel who have completed military parachute training.
The Holy Military Order of Saint Adrian and Saint Sebastian
The Holy Military Order of Saint Michael
Badges/emblems worn on different types of Danish uniforms.
In 2020,the uniform regulations for the Army (FKOBST H.628-1) have been significantly changed in a couple of very important areas.
It is now allowed to wear foreign parachute wings on Danish uniforms!
The points of the regulations that are of particular interest are reproduced here:
8.2 Foreign parachute emblems.
Foreign military parachute wings may be worn, as a general rule a maximum of two parachute wings may be worn.
If one of them is Danish, one foreign parachute wing may normally be worn. However, in addition to the maximum two parachute wings, it is permitted to use parachute wings from either Great Britain, Australia or New Zealand on the right sleeve, for personnel who have acquired one of these.
Foreign military parachute wings must be acquired under military auspices abroad.
The Dutch parachute wing without a star is considered a foreign military parachute wing, like the the Dutch military wing with a star.
8.3 Foreign badges of distinction and education.
Foreign military decoration or education badges acquired in connection with service or training abroad may be issued permanently, however, a maximum of one foreign education or award badge may be issued at a time. Foreign military medals and training badges must be registered in "DeMars".
Badges acquired as gifts of courtesy or friendship may be applied only in the course of service in the country in which they were acquired.
Foreign educational or distinction badges can be applied to the M/69 garrison uniform and on MTS M/11.
Foreign insignias are worn in accordance with the regulations of the country in question, as long as it does not conflict with the location of Danish insignias.