To earn the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, the military member first must receive all necessary ground training, already have earned the Military Parachutist Badge (jump-qualified), and must have completed the requisite freefall (night, combat equipment, oxygen) jumps and graduate from the Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course.[4]
A star and laurel wreath, centered above the badge, called the Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, is authorized for U.S. Army Soldiers and U.S. Air Force Airmen qualified as a Master Military Freefall Parachutist (Jumpmaster). Such qualification requires completing the Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, wherein the student learns how to be a jumpmaster in military freefall operations.[1][5]
As with the U.S. Army's Military Parachutist Badge, small bronze and gold stars are placed on the badge to represent participation in combat jumps, known as Combat Jump Devices, and can be awarded with either the basic and master versions of the badge. To earn the device, a Military Freefall Parachutist must have conducted a High-altitude/low-opening (HALO) or high-altitude/high-opening (HAHO) jump in a war zone. The stars are awarded as follows:[6]
One combat jump
A bronze star centered on the dagger
Two combat jumps
A bronze star on each wing
Three combat jumps
A bronze star on each wing and one centered on the dagger
Four combat jumps
Two bronze stars on each wing
Five + combat jumps
A large gold star centered on the dagger
List of published U.S. high-altitude parachute jumps of the U.S. Army[7][8][9][10][11]
The original design of the Military Freefall Parachutists Badge was submitted in March 1983 by Sergeant First Class Gregory A. Dailey of Special Forces ODA-552, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. Updates on the design, adding a Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, were submitted by General Wayne A. Downing of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and James Phillips of the Special Forces Association. The badges were approved for wear by U.S. Army soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) on 1 October 1994. Unrestricted wear was approved on 7 July 1997 by General Dennis Reimer.[1]
U.S. Army Special Forces learning early free-fall HALO techniques, c. 1966
The U.S. Military Free-Fall School (MFFS) is operated by the USASOC's John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS), 2nd Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), 2nd Battalion, Company B at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) in Arizona, which is the USSOCOM proponent for military freefall.[12][13][14] The MFFS conducts four primary training courses, the Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course, the Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, the Military Free-Fall Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course, and the Military Free-Fall Instructor Course.[14][15] The U.S. Air Force also conducts the Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course—certified by the MFFS—at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for airman that are not able to attend the MFFS's jumpmaster course.[16] Alternatively, detachments from the MFFS conduct the Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course via mobile training teams (MTT) for military free-fall units that have difficulty attending the course at the Yuma Proving Ground.[17]
A Parachute Rigger from SWCS demonstrates the proper packing procedure for the RA-1 main parachute
An instructor and a MFFS student fall from a C-27J practicing free-fall techniques over YPG
The Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course (MFFPC) is open to special operations forces assigned to military free-fall coded positions, parachute riggers, and select DoD civilian personnel or allied personnel assigned to military free-fall positions. To attend MFFPC, students must have graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School and must meet specific medical requirements. Week one of the four-week course focuses on vertical wind tunnel body stabilization training at the MSG George A Bannar Wind Tunnel as well as parachute packing and an introduction to military free-fall operations. The remaining weeks focuses training on varying jump profiles using three airborne operations per training iteration, totaling 30 military free-fall operations per course encompassing various conditions and equipment loads. At the end of the course, students will have learned how to:[4]
To attend the Military Free-Fall JumpMaster Course (MFFJMC), students must have graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School, the MFFPC, the U.S. Army Jumpmaster School, be a current military free-fall parachutist, served as a military free-fall parachutist for a minimum of one year, and must have completed at least 50 military free-fall jumps. The three-week MFFJMC focuses on training students on jumpmaster duties and responsibilities, such as:[5]
Various ram-air parachute systems packing and rigging
Upon completion of the MFFJMC, graduates are awarded the Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge.
A MFFATIC student practices freefall techniques with various equipment in the MSG George A Bannar Wind Tunnel, YPG
MFFATIC instructors and students conduct a HAHO water insertion operation from a C-23 off the coast of Key West, Florida
To attend the Military Free-Fall Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course (MFFATIC), students must have the same qualifications and completed the same prerequisites required of the MFFJMC. The three-week MFFATIC focuses on educating and training joint special operations forces and other selected personnel in the planning and conduct of night military free-fall tactical infiltrations as a group onto unknown and unmarked drop zones. Training includes:[20]
Jumping with non-standard weapons while using oxygen equipment
Utilization of various parachutist navigational devices
Upon completion of the MFFATIC, graduates are awarded a certificate of completion; there is no badge or badge device awarded for completion of the MFFATIC.
A MFFS instructor and a student-instructor assist a student as he free-falls over YPG
To attend the Military Free-Fall Instructor Course (MFFIC), students must be a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or non-commissioned officer and must have the same qualifications and completed the same prerequisites required of the MFFJMC and MFFATIC. Additionally, these students must be qualified military free-fall jumpmasters, must have completed a minimum of 100 free-fall parachute jumps, and must have nine months remaining in service upon graduation. The initial nine-week MFFIC focuses on the following over 150-200 free-fall jumps:[15][21]
Learn how to conduct military free-fall jumps from the instructor's perspective
Jump as an instructor evaluating and coaching a current MFF instructor who plays the role of a new MFF student
Learn how to deal with multiple instructor-induced problems during free-fall commonly encountered with new MFF students
After nine weeks of fundamentals, student-instructors are placed as shadows at the MFFPC for three to six months.[21]
Upon completion of the shadow program, graduates are awarded the Military Free-Fall Instructor Rating; there is no badge or badge device awarded for completion of the MFFIC.[21]
^RA-1 Military Freefall System Config Packing, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, curtesy of "Deez Nutz" YouTube Channel, dated 17 November 2017, last accessed 21 September 2020
