Would a basic airborne course by the European Paratroopers Association be honored? Would my unit upload this to my ERB under foreign awards?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 07:52:40 -0500

I ran across the european paratroopers association that has a basic airborne course. At the end the five day training and three jumps you'll recieve official parachutist badges from jumpmaster representatives along with certificates. Also receive the static line round canopy parachuting certification. This would be something payed out of my own pocket around 1k.

Now my question would this be honoured and would my unit upload this to my ERB under foreign awards? I'm currently on a deployment, so asking a question on this seems irrelevant. I'm not airborne qualified and the Michigan national guard doesn't have an airborne unit in the state. I have no plans on going fulltime . My reason are my own, I'm 41 with 8 years in. I'm focusing on building cash for retirement and my civilian job has a pension. I've stayed in the military not for money but for life experiences and I enjoy teaching soldiers. Any positive information would be appreciated.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2023 9:28 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 09:28:03 -0500

Foreign awards are from foreign military and governments, not associations. Also, Europe is not a country.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 8 at 2023 10:27 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 10:27:25 -0500

No. Of course not. That's a civilian agency, not a foreign military. Even Soldiers who receive foreign jump wings have to attend the US Army Airborne course first as a prerequisite.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 8 at 2023 1:47 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 13:47:55 -0500

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jan 8 at 2023 3:28 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 15:28:44 -0500

When I got to Airborne School there were two fellow students that were civilian parachute instructors as well as being jumpmasters. One of them asked the Black Hat if they could transfer the jumps off his civilian jump log onto the military one. The reply was classic and has been seen on T Shirts everywhere in some form or fashion: "Soldier, I don't care how many civilian jumps you have, until you make it through this school, to the Army you are still a LEG."

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jan 19 at 2023 10:45 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:45:22 -0500

No..... You have to go to Basic Airborne school and earn your basic jump wings before you can start racking up foreign jump wings. This used to be covered under AR 600-8-22.
Look at Paragraph 8-11 sub para d, e, and F. Para 8-12. and paragraph 9-26, sub para e.

d. Jumps with civilian parachute clubs will not be counted in the number of total jumps required for each badge.
e. Award of the basic Parachutist Badge or advanced parachutist badges awarded by other U.S. Services may only be awarded if the Soldier meets the Army criteria for the badge.
f. Lists the commanders with approval authority.

Paragraph 9-26 Foreign Badges;

e. Foreign airborne training. Soldiers not currently assigned to airborne duty, but who have completed basic airborne training, are prohibited from attending foreign airborne training courses, participating in foreign airborne operations, or wearing of foreign parachute badges. However, exceptions are permitted under the Army’s Permissive
Parachuting Program. The first General Officer in a Soldier’s chain of command can approve permissive jumps. Soldiers who complete an approved permissive jump and are awarded a foreign airborne badge under this status may
wear the badge permanently.