Is it possible for someone to lose their airborne qualification?

2017-10-21T05:23:30-04:00

So I'm here ate JBLM for HAZMAT, and one of the other Soldiers in the class works in Support for SF. She has been to Airborne, has her wings, but stated today that she was informed that she needs to stay in her unit for 3 years or she loses her wings. How is that possible/justified?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2017 6:14 AM

2017-10-21T06:14:51-04:00

Unless the airborne award regs have changed over the years that isnt true. Esp w/ officers many never get the opportunity to serve in a jump slot ever and dont lose the award. Maybe they meant she was assigned to a jump slot and wanted to terminate jump status to get out of her assigment early. That would cause her to lose her wings i believe. But im not up to date on the regs

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Oct 21 at 2017 6:19 AM

2017-10-21T06:19:53-04:00

Mrs Barnes (HRC AIT and Airborne manager) briefed if you are Airborne qualified and refuse to serve in an Airborne position you can have your parachutist badge revoked. I think this is for first term Soldiers going to their first unit. I will see if I can find it in ink.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2017 2:33 PM

2017-10-21T14:33:10-04:00

They use this as a threat to privates in their first enlistment. I assume its to try to get less jump refusals. But it makes no sense since half the officers in the army go to airborne just to get a badge for their uniform and never actually go on jump status. From what i hear though, they are getting rid of that and making it more so only for soldiers actually going on jump status.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2017 2:54 PM

2017-10-21T14:54:19-04:00

What is AR 600-8-22 state? And yes, a commander can revoke awards if he/she has the authority. You can have awards revoked for misconduct. And yes, in order to permanently keep your wings you must serve three years in airborne status. At the end of the day, AR 600-8-22 has the most updated information on this type of issues.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made Oct 23 at 2017 6:31 PM

2017-10-23T18:31:27-04:00

Can't be true or every "5 Jump Chump" would be denied to retain the Wings.

I've been Retired for a while so the regs may have changed but it used to be that Air Assault Wings could be revoked if you are EVER a Mission refusal.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 7:59 PM

2017-10-23T19:59:18-04:00

I always understood it to mean you would lose the identifier and jump pay- not the right to wear the badge.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 8:29 PM

2017-10-23T20:29:20-04:00

It's true. A deliberate termination, to use the proper name for this process, is when the soldier decides that they no longer want to jump. If they have less than 36 months on jump status, they very possibly will have both their parachutist badge and additional skill identifier orders revoked. This can be done by, I believe, the first GO in the chain of command. It doesn't apply to 5 jump chumps because they aren't terminating their status; they aren't on jump status. Google division regulation 611-7 for more info.

Response by SSG Carlos Garcia made Oct 23 at 2017 8:35 PM

2017-10-23T20:35:03-04:00

Now that's one heck of B.S. You don't need to stay with a particular unit in order for you to retain your jump wing.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Oct 23 at 2017 8:42 PM

2017-10-23T20:42:23-04:00

I had something similar, I think. During the Cuban Crises, I was in the 2nd Airborne Brigade at Ft Devens Mass. We were sent to Ft Bragg to fill in vacant Airborne slots. After the crises we were told the Brigade was being De-activated. We could stay in the Airborne slot at Ft Bragg, Go back to Ft Devens but the unit would no longer be airborne. I went to Korea instead

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 9:20 PM

2017-10-23T21:20:58-04:00

The way it is worded is incorrect... once you earn your wings you have to serve a minimum of 36 total months on airborne status. It doesn’t mean you have to be in the same unit. The Army has implemented a system thru the assignment satisfaction key. It has an option to not volunteer for follow on Airborne assignments. If you do not meet the total requirement of 36 months of jump time your P will be archived and badge can be revoked. This came out about 18 months ago.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Oct 5 at 2018 12:20 PM

2018-10-05T12:20:49-04:00

Over the decades I have seen at least two lose their wings, one tried to wear them when he left in a non ABN unit and was found out. Its correct to do this because of the money and training involved as well as Morale.

AR 600–8–22,
CH 1-32 (PAGE 9)
(2) Parachutist Badge. Requests for revocation of the Parachutist Badge will be forwarded to Commandant, U.S.
Army Infantry School (ATSH–IP), 1 Karker Street, Fort Benning, GA 31905–4500. A badge may be revoked based on
the recommendation of the field commander (COL/O–6 or above) when the awardee—
(a) Is punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for refusal to participate in a parachute jump.
(b) Initiates action which results in termination of airborne status while assigned to an airborne unit in a paid
parachutist position before he or she completes 36 cumulative months of paid parachutist position airborne duty.
(c) Withdrawal of any career management field (CMF) 18, military occupational specialty (MOS) 180A, or area of
concentration (AOC) 18A before completing 36 cumulative months of airborne duty.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2019 9:37 PM

2019-02-24T21:37:30-05:00

Pretty much any thing can be revoked. Tabs, badges, whatever. Depends on the offense and necessary level. It's rare and usually some serious shit that gets the job done.