Should there be a tab for Paratroopers?

SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:24:06 -0500

I spent 17 of 20 years on active jump status. Aside from those who served with the 82nd and loved they're status few cared.
The other units I was with cared less. My proposel is this, a tab for those with a minimum of 25 jumps in all conditions with a follow on mission. Combat gear.Just because you are not a jumpmaster with at least a star does not make you irrelevant as what seems the modern case. Does 25 jumps and above not make you a Jump master? Let those with the JMPI training that have the qualification of JMPI have an attachment to their wings or a separate design.
We of modern basic wings may have more experience than some modern Jumpmasters could possibly fathom. BLUF Rangers , Sf and engineers have their tabs, let us have ours.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 5:27 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:27:51 -0500

I think it's a great idea, SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr.. Proud to be AIRBORNE!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 5 at 2014 5:31 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:31:28 -0500

No. I think the three levels of jump wings and associated criteria are sufficient.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 5 at 2014 5:34 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:34:57 -0500

Well if there is one thing the army doesn't have enough of, it's tabs.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Dec 5 at 2014 8:36 PM

1LT William Clardy — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:36:27 -0500

Why do you need anything more than jump wings? Or would you rather give up the silver wings for a shoulder tab?

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Dec 5 at 2014 10:18 PM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 22:18:38 -0500

I don't believe having a tab will influence people's perception one way or the other. People see ur wings,they either respect the accomplishment or don't

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2014 4:05 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 16:05:35 -0500

I don't see a reason for this at all. If you want a tab you can go and get one. You just have to go to Ranger/SF/Sapper school to get one. There is already badge for being airborne.

Tabs represent a unique skill set. They cater to more so leadership schools. All of the schools with tabs are leadership schools. It is not in a sense of an NCOES but leading a patrol to conduct a ambush you have to be a competent leader. I am airborne qualified. I have not used any skills learned there since I left an airborne unit. My amount of jumps really doesn't mean anything to me. I am also Ranger qualified. I use the skills I gained there just about everyday in my leadership as it made me a more tactically and technically proficient leader.

We have too many badges already. There are many schools out there such as: Bradley Leaders Course, Abrams Leaders Course, Light Leaders Course, any Master Gunners Course, Mountain Warfare, and SERE.

If you made that tab a permanent award then you would just being creating the black beret of badges. In theory it would be making everyone special with their own tab. What about a Mechanized Tab or a Air Assault Tab. But I think I got one for you.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 6 at 2014 4:09 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 16:09:52 -0500

The Army needs more Tabs like the Navy needs more Warfare devices. Do you need a Tab to say you have knowledge? Let your actions speak for your knowledge because even if you have a tab I'am sure people will look down on you for some reason or another. One thing that i think makes a great leader is not just having the knowledge but also knowing you can learn from the guy below you. So if someone is going to look town on you because you are not a jump master that is their failure as a leader not yours.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2014 6:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:08:03 -0500

I'm a less is more guy in the first place.
Also as a semirelated topic, I'm commissioning in October as a PA and I'm seriously considering showing up to to my first unit essentially sterile (no skill badges or combat patch) just to see how they react. Thoughts?

Response by SPC Richard White made Dec 6 at 2014 6:07 PM

SPC Richard White — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:07:33 -0500

In light that 101 lost their jump status at the beginning of the year I would have to vote for a tab.I think parachutists are in danger of becoming obsolete.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 6 at 2014 6:21 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:21:40 -0500

Why would you need a tab? You already have jump wings...

Response by SGT Richard H. made Dec 6 at 2014 6:51 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:51:05 -0500

I could see having different classifications of the parachutist badge...for example, most SCUBA agencies have "Master Diver" and "Dive Master", the former being an experience level and the latter being a dive leader classification. I wouldn't see anything wrong with a similar classification for Airborne in order to recognize those with a ton of jumps, but without jumpmaster school....but as far as a tab....no. Tabs are a special skill identifier, and the wings already have that covered.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2014 10:07 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 22:07:00 -0500

Just what we need, another redundant wiz-bang to put on a uniform.

Sorry, not a good idea. That is what Jump Wings are for.

Response by SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. made Dec 7 at 2014 2:57 PM

SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:57:30 -0500

Well it seems I started a bit of a firestorm with this.
The votes say no. Very well. To me it was an idea I have played with for years along with the criteria. I also played with a device or type of wings, as suggested as well by SGT Hanner. Germany for instance has separate wings for experience level not necessarily JM.
Some seemed offended by what the question said. If thats the case then you have my utmost apologies. Not my intent to offend anyone. The comments I read were insightful, a little humorous and somewhat humbling in cases. Many good points made.
As for the stupid question vote, I added that to see what would happen. Most dissappointing. I dont believe in stupid questions. The stupidest questions are the ones thought but never asked as with the topic I threw out there. As stated previously, an Idea played with but never asked. Felt this would be the perfect forum for it.
Misguided questions yes but never stupid.
Bottom line is those of us with wings, jumpmaster or not, chose to do so to be different than the bulk of the military. Some for the adventure others just for "flair" or points. Others chose to never jump again after the first five. Those that chose not to get wings, all the more power to you and in some cases you may be the smarter ones. You may be more qualified in many other things and should be proud of your acheivements as well.
With a few exceptions, I stand alone in my Idea that will never happen but I also leave this post with a different view on variations of the idea.
I thank all who voted and/or commented no matter what your opinion, thought etc is/ was.
Thanks again!

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Dec 9 at 2014 1:20 PM

PFC Zanie Young — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:20:28 -0500

Uh, that's why you jumpers have jump wings, a maroon beret, and an Airborne Tab. Why would you need more?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 3:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:36:42 -0500

Airborne qualified troops already get 'wings'. If you have done more than just a few jumps, and did so many years on status, do you not get "senior parachutist badge" and then a "master parachutist badge"; "mustard stains' for combat jumps? I think that those things should suffice.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 6:38 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:38:20 -0500

If this is a question about Airborne from someone that is Airborne. The answer must be Airborne. I vote yes. Airborne trumps my SF Diver Badge...why not?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 6:41 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:41:20 -0500

Can one really have too many tabs? Just think about it, tabs to the elbow...

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Dec 9 at 2014 8:18 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:18:53 -0500

Don't you already get the recognition with a special skills badge? I wore a paratroopers badge that told the world I was stupid enough to jump out of planes. I never felt the need for a special tab. And it would just be another thing that had to be sewn on your uniform and be done wrong.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 9:55 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:55:06 -0500

I think the jump wings are the way to do this. More tabs just make a uniform look tacky. Leave the tabs for the highly specialized training and keep the jump wings and the air assault badge as they are.

Now changing the look of the badges depending on number of jumps, type of jump (combat or training) would be an idea worth maybe looking at. But those that have earned the Ranger tab, SF tab and other elite tabs go through a lot more hell during training than a service member does for air assault or airborne training. With that said, I think rewarding them with the skill badge is perfect for the training received.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 3 at 2018 6:00 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 18:00:20 -0400

No, you have your wings, if you spent 17 yrs on status then you should have be eligible to go to JM course- I went with a waiver as an E5