Watching CSPAN last night and spotted this, badge on left lapel.

REP ALLEN WEST (R-FL)

I think it's also very common with LEO, TSA, and other government workers to wear their military badges or unit badges on their uniform.

We see this all the time and of course I say go on with your bad self.

Of course as a Master Parachutist myself, that is.


Always strong is the JM fraternity!

As far as politics I think Al West is a tool, but that is a different matter entirely. I will give him credit that he is going his own way, even if I disagree with most everything he is about.

It's lame he is wearing both badges...IMO, the other being N/MC parachutist insignia.

One or the other dude.

This is actually the first time I have seen it. Seen the mini-CIB and the mini-Army ribbons but not a full sized badge before.

FEM - what is the N/MC parachutist insignia?

Navy Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia.

quote:

Originally posted by FormerEmbassyMarine:
Navy Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia.

Also called Gold Wings.

Hey, keep in mind that since our Jarhead buddies vacationed in Hondo in 1910-1920's, the Hondo Govt adopted that badge as their own ABN badge- Maybe this guy too vactioned in Hondo land once or twice like some of us "Golden Pheasant" folks?

quote:

Originally posted by ErichG2:
This is actually the first time I have seen it. Seen the mini-CIB and the mini-Army ribbons but not a full sized badge before.

FEM - what is the N/MC parachutist insignia?

They look like mini's, or lapel pins not full size badges to me.

On his website he (LTC Alllen, USA, Ret) is shown wearing Master Blaster, Bullwinkle, and N/MC Jump Wing pins.

Allen West knows that for our children to live their dreams, they need to be safe. He has served in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country.

In his Army career, Col. West has been honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps Assault School. He proudly wears the Army Master parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Navy/Marine Corps parachutist insignia, Italian parachutist wings, and German proficiency badge (Bronze award).



http://allenwestforcongress.com/about-allen-west

quote:

Originally posted by FormerEmbassyMarine:
It's lame he is wearing both badges...IMO, the other being N/MC parachutist insignia.

One or the other dude.

I have Hondo Jump wings, never saw any mini's for foriegn wings, but it is kind of redundant to wear two US parachutist badges, just saying.

little confused here...I thought to earn the N/MC parachutist insignia you had to be assigned to an airborne slot in the marines/navy and done at least five jumps. Otherwise if you had just gone to jump school you would wear the Army parachutist badge.


"To qualify to wear the insignia, a parachutist must have previously qualified for the Basic Parachutist
insignia described above and have, under competent
orders, completed a minimum of five additional staticline
or free-fall jumps with a Navy or Marine Corps
organization whose mission includes parachute jumping.
Once a person has qualified for the Navy and Marine
Corps Parachutist insignia, that insignia shall be worn in
lieu of the Basic Parachutist insignia."

Don't the N/MC wings have JM versions? I notice he's wearing Army master blasters.

There is only the basic (the same as our basic) and the gold. I'm not too up on the requirements for the gold wings. However, he did do a tour as an exchange officer with the Marines, I'm pretty sure that's where he got them from. I don't know how that works though being awarded two parachute badges from different services. Maybe FEM could hazard a guess.

I know a guy (Army now) who had gold wings from his time in the Corps, does that mean he can wear them? If so authorized, would he wear just them? Or those and his basic parachute badge? He earned both, and they are different. hmmm

quote:

I know a guy (Army now) who had gold wings from his time in the Corps, does that mean he can wear them? If so authorized, would he wear just them?

No, the badge has an Army equivalent in the basic parachutist badge. If he was a JM and had the required jumps, he could change for the MPB when he came into the Army by providing proof.

Well you see that's where it gets weird. Gold wings are not an indicator of being a jumpmaster in the N/MC. So if you are a non-jumpmaster with gold wings and you transfer over, you don't rate an Army senior or master parachute badge.

But it does indicate achieving a certain set of requirements like the senior and master Army badges (minus the JM qualification). Therefore they are not redundant and honestly I wouldn't have a problem with them being authorized for wear.

The Army doesn't authorize both for wear because, as indicated, they are seen as the equivalent of Army basic wings.

That said, now that LTC West is retired, and he is not wearing them on a uniform, but on civilian clothes, what the Army (or any other service) authorizes in uniform is irrelevant.

As long as he earned them, I have no issue with him wearing them. Same as the Army reg that prohibits wearing CIB and EIB simultaneously. If a retiree wants to wear his EIB and CIB on his civilian suit, more power to him.

How can he earn N/MC Parachutist wings when he was never in the N/MC and not assigned to a N/MC parachutist operational slot. Maybe it was given to him as honorary...

quote:

Originally posted by KrautCop:
How can he earn N/MC Parachutist wings when he was never in the N/MC and not assigned to a N/MC parachutist operational slot. Maybe it was given to him as honorary...

Or they could be HONDURAN.

was wondering that, but his bio states:

"In his Army career, Col. West has been honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps Assault School. He proudly wears the Army Master parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Navy/Marine Corps parachutist insignia, Italian parachutist wings, and German proficiency badge (Bronze award)."

quote:

Originally posted by KrautCop:
How can he earn N/MC Parachutist wings when he was never in the N/MC and not assigned to a N/MC parachutist operational slot. Maybe it was given to him as honorary...

He was actually, he was an exchange officer at Camp Pendleton for a few years with the Marine Corps.