United States Army Combat Parachutist Badge

Criteria: Awarded to soldiers who have previously earned the Basic Parachutist Badge and simultaneously complete one airborne jump into a combat zone. Soldiers qualifying for one of the various combat parachutist badges wear their parachutist badge upgraded with the requisite number of bronze stars attached to the decoration. Each combat jump is denoted by one star on the badge. A soldier previously qualifying for the Basic Parachutist Badge, for example, who thereafter completes a single jump into combat, would wear the “Basic Combat Parachutist Badge (One Jump)” award. Upon completion of a second jump into combat, the award would be upgraded to the “Two Jump” variation. This would work similarly for the Senior or Master versions. The Basic, Senior, and Master Combat Parachutist Badges can each be upgraded to One, Two, Three, Four, and Five star versions. The following shows the orientation of the ascension of stars: One combat jump – A bronze star centered on the shroud lines below the canopy; Two combat jumps – A bronze star on the base of each wing; Three combat jumps – A bronze star on the base of each wing and one star centered on the shroud lines below the canopy; Four combat jumps – Two bronze stars on the base of each wing; Five combat jumps – A single gold star centered on the shroud lines below the canopy. Stars representing participation in combat jumps had been worn unofficially on parachute wings during and after World War II, which was not officially sanctioned until 1983.