Sounds very unlikely, but it’d be conceivable for someone to join up at 16, complete P Coy and the jumps course and then get out (for whatever reason) at 18 or 19 and rejoin as a cadet.
Wonder if it’s ever happened?
It sounds very unlikely considering the factors:
Age considerations.
Wings only via P Coy ->PTS -> full course.
No known alternative option at the time.
Like others, as a cadet in the early 1970’s, I don’t remember any such badge.
Of minor interest, I found this relating to cadet parachute badges:
http://www.arrse.co.uk/acf/58782-cadet-parachutist-badge.html
However, considering the comparative recency of the thread, this would not seem not relevant.
You can buy the Army Cadet Para badge:
http://www.cadetdirect.com/order1.php?pg=1951
Canadian cadets can get a nice badge though:
http://airdriecadets.com/tag/cadet-basic-parachute-course/
To me, the situation shouts “Walt.” To confirm it will take one of 2 options - either you ask the person directly how he got his wings, or, you try to track down his name via PTs at Brize. As with the other comment, if he is a CivComm member & lied, what else is dodgy??
On a related note, does anyone know if it’s possible to contact 1PTS (or somewhere else) with a name/DoB etc to check if someone’s qualified?
Well I used to pack and maintain the Parachutes For PTS when based at Brize at Para Eng Flt I know a couple of people still there so they might be able to find out…
However, it is not actually an official badge so cannot be worn in PCS. The reasoning was that there were being too many badges forced onto brassards (this was back in CS95 days) and the line had to be drawn somewhere. Why sports and adventure training badges are allowed rather than the parachuting badge I don’t know.
Possibly because its too contentious an issue where cadets are concerned? The ‘hand-wringing & chest-beating’ Brigade would probably cry out that we’re training our little kiddiewinks in how to parachute into a Taliban stronghold and kill everyone they find.
Cadets with parachute badges on their uniforms? Whatever next - pilots wings and infantry skills-related insignia?
No, wait…
The problem is he is on the Civ Com and if he lies about this what else is he telling lies about[/quote]
In fairness, zinggy, if this is the same unit that you’ve posted about before, I do feel for you. I’d imagine that most people pick up on the fact that he’s talking out of his behind though. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been somewhere were someone has launched into ‘I/my dad/my uncle/my cat was in the French Foreign Legion/SAS/Brownies and killed Bin Laden/tickled Hitler/blew up the Eiffel Tower…’ and a quick look around the room usually sees the collective eyes present rolling skywards.
Someone Walting about being a para… where have I heard this before ?
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/army-veteran-unmasked-as-walter-mitty-878536
I’m not entirely sure why any one would want to be associated with the Parachute Regiment anyway.
With the exception of certain airborne elements within HM Forces, they are something of an acronym. It has been 58 years since the airborne forces of the UK jumped into action. Since they have been just simply Infantry.
I personally have no time for these “Walt Hunting” clubs. Personally I see them as no better than the people they look to uncover.
If you’ve “been it, seen it, done it - got the t-shirt” then you tend not to shout about it anyway.
I have a friend in York who “quietly” says he was SAS and yet has no idea of how the training camp in Wales is laid out.
Let them have these little stories. They will always get found out eventually…always. HM Forces is surprisingly small and someone always knows someone who knows someone; etc.
It’s just not worth it…
You’d think someone who’d actually served with regular forces and, it seems, 23 SAS would know how easy it was to trap a Walt and not be tempted!
I’d ask for records of proof. He will have to have it if he wants to claim any real time service and go into uniform…
Merlin’s right. Certainly everyone in the Army get’s a print out (admittedly not always correct, mine said I was a B1 signaller which I wasn’t!!) from their MCM Div stating their courses, quals; etc.
Ask for that!
He “Lost” it…
Well, that’s handy.
Zinggy, I can PM you with another alternative which might not be best recorded here.
Zinggy - weed him out - there’s no place in the ACO for these types - at least there shouldn’t be!
[quote=“Racing Stick” post=15448]Well, that’s handy.
Zinggy, I can PM you with another alternative which might not be best recorded here.[/quote]
Is it a savage beating with a pillowcase filled with bars of soap?
I thought he was just one of the cadet’s dads?
Edit: been back and checked, sorry, if he’s on the Civ Com, he’s hardly got massive exposure to cadets, though…
And making him look like a complete idiot is going to have an unfair affect on the cadet and their CI mum.
[quote=“tango_lima” post=15520][quote=“Racing Stick” post=15448]Well, that’s handy.
Zinggy, I can PM you with another alternative which might not be best recorded here.[/quote]
Is it a savage beating with a pillowcase filled with bars of soap?
I thought he was just one of the cadet’s dads?
Edit: been back and checked, sorry, if he’s on the Civ Com, he’s hardly got massive exposure to cadets, though…
And making him look like a complete idiot is going to have an unfair affect on the cadet and their CI mum.[/quote]
The problem is he is always hanging round the Sqn telling these “war stories” and always comes along on cadet activity’s as his wife and son are there I feel sorry for his wife as she belives every word of them…
[quote=“Racing Stick” post=15448]Well, that’s handy.
Zinggy, I can PM you with another alternative which might not be best recorded here.[/quote]
Go for it!! Cheers!
[quote=“zinggy” post=15522][quote=“tango_lima” post=15520][quote=“Racing Stick” post=15448]Well, that’s handy.
Zinggy, I can PM you with another alternative which might not be best recorded here.[/quote]
Is it a savage beating with a pillowcase filled with bars of soap?
I thought he was just one of the cadet’s dads?
Edit: been back and checked, sorry, if he’s on the Civ Com, he’s hardly got massive exposure to cadets, though…
And making him look like a complete idiot is going to have an unfair affect on the cadet and their CI mum.[/quote]
The problem is he is always hanging round the Sqn telling these “war stories” and always comes along on cadet activity’s as his wife and son are there I feel sorry for his wife as she belives every word of them…[/quote]
Has he got a current, clear enhanced DBS check on record?
Seems like a good reason to politely ask him not to hang around cadet activities.
[quote=“tango_lima” post=15520][quote=“Racing Stick” post=15448]Well, that’s handy.
Zinggy, I can PM you with another alternative which might not be best recorded here.[/quote]
Is it a savage beating with a pillowcase filled with bars of soap?
I thought he was just one of the cadet’s dads?
Edit: been back and checked, sorry, if he’s on the Civ Com, he’s hardly got massive exposure to cadets, though…
And making him look like a complete idiot is going to have an unfair affect on the cadet and their CI mum.[/quote]
Well he is the one making himself look an idiot as far as I can see.
I have encountered quite a few of these types in the ACO (Civ Com & Staff) and nothing good has come from any of them in the long term. In these cases even the Cadets have mocked those concenred behind their backs - is this the image of the Adults in the organisation that we want to give?