Originally Posted by RoverDriver

While I have a genuine respect for those who put themselves forward to qualify for such things as parachuting and are/were awarded the Parachute Badge (with or without wings), I agree with a previous poster that at the end of the day its a badge.

There are other courses in HM Forces that are pretty damn difficult to pass and attain qualifications, one difference being that people who pass them don't neccessarily get it drummed into them that they are all Emperors and therefore better than the rest of HM Forces.

If there is one group I feel sorry for in this thread, it's one that hasn't been mentioned yet - the baby Paras who (if press rumours prove accurate) will pass out from training and serve with their battalions without wings, if training constraints dictate they can't complete a jumps course.

Will they be Emperors or just Hats?

Yes they are Emporers, RoverDriver,

They've passed P Company, which is the hard part.
The Parachuting is a piece of pisss after that.

Sorry, I forgot, you wouldn't know that would you! :P

Think what you like matey boy. Some of us don't shout about what we have done, or choose to tell the world ad nauseum. Carry on though.

Originally Posted by supermatelot

Cat amongst pigeons...

RN 148 battery... some have wings

They are army not RN or RM

Originally Posted by Resurgam

Originally Posted by supermatelot

Cat amongst pigeons...

RN 148 battery... some have wings

They are army not RN or RM

148 are part of 29 (Commando) in God's own Royal Regiment.

Just to add to the debate, I passed P coy as a matelot over 47 years ago as it was a requirement of the Combined Operation Unit that I was posted to after years at sea. Said unit at that time was craphat but were para trained and I drew para pay for 20+ years. Smokey Furniss was the P Coy WOII, and the instructors included Roadnight, Twitchin and Hairy Mary. RM in those days did not do P Coy and I cannot remember a time when they did and when at Abingdon 2 SBS guys joined for the jumps. I did two tours detached to the resident Para Bn's in Bahrein and it was a great delight to nervously tell Nobby Arnold when he took over from Del Shannon that yes I was entitled to have a big FO beard and wear the Maroon.

edited to add.... gold wire para wings on blue looked the dogs proverbials :D

Originally Posted by exile1

Just to add to the debate, I passed P coy as a matelot over 47 years ago as it was a requirement of the Combined Operation Unit that I was posted to after years at sea. Said unit at that time was craphat but were para trained and I drew para pay for 20+ years. Smokey Furniss was the P Coy WOII, and the instructors included Roadnight, Twitchin and Hairy Mary. RM in those days did not do P Coy and I cannot remember a time when they did and when at Abingdon 2 SBS guys joined for the jumps. I did two tours detached to the resident Para Bn's in Bahrein and it was a great delight to nervously tell Nobby Arnold when he took over from Del Shannon that yes I was entitled to have a big FO beard and wear the Maroon.

edited to add.... gold wire para wings on blue looked the dogs proverbials :D

Good effort 'exile' - excellent post! Nothing like being 'different' is there? My favourite 'different' guy was the Drum Major of a Scottish Highland Regiment who wore the submariners' badge on his musical regalia.

Originally Posted by RoverDriver

While I have a genuine respect for those who put themselves forward to qualify for such things as parachuting and are/were awarded the Parachute Badge (with or without wings), I agree with a previous poster that at the end of the day its a badge.

There are other courses in HM Forces that are pretty damn difficult to pass and attain qualifications, one difference being that people who pass them don't neccessarily get it drummed into them that they are all Emperors and therefore better than the rest of HM Forces.

If there is one group I feel sorry for in this thread, it's one that hasn't been mentioned yet - the baby Paras who (if press rumours prove accurate) will pass out from training and serve with their battalions without wings, if training constraints dictate they can't complete a jumps course.

Will they be Emperors or just Hats?

I'm getting the feeling you have never stank of slipstream.

You hat.

Originally Posted by exile1

Just to add to the debate, I passed P coy as a matelot over 47 years ago as it was a requirement of the Combined Operation Unit that I was posted to after years at sea. Said unit at that time was craphat but were para trained and I drew para pay for 20+ years. Smokey Furniss was the P Coy WOII, and the instructors included Roadnight, Twitchin and Hairy Mary. RM in those days did not do P Coy and I cannot remember a time when they did and when at Abingdon 2 SBS guys joined for the jumps. I did two tours detached to the resident Para Bn's in Bahrein and it was a great delight to nervously tell Nobby Arnold when he took over from Del Shannon that yes I was entitled to have a big FO beard and wear the Maroon.

edited to add.... gold wire para wings on blue looked the dogs proverbials :D

There's a name from the past. He subsequently became RSM Depot Para. I did my PJI training with his son Barry and we both served at Pitts Road in those days. He insisted that if we were to have any credibility with the Brigade we should do 'P' Coy which we duely did. Then came the maroon lid with an RAF capbadge which sent PTS into a tailspin, but that for another time. Sorry to digress from the 'medals' :D

Originally Posted by LancePrivateJones

Originally Posted by Resurgam

Originally Posted by supermatelot

Cat amongst pigeons...

RN 148 battery... some have wings

They are army not RN or RM

148 are part of 29 (Commando) in God's own Royal Regiment.

with a FST formed from RM Capt's and RN Communicators.

Back on track (could the stuff about wings not go in its own thread entitled HAT OR NOT?).

HTF did Charles get so well educated - BA, MA DLitt(x2), DCL (x2), DMus, LLD. Not bad for a bloke with 5 paltry O Levels and 2 Buckshee A Levels!