The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which is awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The U.S. Coast Guard is the only service which does not issue a Parachutist Badge, however Coast Guard members are entitled to receive the Parachutist Badge of another service, if the proper training was received.

Army

The Army Parachutist Badge is awarded to all soldiers in any service who complete US Army Airborne School, 3 weeks of training at Fort Benning, Georgia. It signifies that the soldier is a trained Army Parachutist, and is qualified to conduct airborne operations.

The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Lieutenant General (then Major) William P. Yarborough and approved by the Department of the Army in March of that year. The Parachustist Badge replaced the Parachutist Patch which had previously worn as a large patch on the right side of a Paratrooper's garrison cap.

The Army Parachutist Badge is issued in three degrees, being that of Basic, Senior, and Master Parachutist. The various degrees are signified by a star and wreath above the decoration. The current awards criteria are:

Parachutist: Awarded to any individual who has satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School; or participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

Senior Parachutist: Participated in a minimum of 30 jumps to include 15 jumps with combat equipment; two night jumps, one of which is as jumpmaster of a stick; two mass tactical jumps which culminate in an airborne assault problem; graduated from the Jumpmaster Course; and served on jump status with an airborne unit or other organization authorized parachutists for a total of at least 24 months.

Master Parachutist: Participated in 65 jumps to include 25 jumps with combat equipment; four night jumps, one of which is as a jumpmaster of a stick; five mass tactical jumps which culminate in an airborne assault problem with a unit equivalent to a battalion or larger, a separate company/battery, or organic staff of a regiment size or larger; graduated from the Jumpmaster Course; and served in jump status with an airborne unit or other organization authorized parachutists for a total of at least 36 months.

Combat Parachustist: Although not an official Parachustist rating, any soldier who completes an airborne jump into a combat zone can wear the Combat Parachutist Badge which is the standard Parachustist Badge upgraded to include service stars pinned on the decoration. In such cases, the Parachustist retains the title as Basic, Senior, or Master Parachutist but is said to possess the Combat Parachustist Badge. The maximum number of combat awards that may be shown on the Army Parachutist Badge is five.

Navy/Marine Corps

The Naval Parachutist Badge is issued in two degrees to members of both the United States Navy and Marine Corps who complete the standard Naval Parachutist training course. The Basic Parachutist Badge is similar in design to the Army Parachutsit Badge and is issued for completion of basic parachutist training.

The Naval Parachutist Badge is equivalent to the Army's Senior and Master Parachutist Badges.

The Naval Parachutist Badge is a prerequisite for the Special Warfare Badge since parachutist training is an integral part of the Navy’s BUDs program.

Air Force

The Air Force Parachutist Pin is similar in design to the Army Parachutist Badge. Air Force personnel may be awarded the decoration following completion of basic parachute training through a designated Air Force Air-Ground Training Program.

Like the Army Parachutist Badge, the Air Force Parachutist Pin is issued in three degrees being that of Basic, Senior and Master. The level of degree is determined by the number of jumps the wearer has successfully completed as well as total years in service to the Air Force.

The degrees of the Air Force Parachutist Pin are denoted by a wreath and star centered above the decoration.