The Parachutist Badge (; Jawi: ), commonly referred to as Jump Wings (; Jawi: ), is a prestigious skill badge awarded to uniformed personnel in Malaysia who have successfully completed the Basic Parachute Course or higher. This qualification is not restricted to the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF); it is also available to other government agencies that maintain parachute-trained units. In the Malaysian context, the badge serves as a symbol of entry into an elite airborne brotherhood.
The badge signifies that the wearer possesses the foundational qualifications required to participate in airborne operations. Beyond operational personnel, honorary badges are occasionally bestowed upon VIPs as a mark of respect and inclusion within the airborne community.
The badge is produced in three distinct versions to match various uniform types:
Silver Metal: The most common variant, worn on standard working and service dress uniforms. Subdued (Black and Olive): A cloth version worn on field or combat uniforms for tactical purposes. Silver and Gold Embroidered: A high-visibility or bullion version utilised specifically for ceremonial and mess dress uniforms.
The badge follows a hierarchical structure based on experience and specialised training. It ranges from the Basic Parachutist Badge at the entry level to the Parachutist Badge (Instructor) at the highest level. Depending on the specific uniformed service, the system may consist of four to seven distinct tiers, often distinguished by additional elements like stars or wreaths on the insignia.
While the concept remains the same, there are at least five primary design variations utilised by different organisations in Malaysia:
Malaysian Armed Forces parachutist badge: The MAF has the same design across all of the branches Royal Malaysia Police parachutist badge Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia parachutist badge Johor Military Force parachutist badge Scouts Association of Malaysia parachutist badge
Parachute schools Currently, there are four government-operated parachute schools in Malaysia that offer parachutist courses.
Special Warfare Training Centre RMAF Combat Training School 69 Commando Training Centre Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia
History A brief history of parachuting in Malaysia.
Origins: The Second World War and Force 136
During the Second World War, Force 136, the Far East branch of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), utilised parachute insertions as one of the methods for deploying agents into occupied Malaya and Borneo. These agents, many of whom were recruited from the local population, underwent rigorous parachute training with Commonwealth militaries in Australia, British India, and the United Kingdom.Bragg, pg. 13
Following the conclusion of the war, several of these veterans continued their service within the nascent Federation of Malaya's security forces. Their expertise in unconventional warfare and airborne operations proved instrumental in shaping the foundational structure of the Malaysian Special Forces.
The Malayan Emergency and the Malayan Scouts
The power vacuum following the Japanese surrender in 1945 led to a period of significant instability that escalated into the Malayan Emergency in 1948. To combat communist insurgents operating within the nation's dense interior, the Malayan Scouts (the precursor to the modern Special Air Service) were founded in 1950.Bragg, pg. 15–17
Owing to the extreme difficulty of terrestrial movement through the thick rainforest, the Scouts began utilising parachute techniques for troop insertion starting in 1952. To facilitate this, the Far East Transport Wing Parachute School was established at RAF Changi (present-day Changi Air Base) in 1952. This facility was primarily utilised to train the Malayan Scouts and their various squadrons in airborne operations.
To enhance operational readiness, the school also deployed instructors to RAF Kuala Lumpur (present-day RMAF Kuala Lumpur). This allowed for the provision of additional static-line training closer to the front lines, while also overseeing critical aerial resupply missions launched from the Kuala Lumpur airbase. These developments ensured that the Scouts could be deployed and sustained deep within insurgent-controlled territory, regardless of the lack of accessible roads or tracks.
In addition to the Malayan Scouts, other parachute units operated from Malaya during the post-war period. The British Army 5th Parachute Brigade was stationed in the region, with its units divided between British Malaya (including Crown Colony of Singapore) and the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia).
The brigade continued its operations in Malaya until August 1946, when a significant internal crisis occurred. Personnel from the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion, a unit under the 5th Parachute Brigade, engaged in a mutiny. This act of insubordination ultimately led to the decision by British military authorities to disband the entire 5th Parachute Brigade on 13 September 1946.
Technical innovation: "Tree jumping" The environmental constraints of the Malayan jungle led to the development of a unique technique known as "canopy drop" or "tree jumping" by the Malayan Scouts. Aircraft would fly at low altitudes between above the forest canopy to drop patrols or supplies directly onto the treetops. This method was specifically designed to:
Prevent Dispersion: Reducing the distance between troops upon landing. Minimise Damage: Limiting injuries to personnel and damage to equipment caused by getting caught on trees.
Independence and the relocation to other RAF airbases In 1957, following the independence of the Federation of Malaya, several major military installations previously under the control of Commonwealth forces were transitioned to local authority. While some bases remained under Commonwealth administration during the transition period, RAF Kuala Lumpur was officially handed over to the Federation.
By 1958, the parachute training school in RAF Kuala Lumpur relocated to RAF Gong Kedak (present-day RMAF Gong Kedak Air Base) in Kelantan. This facility became a hub for airborne operations in the region and received significant assistance from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). During this period of transition, the original parachute school at RAF Changi in Singapore remained fully operational, ensuring a continued training pipeline for Commonwealth and local units in South East Asia. The schools served several critical functions during this era:
Training Commonwealth Units: It was utilised to train elite airborne units such as the Gurkha (Independent) Parachute Company, maintaining the high standards of airborne proficiency required for jungle warfare. Operational Resupply: The airbase served as a base for conducting aerial resupply missions (airdrops) to Commonwealth forces stationed along the volatile Malaysia–Thailand border regions.
The parachute training school continued to operate in Malaysia and Singapore until 1971, marking the end of the permanent British-led airborne training presence in those countries.
The Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation and the Birth of Malaysian Special Forces
Following the conclusion of the Malayan Emergency in 1960, Malaysia faced a new armed conflict in 1963. The unification of Malaya, the Crown Colony of North Borneo (present-day Sabah), the Crown Colony of Sarawak, and the Crown Colony of Singapore to form Malaysia was opposed by President Sukarno of Indonesia. He characterised Malaysia as a puppet state for British neo-colonisation and launched a military campaign, deploying troops to attack both East and West Malaysia.
A significant tactical element of this conflict was the use of airborne insertions by Indonesian forces. These incursions highlighted the strategic importance of parachute training for Malaysian security. The conflict also accelerated the formation of Malaysia's own special forces units, specifically the Malaysian Special Service Unit (MSSU), which is known today as Gerak Khas. The MSSU subsequently became the first Malaysian-owned unit to be formally trained in airborne operations, establishing the foundation for the nation's domestic airborne capabilities.
Post-Independence Formalisation of Parachute Training Around 1967, Zulu Squadron of the Malaysian Special Service Unit (MSSU) became the first unit within the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to receive formal parachute training. To build this capability, members of the squadron were dispatched in phases to receive parachute training at the Far East Transport Wing Parachute School at RAF Changi and the RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit in New Zealand.
This historical lineage was prominently reflected in the older emblem of Zulu Squadron, which featured a parachute at its centre. During this era, Malaysian soldiers who qualified as paratroopers wore the British Parachutist Wings. However, to distinguish themselves, the Malaysian version utilised a unique dark brown background rather than the standard British military backing.
When the RAF parachute training school ceased operations in Malaysia and the Gurkha (Independent) Parachute Company relocated to Hong Kong in 1971, Malaysia was left without a formal domestic parachute school.
Expansion to the Royal Malaysia Police In 1978, the 69 Commando, the elite unit of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), sent a pioneer team of 65 personnel to Hua Hin, Thailand. They received training from the Border Patrol Police of the Royal Thai Police. This initiative paved the way for the RMP to eventually establish its own independent airborne training capabilities.
The Establishment of Domestic Parachute Schools In 1979, the MAF sent a dedicated team to the RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit in New Zealand to qualify as instructors. Upon their return, they established the Parachute Wing at the Special Warfare Training Centre (SWTC) in Camp Sungai Udang, Malacca. This facility became the first government-owned parachute school in post-independence Malaysia.
Following this, other parachute schools were established:
RMAF Parachute School: The Royal Malaysian Air Force utilised the former British facilities at RAF Kuala Lumpur to create its own training centre. Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia: In 2000, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM) created a parachute school to train "smoke jumpers" for rapid response to forest fires. The pioneer team of smoke jumpers was trained by the RMAF, resulting in a syllabus that closely mirrors the standards used by the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMP Parachute and Diving Training Centre: A specialised facility operated by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), situated within Camp Sultan Nazrin Shah. The centre provides comprehensive instruction in airborne operations and diving courses for RMP personnel as well as members of other government agencies.
Versions
Malaysian Armed Forces The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) operates two primary parachute schools. These institutions provide training not only to local military personnel but also to international students and members of various non-military government agencies. The schools are as follows:
Special Warfare Training Centre: Based at Camp Sungai Udang, Malacca, this school is operated for the Malaysian Army by the Parachute Wing of the Army Training and Doctrine Command. Parachute Wing of the RMAF Combat Training School: Located at RMAF Jugra Airbase, Selangor. Operated by the Parachute Training Flight, the facility serves as a primary hub for airborne training within the RMAF and functions as a core component of the broader RMAF Combat Training School.