Quote:
Originally Posted by 54Bty
Eddie, Just to confuse you even more there is a small red Maple Leaf that can be pinned through the white one on the cloth wing. Therefore the wings do not have to be changed on leaving an airborne unit.
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Not quiite. The red leaf is the common wing and is awarded to avery member of the Canadian Forces who successfully graduates from the CF Basic Parachutist Course. Back in the mid-70s a white leaf was introduced for wear by any serving or former member who had served in a 'jump' position. This included instructors at the para school, riggers, Sky Hawks demonstration team, Mobile Strike Companies (from the 1960s), etc..
At one point the CO of the Cdn Airborne Regiment unofficially changed the rules by making the white leaf dependant upon graduating from the Airborne Indoctrination Course. Needless to say, members of the school, the Sky Hawks, etc... ignored this but the members of the Cdn Ab Regt have, over the years, taken this requirement so much to heart that they firmly believe that this is the only legitimate way to earn the white leaf.
Once the white leaf is earned it is never reverted back to the red so the quote above is incorrect. There was, however, at the very beginning a silver maple leaf device (the exact same as was used on the undress ribbon of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal) that could be applied over the embroidered red leaf.