Quote:
Originally Posted by Luc
No, it was worn by some members of the 21 and 22 independent parachute companies which allowed them to be identified as such but it did not require additional training.
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21 and 22 Companies were both Pathfinder roled and would have received additional training in marking out DZs and other relevant aspects which qualified them beyond the normal training for a Parachute Regiment rifle company. My understanding is that the US Pathfinder torch badge was worn, unofficially, by those members who had trained alongside their U.S. counterparts at the U.S. Pathfinder school in Nottingham and it was worn to show their additional training and role, so in those terms it was a qualification badge. It was worn in addition to the normal Airborne formation signs of the Pegasus.
I’m not disputing that the torch was worn, only that it was not a formation sign in the normally accepted use of the words.