No cuts: MOD denies any Parachute Regiment battalion will lose its jump status
All three regular Parachute Regiment battalions will maintain their jump status – and therefore the right to wear their wings – the Ministry of Defence has insisted.
A spokesperson refuted claims by Conservative MP and former Army officer Ben Obese-Jecty, who said he had been informed by the Government that either 2 Para or 3 Para would no longer be parachute-trained.
"These claims are incorrect – there are no plans to cut any Parachute Battalion, nor Para pay. The PQ [parliamentary question] is clear that we are continuing with current plans for parachuting," the spokesperson explained.
A case of misinterpretation?
Mr Obese-Jecty had asked Defence Secretary John Healey what assessment he had made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, answering on Mr Healey's behalf, said: "The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities.
"The SDR recommended that airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.
"The Government accepted the recommendations of the SDR in full and will publish the Defence Investment Plan as soon as possible to set out the plan for its implementation."
Former Royal Yorkshire Regiment officer Mr Obese-Jecty then said on X: ""After rumours that the Parachute Regiment was going to lose the ability to deploy by parachute, the Government has now confirmed to me that only one of the two battalions will be paratroopers.
"So either 2 Para or 3 Para will no longer earn their para wings or receive jump pay."
Original claims caused uproar
News of the supposed loss of jump status caused upset across the military community and among its supporters.
One person wrote on X: "I think that will be a grave error, the whole point of 16 Air assault Brigade is exactly what it says on the tin.
"That is, the ability to get a whole Brigade into theatre as quickly as possible. There is only one way to do that, and that is by aircraft and parachute."
Another wrote: "Whichever Battalion loses their jump status, there will be a massive stigma associated with it.
"On completion of P Company, soldiers will be desperate to join a true 'airborne' Battalion, as opposed to a support Battalion."
However, others did point out that combat jumps were a rarity, with whole battalion jumps even more so.
Three regular, one reserve
The Parachute Regiment is comprised of three regular battalions, with 1 Para permanently under the command of the Director Special Forces in the Special Forces Support Group.
The airborne soldiers of 2 Para and 3 Para, meanwhile, make up the parachute infantry component of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team.
The MOD has now confirmed that the members of all three regular battalions will now be keeping the jump status, jump pay and the right to wear their wings.
A fourth battalion, 4 Para, is part of the Army Reserve.
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