Portugal Mozambique PARACHUTIST Master QUALIFICATION Beret Badge

Description

Portugal Mozambique PARACHUTIST Master QUALIFICATION Beret Badge
Material: Steel, gold
Size: approx. 50 x 50 mm
Reverse: 1 Original clip fitting
Fine original condition
Rare Item!

A mint condition example of an original Mozambique Senior parachutist qualification in metal (do not believe cloth variants exist). This style insignia was adopted in 1992, in Bronze for Basic and Gold for Master. This insignia is ‘C&D ident No. 83-3. In May 1991, the Portuguese government sent a team to Mozambique and Angola to select officers and NCOs from those nations to attend airborne courses in Portugal. The selectees attended training a the Portuguese Airborne School in Tancos in late 1991 and into 1992. The Angolas had adopted parachutist qualification insignia earlier, but the Mozambicans did not do so until February 1992 and they were first awarded circa April 1992. During the Survey team visit to Mozambique, they were in Nacala City, where the Mozambique government has their airborne school, built by the Soviet Union. Since construction however, the Soviets had abandoned the country and all the equipment for the parachute training was inoperable or destroy. This facility was rebuilt following the team visit. With the assistance of the Portuguese Training team, the Mozambique Parachute School staff established their new national parachute qualification insignia. The design is composed of the external part of the Mozambique National Coat of Arms; the wings of the Mozambique Air Force (the airborne is part of the Air Force); and a parachute