50 GENERAL HEADQUARTERS ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES Camp Murphy, Quezon City CIRCULAR NUMBER 25 12 October 1962 PARACHUTIST S PAY 1. PURPOSE: This Circular prescribes the policy and procedural guidance regarding the payment of parachutist s pay to officers and enlisted men of the AFP. 2. AUTHORITIES: a. Section 9, Republic Act Nr 1831. b. Executive Order Nr 437 dtd 10 July 1961. 3. DEFINITIONS: a. Parachutist Duty - Duty involving parachute jumping from an aircraft in flight as an essential part of military duty, performed by an officer or enlisted men of the AFP who has received a rating as a parachutist or in undergoing training for such a rating. (1) Duty while assigned or attached to a Special Forces Airborne Unit, Para Rescue Unit, Airborne Training Unit or any other unit the mission of which involves the delivery or infiltration of its personnel by parachute. (2) Duty while a student or an instructor in the Basic Airborne Course, Para Rescue Unit, Airborne Training Unit or any other unit the mission of which involves the delivery or infiltration of its personnel by parachute. (3) Duty with staffs or units, not airborne, when such duty is designated as parachutist duty. b. Parachutist - An individual who has been trained, or is undergoing training, to make parachute jumps from an aircraft in flight. c. Rated Parachutist - is a parachutist who has met the following requirements: (1) Has satisfactorily completed the Basic Airborne Training Course as prescribed by AFP Training Directives. (2) Has performed five (5) satisfactory parachute jumps from an aircraft in flight and duly certified to by competent authority.
51 d. Qualifying Jump A parachute jump required of a rated parachutist who has been placed on parachute duty but who has not made a parachute jump from an aircraft in flight. e. Parachutist Pay - Additional pay/allowance to be paid to parachutists who are engaged in parachute duty equivalent to fifty per centum (50%) of the base pay prescribed. f. Parachute Accident - An accident involving a parachutist on parachute duty, resulting in injuries to him: (1) While an occupant of an aircraft intended to deliver or infiltrate him by parachute; or (2) As a result of jumping from, being thrown from, or being struck by an aircraft in flight or any part or auxiliary thereof. 4. AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF PARACHUTE DUTY - The Chief of Staff, AFP, or the Commander of the Major Service as the case may be, are authorized to issue orders requiring parachutists to perform parachute duty and to terminate such duty. 5. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARACHUTIST PAY - Only a parachutist on parachute duty is eligible for parachutist s pay. To be eligible for parachutist s pay such parachutist shall make at least one parachute jump from an aircraft in flight during any three consecutive calendar months, except as provided for in para 8. 6. PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF PARACHUTIST S PAY a. Parachutist s pay is payable only from the date of entry into parachute duty. A rated parachutist placed on parachute duty who has not made parachute jump from an aircraft in flight for at least one year shall make a qualifying jump in order to be entitled to parachutist s pay. A student parachutist shall make at least one parachute jump from an aircraft in flight in order to be entitled to parachutist s pay; however, he shall be entitled to parachutist s pay for only one month (the month he entered into parachute duty) unless he completes the requirements for qualification as a rated parachutist. b. Payment of parachutist s pay shall be made on payroll or individual voucher every month. The Special Orders placing a person on parachute duty shall accompany the first payroll or voucher covering the first payment. In addition, the following certificate signed by the unit commander concerned shall accompany the payroll or voucher at the time of payment:
52 I CERTIFY that during the period for which parachutist s pay is claimed on this payroll/voucher, (Grade) (Name) (AFPSN) was on parachute duty and that he performed the required parachute jump (Date) (Unit Commander) c. Maintained by that unit or attached. It shall be used as a basis for entitlement to parachutist s pay and for the preparation of the certificate required in subparagraph above. Such record or log shall form part of the individual s Military Personnel File. d. Parachute jumps made in any three consecutive calendar months period cannot be used in claiming parachutist s pay for the next succeeding three consecutive calendar months period. 7. INTERPRETATION OF THREE CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR MONTHS. a. A parachute jump performed by a parachutist in any calendar month qualifies him for parachutist s pay for that month and; (1) One preceding month and one succeeding month; (2) The two preceding months; or (3) The two succeeding months. b. Even if a parachutist has met the requirements for entitlement to parachutist s pay for any one month, advance payment of parachutist s pay shall not be made to him. Such pay is payable only when the month is due. c. Fractional parts of the month in which a parachutist enters into parachute duty will be considered a full month in the computation of the three consecutive calendar months period. d. In the case of an enlisted parachutist, the three consecutive calendar months period is applicable to the period of current enlistment only. A parachute jump made prior to his discharge due to ETE shall not count for entitlement to parachutist s pay for the months subsequent to the date of the termination of his current enlistment. 8. INJURY OR INCAPACITATION DUE TO PARACHUTE ACCIDENT
53 a. A parachutist who is injured or incapacitated in a parachute accident while in the performance of parachute duty shall, without having to make the required parachute jump, be entitled to parachutist s pay for a period of three consecutive calendar months determined as follows: (1) When such parachutist has already qualified for parachutist s pay for the month in which injured or incapacitated, the three consecutive calendar month period, during which he is not required to participate in parachute jump shall commence from the first of the month following the month in which the injury or incapacity occurred. (2) When such parachutist has not yet qualified for parachutist s pay for the month in which injured or incapacitated, the three consecutive calendar months period during which he is not required to participate in parachute jumps shall commence in the month in which the injury or incapacity occurred. 9. MAKE-UP JUMPS A parachutist on parachute duty who fails to perform the required parachute jump within the given three consecutive calendar months period may make a make-up jump within the succeeding three consecutive calendar months period in order to be entitled to parachutist s pay for the former period. Make-up jumps may be authorized when, during the previous three consecutive months: a. The parachutist cannot participate in the parachute jumps due to sickness or injury incurred in line of duty other than the parachute accident. available. b. When appropriate parachute equipment and/or delivery aircraft are not c. When the unit to which the parachutist is assigned or attached is engaged in extended field operations or training, the nature of which precludes the parachutist from making the required parachute jump. A parachutist on parachute duty automatically forfeits his right to entitlement of parachutist s pay for the previous three months if he fails to make the make-up jump within the period prescribed, except that a parachutist on parachute duty who is detailed outside the Philippines and whose assignment abroad, but not exceeding a period of twelve months provided he makes the required number of make-up jumps within three months upon his return to the Philippines. 10. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. The payment of parachutist s pay as herein provided shall be subject to the availability of funds. 11. Nothing in this Circular shall be construed as entitling officers receiving flying pay or other hazardous duty pay to the parachutist s pay authorized herein. However, the officer concerned may at his option, elect to receive either type of additional pay. Similarly, nothing is this Circular shall be construed as authorizing enlisted personnel receiving flying pay, air mechanic s pay, sea duty pay, combat pay or specialist pay, to the parachutist s pay
54 authorized herein. The enlisted personnel concerned may, at his option, elect to receive either type of additional pay. 12. EFFECTIVITY - This Circular shall take effect as of 25 June 1962. BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: OFFICIAL: ALFREDO M SANTOS Lieutenant General, AFP Chief of Staff (Sgd) EPIMACO V ORIAS Colonel, AGS (GSC) The Adjutant General