Aircrew survival equipmentman Aircrew survival equipmentmen , better known as " parachute rigger s " , are personnel of the United States Navy . They perform a wide range of duties , which include inspecting , maintaining , and repairing parachutes , search and rescue equipment , along with survival kits , medical kits , flight clothing , protective wear , night vision equipment , aircrew oxygen systems , liquid oxygen converters , anti - exposure suits , and anti - gravity suits . PRs operate and maintain carbon dioxide transfer and recharge equipment , operate and repair sewing machines as well as train aircrew and other personnel in parachute rigging and the use of safety and survival equipment . History . The PR rating was established in 1942 to help meet World War II parachute survival requirements . When founded , the PR rating consisted only of the general service rating with career progression from striker status through PRC . Due to safety reasons service members are no longer allowed to " strike " for PR and must attend the appropriate technical schools to be designated in this rating . The original title of the rating was parachute rigger . The rating title was changed to its present title of aircrew survival equipmentman in December , 1965 . The reason for changing the title from parachute rigger to aircrew survival equipmentman was to provide a more realistic description of the types of duties performed by PRs . However , aircrew survival equipmentmen maintained their official abbreviated title of " PR " after the 1965 name change . Following a fatal training accident in the 1980s , students are no longer required to complete the basic parachute jump to earn their rating badge . Training . Naval Aviation Technical Training Center . United States Navy parachute riggers are now trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola during a twelve - week ( 55 training days ) school ( the initial school , or " A school " , for the rating ) . The school includes nine courses : three courses of " common core " skills over 19 days , three courses of organizational - level ( O - level ) skills for 17 days , and three courses of intermediate - level ( I - level ) skills for 19 days . Throughout the course of instruction , students undergo physical training at least three times a week , are subjected to rigorous inspections every Monday , and march between buildings . Students must maintain a grade average of 80 to remain in the course . Organizational level course . O - level begins with instruction in sewing . Students are then taught to manufacture a complete rigger bag from scratch and learn the importance and policies of tool control . The next course is NB - 8 parachutes , in which students learn the basics of parachute rigging , inspection cycles , and nomenclature . This is followed by a course about general survival equipment named ESE . The organizational series of courses follows , beginning with survival I fixed wing followed by survival II rotary wing , in which students learn inspection and maintenance concepts unique to squadron - level work . The final O - level subject is survival radios . While the rating is closed to non graduates , O - level certification may be attained by flight crew personnel who maintain and repair equipment at sea in the absence of a parachute rigger . Intermediate level course . I - level series of courses starts with NES - 12 , the Navy ' s most complicated parachute system , for advanced rigging concepts . Seat survival kits and life preservers complete the course of instruction . One class graduates from the PR A school every seven training days . Advanced training . In addition to " A " School , " C " and " F " schools offer specialty training in oxygen systems and sewing machine repair . These schools require the student to enlist for a period of 6 years and are often a prerequisite for senior level positions in a paraloft . Credit recommendations . The American Council on Education recommends that two semester hour credits be awarded in the vocational certificate category in sewing machine operation , service , and maintenance , and two in parachute packing and inspection ; additionally , 3 semester hours in lower - division bachelor ' s / associate degree category in aviation safety equipment repair / maintenance . Credits may also be earned for other follow - on training ( " C " schools ) throughout your career . Senior and master rigger licensing . For military personnel , the Federal Aviation Administration will grant a senior parachute rigger licenses and ratings to parachute riggers with the completion of a written exam and a letter of recommendation from their commanding officer . Along with the requirements for senior rigger , master parachute rigger licensing may be attained after the service members presents evidence to the FAA that he has had at least 3 years of experience as a parachute rigger , and has satisfactorily packed at least 100 parachutes of each of two types in common use . Specific guidelines for this process are detailed in FAA Regulations Sub Part F 65 . 117 . Rating badges and parachutist insignia . The rating badge for enlisted personnel may only be worn by service members who have completed Parachute Rigger " A " school . The Navy and Marine Corps issue parachutist insignia in two degrees : the U . S . military basic parachutist badge , also called the basic parachustist insignia ( pictured below , as awarded to all DoD military services ) , and the Navy and Marine Corps parachutist insignia ( pictured below ) . Parachutist insignia are available to personnel who perform jumps as a : The Navy and Marine Corps parachutist insignia ( formerly the naval parachutist insignia ) is a gold - colored embroidered or metal insignia depicting an open parachute with outstretched wings . It is authorized for officers and enlisted personnel who were awarded the basic parachutist insignia and , under competent orders , have completed a minimum of five additional static - line or premeditated personnel parachute jumps , to include a combat equipment day jump , two combat equipment night jumps , and employ at least two different types of military aircraft . Training is accomplished by successful completion of the prescribed course of instruction while attending one of : Special operations parachute rigger . Special operations parachute riggers work with Navy SEALS , Naval Special Warfare and explosive ordnance disposal units throughout the world . They inspect , maintain , pack , and use specialized premeditated personnel static line and military free fall parachute system s . They use and maintain specialized aerial delivery and re - supply systems , and helicopter insertion and extraction systems unique to NSW and EOD units . They function as parachute jump and helicopter rope suspension technique s masters . They also perform paraloft management , administrative functions , ordnance handling functions , and quality assurance inspections . United States Navy Parachute Team ( Leap Frogs ) . The United States Navy Parachute Team , commonly known as " the Leap Frogs " , is the parachute demonstration team of the United States Navy . It consists of active - duty personnel drawn from aircrew survival equipmentmen , naval special warfare , including Navy SEALs , special warfare combatant - craft crewmen , and support personnel . The Leap Frogs are all volunteers . The team is sanctioned by the Department of Defense and recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration . The team was officially commissioned as the U . S . Navy Parachute Team in 1974 by the Chief of Naval Operations and assigned the mission of demonstrating Navy excellence throughout the United States . The Leap Frogs will make no more public appearances after budget cuts due to sequestration went into effect April 1 , 2013 . However , the team will continue to practice their skills , and will also assist Navy SEALs and students with their parachute training .