2025 Système de numérotation du Brevet Parachutiste Militaire. Brevet N° 63013

Introduction

The registration numbers for the French Army’s Brevet Parachutiste Militaire (Military Parachutist Badge) have an interesting history.
These numbers have been systematically assigned since the creation of the brevet on June 1, 1946.
Initially, the numbering was centralized and managed by the École des Troupes Aéroportées (ETAP), the French airborne training school in Pau, France.

Numbering system

The numbering system has evolved over time:

1937 to 1945: Numbers ranged from 1 to 5,121, covering the early years and World War II. adjustments.

1945 to 1962: Numbers expanded significantly, reaching 205.528, as airborne forces grew post-World War II.

The brevet itself is awarded after completing rigorous training, including multiple parachute jumps under various conditions.
Each registration number is unique and serves as a record of the individual’s achievement.

This uniqueness makes understanding the chronological order of these numbers interesting for historians and collectors alike. A numbered badge can as such for instance be assigned to a certain period or even specific year and when lucky even to a specific individual.

Request for information

Now more than 10 years ago I made a webpage I titled
“Système de numérotation du Brevet Parachutiste Militaire”

I wrote:

“The following list provides the numbering of the BREVET PARACHUTISTE per year from 1945 until 1962.
When available specific Brevet numbers, date of award, owner, unit and place of attribution are given.

I hoped other historians and collectors would support extending the information, therefore I added:

“Contributions to this list are very much appreciated”, to which I added my old E-mail address.

Reality was somewhat different, the list was copied several times, without indicating the source.

But still every now and than I receive nice E-mails providing me with a Brevet No and date.
This month, February 2025 I received this kind E-mail from Thierry Beller, who provided me with the No of his fathers Brevet. He wrote:

Pour compléter la liste ci-dessous N° de brevet de mon père qui à participé aux combats en Indochine de 1951 à 1954.

2^ème Classe Georges BELLER, Brevet N° 63013 en date du 20-09-1951.

Cordialement, Thierry Beller

Discussion

According to David M. Lazarus publication “Dating the French Military Parachutist Brevet”, the numbers assigned in 1951 ranged from:

52.072 to 67.288

As such in 1951, 15.215 brevets have been issued.
The No 63.013 within that range of numbers from the year 1951.

The indicated date 20-09-1951 can refer to two dates, either the date on which 2^ème Classe Georges BELLER qualified for his Brevet or the later date on which his certificat was issued.

As an example following detail of the certificat issued to 2ème Classe Françis SEYNAT.
He got the Brevet with N^o 59.168 for which he qualified on 29-10-1951.
The certificat was issued in Paris on 14-12-1951.

One could now immediately argue whether this is a good example.
Based on the assumed chronological order one would expect that No. 63.013 would be assigned later than No. 59.168.
It seems this chronological order wasn’t always strictly followed, possibly due to practical reasons for deviating from it.
How often such deviations occurred and why will require further investigation and would benefit from further data.

Again I would like to thank Thierry Beller and other who over the years provided me with data.

BPM No	Qualification date	Issue date of certificat	Date ( Q or I)
51.187			13-02-1951
52.905			26-02-1951
52.929			22-03-1951
53.323			20-04-1951
53.367			21-04-1951
55.323	18-07-1951	01-09-1951
55.516			26-08-1951
56.387			09-05-1951
57.631	01-09-1951	06-10-1951
58.0XX	30-05-1951	04-07-1951
59.168	29-10-1951	14-12-1951
62.227			12-09-1951
63.013	20-09-1951	11-10-1951