On Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 11:34:16 PM UTC-5, John Foster wrote:
So the question comes up if and when I will need my own parachute.

The consensus in the USA seems to be that student pilots and flight instructors don't need to wear parachutes. That said, parachutes are standard equipment for all glider training flights in much of the world.

I don't think anyone will stop you from wearing your own parachute on a training flight, I've seen people do it in the USA. But if you're in the front seat of a tandem glider, and your instructor is not wearing a parachute, you'll want to think twice about bailing out. If you bail out, and the instructor stays in the backseat, the weight and balance will probably go aft out of limits, and a damaged glider that might have been somewhat controllable, will become less controllable.

People have successfully land gliders that were damaged by midair collisions, or in other scenarios choosen to land gliders when a bailout was an available option.

Bruno Vassel retells the story of a parachute wearing pilot that landed after the stick broke off in his hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF0tTzvU8IM&t=1s