A Soldier's Perspective
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Combat Action Badge
Well, it’s here and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. After much whining and complaining that soldiers in non-infantry MOS didn’t qualify for the Combat Infrantryman Badge, the Army has created the CAB. I know this is old news, but the point on this isn’t the fact that it’s a reality now.
I am now eligible for the CAB. I was with the 3/15 Infantry Battalion in Baghdad and Fallujah. I went on patrols, I went on raids, I went on cordons and searches, I got shot at, I shot back (I made it home, some bad guys didn’t). And so did my soldiers. Unfortunately, during these firefights I didn’t have the foresight to take pictures, write historical references, or tape record these incidents. It is now MY job to hunt down people who can vouch for the fact that I was “personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement.” Much like the hunt for Bin Laden, this should prove quite the manhunt. Hopefully, it will more accurately reflect the hunt for Saddam in that it will take a long time, but a glance into a small spider hole will bring success in finding that person who can vouch for us.
It shouldn’t be that hard. I was presented with a Bronze Star with V device for my actions in leading a counterambush south of Al Hillah during the war. I’m hoping that my write-up alone will be proof enough, but I doubt it. But, even if it is, there’s still the matter of my soldiers. They were awarded ARCOM with V devices. You don’t just get a “V” device for having shiny boots and close cut hair. Something valorous has to have taken place. Saving the last cold bottle of water for your NCO or chief isn’t valorous either, though it’s deserving. The enemy must be involved. It is worn “to denote participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.” I’ve written them a memorandum for record so that they can present it to their commanders for acceptance (which reminds me that I need to scan it and email it). It just all seems so frivolous. I was perfectly happy. There’s a reason I never went to airborne, air assault, diver, or any other school that requires that I sew more crap onto my uniform. I’d be content just to wear my son’s camouflage pajamas without ANY patches.
(12) Readers Comments
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MOM
When you wear your sons pj’s you will get pics right?…lmao
Michelle
You’ve got me thinking (and learning) CJ, thanks!!! The only thing going through my head at the moment is that I think it’s funny that a group of guys that I know are infantry, but now doing military police work, and apparently non-infantry is doing infantry…hmmm…that just doesn’t make sense to me…I need to do some research.
Sorry for the babble! It happens!
Tony Diana
I think if you get a pic in the PJ’s then you definitely need to die the hair purple again!
CJ
Yup, if I could ever fit into Chris’ PJs, I’d share pictures. Maybe when he’s older and we wear the same size clothes, like when he’s 10.
Actually, it’s all police work for the most part now. So, no need to be confused. It’s just that normally I’m used to being able to sit in a comfy chair, sip a warm chocolaty beverage, and watch Seinfeld while the infantry are out sucking. Thankfully, today’s Army has transformed into an Army of One…recruit per month! just kidding. We’re all soldiers first now.
PeggySue66
Ok I got a question….
How come if you are in a firefight with known enemies, you dont’ qualify for the CIB? Just because your MOS isn’t “infantry”? That is horse hocks.
I know that most service people don’t really care about the awards and such. But it is nice to have and be recognized. And I don’t know about the Army promotion system, but in the Navy….the more “goodies” the better for promotion up to e-7.
I wish you luck with the Army red tape.
AND…there are cammi pj’s for grown-ups yanno.
CJ
That was a lot of the argument in the beginning. The regulation for the CIB states that one has to be infantry to qualify. Since that’s the regulation, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does, even if that means they are performing infantry missions. The CAB was created for the purpose of fixing that. To change the CIB criteria would change a tradition that’s been around forever almost.
Hilary
I do not really see a problem with this badge…however, it really needs to be looked at as to how it is awarded other than the current way it is being awarded. Cj deserves it…the guys who served under him deserve it. Paul is a scout and even he has to have a written statement like Cj proving that he was in combat. His guys don’t want the badge. Why? Because anyone can get them.
Paul said that anyone can get even if they only see a “battle” once. Someone who may never fight in a battle could have been in a humvee that got attacked by a RPG and receive this award. What did he do the whole time other than that one instance? NOTHING. Ok, I am sure he did something back in his office in the FOB but he wasn’t out fighting everyday like my husband did (and Cj did). And Paul said he knows someone that this happened to and the guy is going to get the CAB. I don’t think that is right.
It is saying that the soldier who went out everyday is in the same “class” as the FOB soldier who never went out except maybe for that one time which happened to be the time he got attacked. Am I making any sense? When this came out that this award was going to be issued, Paul said they had people who never left the FOB begging to go out on a mission with them so they could get this award. Paul would always tell them no.
Anyone going to Iraq, regardless of what they did or not, will get a combat patch. Fine. They went, they get it. However, I say leave the CAB to those who actually deserve it so it actually means something.
steve
I just read and understand your issue, I am in the process of trying to find people to write sworn statements for me, despite the fact that I have a eval, and an award that should cover it, but here where I am stationed now it doesn’t. And the same for my soldiers that have ARCOMs and Bronze Stars with “V”s those aren’t considered good enough as proof. The main problem we have is we have a Commander that hasn’t gone to war yet and doesn’t have one, and this is the last thing on his mind. Its become such an issue my Senator just got a note about it
CJ
Steve, I’ve been fighting this thing for more than five months now. I had a talk with DA Awards branch and they straightened things out, but it’s not going along any faster. A Bronze Star or ARCOM with V is enough evidence according to Awards Branch at the DA level. Don’t let anyone under that tell you differently.
Joe
Here’s my take on the CAB. First of all, I’m biased because I just received my orders awarding the badge. However, at least the CAB requires your personal presence while engaging, being engaged by the enemy or both. The CIB can awarded to many people who never left the TOC. They were down-range for over thirty days and they have an 11B MOS. That is all that is required. The CAB is similar the the Marine Corps CAR. I also don’t buy that you don’t go Airborne because you don’t want more crap to sew on BDUs. Soldiers go Airborne to test themselves and associate with men and women who want to be a cut above. I’m the first to admit that I’m scared every time I jump , but I know a paratrooper is someone to be counted on because they proved it by making that first jump. No offense to non-airborne. It’s just my feeling. As to the lady who commented on an RPG attack on a humvee. If your husband went out only once and was wounded or killed by an RPG attack, you would feel differently. There will always be someone who did more and someone who did less in combat, but my first encounter with a rocket attack was no more of less difficult than the 20th. They occurred in the FOB and on patrol. They all suck. They are all deadly.
Doc
You whine a bit too much lad, and it seems you use the Blog as a way to bragg about your ribbons and such…you complain of getting the CAB, but you know damn well you’ll wear it because you have no other badges to sew on…stop bellyaching.
CJ
Doc, just to humor you, I wasn’t the one whining and complaining about the CAB. This is an issue that other soldiers trying to get the CIB have been bellyaching about since the war began. I never cared one way or the other.
I also never complained about it, so the fact that I’m going to wear it is a nonpoint. If I wanted badges to sew on, I’d strap on a parachute and go airborne or change jobs. I could care either way. The airborne wings aren’t exactly difficult to get.
I also realize you are new to the blog and haven’t read through it because you say I “use the blog as a way to bragg” [sic] about my medals. What you don’t realize is that in all my 800 posts here, I maybe have 3 or 4 that even reference any of my accomplishments. And even then, I speak my undeserving nature in getting them.
So, I’d say to stop your bellyaching. I’m perfectly justified in a whine every now and then, which happens to be a small percentage of my content here. And thanks for stopping by.