A Soldier's Perspective
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Not Worth Reliving
Not long ago, I talked about the new Combat Action Badge and how I qualified for it. I explained just ONE incident which qualified me among the many. At the time I was told that it was an easy process with the right justification. I presented that justification and supposedly everything was moving along. In preparation for my E8 board, I had to have a DA Photo taken and wore the CAB for that picture, assured that in the four months between then and the board everything would be approved. You’d think I knew better…
For the past few months, I’ve had to submit document after testimony after memorandum after write-up explaining my actions relating to this badge. I’ve emailed, called, and written to numerous people I served with who witnessed those actions at the request of our personnel/awards section. I took in a letter from a CW2 that I served with, but that wasn’t enough. I need a letter from my commander. My commander wasn’t there. I’ve tried to contact him to no avail. All the guys with me at that time are: in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Germany, out of the Army, and who knows where else. So, they are supposed to drop their real missions in theater and type up and send me a letter? Emails to the Army’s awards branch have been ignored as well.
Well, I fought for this piece of crap once, and I’m not going to fight for it again. If two witness statements, an NCOER (job evaluation), and two valorous wartime awards aren’t proof enough, then I don’t need or want it. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. So, I’m retaking my picture on September 7 WITHOUT the CAB. The Army personnel system needs to get their collective heads out of their fifth point of contact and start taking care of soldiers. I understand that the Army leadership doesn’t want the CAB to be given to just anyone, but if it smells like poop, looks like poop, and feels like poop, IT’S POOP!!!
Someone needs to step up and point these G1 and S1 people in the right direction and get with the act. They need to get some clear guidance from leadership instead of this arbitrary interpretation that is plaguing the current process. The only thing that serves as proof right now is the Purple Heart, with respect to awards. That’s understandable and quite obvious, since you can only get a Purple Heart by enemy contact. You’d think that an impact Bronze Star with V device written by a combatant commander and signed by a General describing your actions under fire would be enough. Nope. This little piece of metal just isn’t worth reliving or fighting for a second time.
One more thing, unrelated. If you’d like to send deployed troops a message of support, you can go HERE and submit a “Message From Home.” This is a 3rd Infantry Division specific site, so if you’d rather send a message to other soldiers, go HERE instead.
(8) Readers Comments
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8482C2EB-A275-8FEC-9D32AEE774FEF857
I am lena lobdell and I did not put this on here, about Edward Robert
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thompson micheal is also using this email address thompsonmicheal964@y
Military Dating Scams (More Nigerian Scammers)
yes iam too a stupid victim to the nigerian money scam im from austral
PeggySue66
I think Eric has just begun this sort of ordeal. He has earned the Distinguished Badge for highpower shooting. EXCEPT no one has kept any records and he is now having to “prove” that he earned it. I hope his goes much easier than yours.
Yanno, maybe your adopted mom could tell the Army you deserve it. LoL
Suellen
Don’t give up CJ. You earned it!!
GunnNutt
Yes, don’t give up. Maybe it will take a while, but eventually it will be worth it.
Dusgalan
CJ;
I don’t usually like to criticize any of the service people, but there must be a few Pentagon REMF’s (ouch! there’s that word again) that are so oblivious to common sense that they couldn’t pour piss out of a glass boot if the instructions was written on the heel!
Similarly, the 2nd MSM i received somehow didn’t show up on my DD214. The citation and DD214 were less than 30 days apart. I gave the people a copy of my award order at the retirement station, but but I figured, what the heck, if it didn’t matter to them, then why should I worry about small stuff. By the time you retire, you’ll have pretty thick skin. Funny how SOME things never change. Good luck though, I hope they finally figure it out.
dusgalan of mt
Dusgalan
CJ: You were attached to a Cav unit during hostilities, weren’t you? The way I read it they would ordinarily be eligible to earn the CIB. Maybe that’s the hurdle they can’t seem to clear?
just a thought.
dusgalan of mt
CJ
I was attached to a Cav unit, 3/7 Cavalry. I’m definitely not authorized the CIB. I think the big problem is that we rushed into putting this CAB into the field and didn’t quite think it through all the way first.
PMTerri
Oh heck CJ, I’ll just call them and tell them to give ya the darn thing. Heck you braved the rally out here, so you should deserve it for putting up with Angel and I…. twice even!
CHRIS
I’m dealing with the same thing. A lot of REMF’s that have nothing to do with this are implementing their own agenda and interpretation. As for the CIB, we had guys that never left the TOC the entire time in Iraq and they have a CIB. I conducted 117 air missions and 115 ground missions and we are having more trouble getting this award approved than you could ever imagine. The way I see it, the CAB is harder to get than a CIB. No question, if I had been a 11B, I would have received a CIB. I’m just angry on this issue.