Posted on Dec 6, 2014
SPC Richard White
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Responses: 18
TSgt Joshua Copeland
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At some point, it becomes everyone gets a badge.
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SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee
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I have served in Air Cavalry, mechanized infantry, light infantry, and aviation units. I earned the CIB in OEF as an infantry ETT out in the field with the ANA. I also earned the Aircraft Crewmember Badge at the basic and senior level and basic parachutist badge. From my experience in Afghanistan, every reservist or national guards soldier deployed to Afghanistan received at least six ribbons or medals just for showing up. Don't believe me, lets count:
1. Army Overseas Ribbon
2. Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M device
3. Army Good Conduct Medal (if they haven't already earned one)
4. Global War on Terror Service Medal
5. Afghanistan Service Medal
6. NATO (non-article 5) Medal (ISAF)
7. National Defense Service Medal
8. Any end-of-tour medals or valor medals
9. CIB or CAB?
When a PFC with two years in and one deployment ends up looking like CSM with 30 years in, this is a sign that the US military awards system has become too bloated with medals, ribbons, and badges.

Do I think there should be expert badges for other branches? Maybe, as long as the tests to earn them include the same rigorous combat related tasks that the EIB and EFMB require. This would reflect the reality that most every soldier, no matter what MOS, must be prepared to fight, survive, and perform their job in a combat environment. As we have seen in recent history, soldiers from supply to transportation to civil affairs...have found themselves in similar situations as combat arms soldiers. If there is going to be an expert badge for other branches, make it as challenging to get as the existing expert badges.

Serious consideration needs to be made before adding anymore badges or medals.
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SGT Retired
SGT (Join to see)
6 y
SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee - there needs to be a ‘ANA/ANP Survival Badge’. Partnered missions with those folks were usually butthole-puckeringly miserable.
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LTC Stephen C.
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SPC Richard White, just a simple NO from me!
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Capt Gregory Prickett
>1 y
Cbt clk bdg
I don't know, they could add that at the same time they add the Combat Clerk Badge, cus' the pen is mightier...
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt Joshua Copeland
>1 y
It needs to be the old school black skillsoft "US Government"
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Capt Gregory Prickett
Capt Gregory Prickett
>1 y
SKILCRAFT - 7520-00-935-7135 - U.S. Government Retractable Ball Point Pen, Black Ink, Black Barrel, Fine Point, Box of 12.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
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