Are retroactive CIBs a thing?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 18:56:36 -0400

Has anyone ever experienced a situation where a company commander and XO wrote up their own CIBs and had them approved, but didn’t bother to do the same for the rest of the company who was in the same location at the time?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2018 7:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 19:19:26 -0400

Yes but it takes A LOT to do. AARs, Sworn statements from witnesses, 638s from any awards earned as a result. It’s doable but not at all easy.

Response by SGT Forrest Fitzrandolph made Oct 29 at 2018 7:30 PM

SGT Forrest Fitzrandolph — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 19:30:28 -0400

Never saw it or heard of it, but if I had I would have ripped that CIB off his chest and shoved it where the sun don’t shine!!

Response by SrA John Monette made Oct 29 at 2018 7:34 PM

SrA John Monette — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 19:34:13 -0400

definitely dirty pool by the CO and XO

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 29 at 2018 8:27 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:27:47 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member If I remember correctly, the package is a 4187 (individual request for action) with supporting documentation. Check HRC Awards Branch FAQ for the details of the package. Authority is AR600-8-22 Military Awards, para 8-6 (read the whole thing).

(2) Retroactive award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. Retroactive award of the CIB is authorized for time periods specified above for fully qualified individuals. The awards may be awarded by Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch (AHRC–PDP–A), 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122–5408. Applications for retroactive award to active duty Soldiers and RC Soldiers will be forwarded through command channels to the first general officer (for endorsement) to HRC for processing. Retirees and veterans should a d d r e s s t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n s t o N a t i o n a l P e r s o n n e l R e c o r d s C e n t e r ( N P RC ) , 1 A r c h i v e s D r i v e , S t . L o u i s , M O 63138–1002. All ARNG requests, once endorsed, will be submitted to the Director, (ARNG–HRH–A), 111 S. George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA 22204–1373 prior to being submitted to HRC. Such awards will not be made except where evidence of injustice is presented.

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Oct 29 at 2018 9:33 PM

SPC Gary Welch — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 21:33:02 -0400

That's all kind of wrong

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Oct 29 at 2018 10:24 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 22:24:23 -0400

I heard rumors of this ,Officers co-written statements awarding CIBs in Vietnam back in 1967 ,mostly REMFs mentioned, again these were rumors, I would like to think most people were better than this.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Oct 29 at 2018 11:57 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 23:57:08 -0400

No. I did have a whole slew of CABs turned in for a bunch of guys in my company that were tossed out by the CSM for no reason. A few years ago I contacted my commander during that period to get a retroactive CAB awarded and he was more than willing to get that thing pushed through. I decided it would be more of a headache than it is actually worth these days (what do I need another shiney thingy for my shadow box for).
Remember this: awards do not require that they be turned in by some officer; any soldier with knowledge of action or performance can put in for an award for another soldier. I often pushed the idea with my soldiers that they can recommend others for awarda because we NCOs only see so much.
Good luck getting your CIB.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Oct 30 at 2018 1:21 AM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 01:21:33 -0400

It happens. And yeah it is a dirty rulebook that some NCOs and officers get away with. I know of a LTC who recommended himself for a CIB because he flew through a troops in contact area. But know he was not fired at or fired on the enemy. He also adamantly refused to have a "traditional" pinning of the CIB.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 30 at 2018 3:48 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 03:48:04 -0400

All awards can be issued after the fact. As long as it is submitted with the facts tying the individual to the situation. You will have to pull the reg for the time related, I think it is two years. As for the leaders allegedly involved in this case, shame in them. Thank you for your service.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Oct 30 at 2018 4:18 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:18:21 -0400

Wow, that's really terrible. Though it also triggers a question........is that normal that a CO and XO are in that kind of close proximity together by themselves? Always thought they were supposed to maintain a distance during a high risk situation so that they would not be killed together and disrupt the Chain of Command more, than if just one of them passed on.

Response by SGT Christopher Combs made Oct 30 at 2018 7:05 AM

SGT Christopher Combs — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 07:05:50 -0400

Yes in the National Guard, the XO lied and made a b.s. statement so he could get a CIB while 90% of our company earned ours...

Response by SSG Eduardo Ybarra Jr. MS Psyc made Oct 30 at 2018 1:28 PM

SSG Eduardo Ybarra Jr. MS Psyc — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 13:28:29 -0400

I know of one such ass clown who did this. TO make matters worse he did this while he was in the TOC. Claiming that indirect fire constituted being awarded his CIB. Now if memory serves me right as an Infantry Soldier in order for us to obtain a CIB we have to engage, close in on and destroy the enemy. I guess he was playing call of duty in the TOC when indirect hit and therefore by the standards of Playstation he qualified for his CIB. This is just one example there are too many turds walking around bearing the rank of an officer posing as a leader.
But for you to receive one retroactive it is possible just make sure you have all your supporting documentation and sworn statements, after that just make copies and turn in the paperwork to your S1. You should be G to G.

Response by SPC Jonathan Holstein made Oct 31 at 2018 2:12 PM

SPC Jonathan Holstein — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 14:12:18 -0400

Sounds like little Richard Ojeda running for office in WV.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2018 5:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 17:52:57 -0400

A Company has many levels of leadership. Why didn’t the Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants submit anyone for CIBs?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 31 at 2018 6:21 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 18:21:58 -0400

Your commander and XO must be real zingers.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2018 1:53 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 01:53:10 -0400

I had a 1SG cheese out a PH for hearing loss in an incident where his stubbornness got a soldier killed.

Response by CSM David Porterfield made Nov 2 at 2018 7:14 PM

CSM David Porterfield — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 19:14:28 -0400

Not exactly that but I do know some senior NCOs and Officers who got CIBs and weren't present for the incident or was a questionably BS event. Yes reported but no action taken. Not sure how those turds sleep at night.