Posted on Mar 16, 2018
PV2 J M
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SMSgt Thor Merich
18
18
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What? Why would you want to? Clearly the CIB takes precedent.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
4 y
Smsgt. There is no precedent. They are the same. One you have to work and study for and pass the requirements the other just be an 11 series mos and unit then get shot at and shoot back. Lots of soldiers do that and they aren’t even eligible for CIB due to their MOS. Ie arty FO, signal unit with front line troops. combat Engineers and MPs.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
4 y
You are incorrect. To recieved CIB you must engage the enemy with direct fire. MCPO (Join to see)
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
4 y
The jump wings get a star for on the wings for a combat jump. CPT Douglas Hinckley
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MCPO Couch Potato
MCPO (Join to see)
4 y
CPT William Jones - Tell that to the 82nd's 2nd BDE - who were flown down to Grenade before the operation was declared "finished", got off of C141s, walked across fucking RED CARPETS (okay, red mats from large rolls), then boarded different C141s - and were handed CIBs as they boarded - and never were even issued ammo or heard a shot. The Army wanted to see "new" combat patches and CIBs after the "dry spell" after Vietnam, so they made sure it happened. I had several friends that got out of jump-units after that because they realized they were only there for dog-and-pony show purposes.

And Iraq/A'stan were full of folks with CABs and CIBs that never engaged - and never left the FOBs back in the first several years of ops. They've tightened things up since then, but there was a LOT of heartache over the blanket issue of the badges.
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2LT Infantry Officer
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16
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No, only one badge from Category I and II can be worn.
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1SG William Svoboda
1SG William Svoboda
7 y
I'm equally proud of both my EFMB and my CMB. However, I can tell you the EFMB like the EIB are harder to earn in most cases. You are authorized to wear both during the EIB/EFMB testing window if you're on a committee. During that time I know my soldiers were always a little taller then!
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LTC Helicopter Pilot (Civilian)
LTC (Join to see)
7 y
SFC (Join to see) - There is talk about making the wreath gold for CIB folks who also earned an EIB
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Capt Kevin McCann
Capt Kevin McCann
6 y
I'm USMC & know about the CIB buyt please enlighten me about the EIB. What is the critiia to earn one? Thank you.
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2LT Infantry Officer
2LT (Join to see)
6 y
Capt Kevin McCann, sir the Expert Infantry Badge is a special skill badge, which looks like the CIB without the wreath. To earn one, a Soldier must be 11 or 18 series (infantry or Special Forces), a qualified expert on their assigned weapons systems, qualified on both day and night land navigation, a physical test involving push ups, sit ups, and a four mile run, a 12 mile road March in less than 3 hours, and a course of 35 skill stations of infantry tasks, usually things like hand grenande accuracy, small arms diassasembaly, reassembally, and functions check, CBRNE, radios, and the like. It’s often a several day effort. Effectively it’s most individual infantry tasks done to perfect book standard as graded by badge holders.
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SGT Christopher Hayden
13
13
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I feel sorry for anyone who feels ashamed enough to wear their EIB over a CIB. You may feel like you didn't "earn" the CIB, but you should still wear it with pride for what it represents.
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SPC Johnny Five
SPC Johnny Five
>1 y
I recall a staff sergeant during the VN war an instructor in my combat tracker dog training unit who served with the 173rd abn and was highly decorated. The few times I saw him in dress uniform all he wore were jump wings from the U.S. And UK and a CIB with a couple on stars on it. I asked him about it and he said that's all anyone needs to know.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SFC Casey O'Mally
6 y
It isn't shame, it is pride. My EIB was DAMNED hard to earn. Every 11 bulletstopper that has been around for a bit knows there are cycles in EIB grading - some years are harder than others. I earned mine in a year in which there were less than 75 awarded across the entire Brigade - we started with around 650 candidates. I was the senior candidate in my squad, so I personally took my squad through, prepped them, and worked to promote success. We had 4 out of 5 succeed - over 5% of all EIBs in the Brigade were my squad. Yes, I'm damned proud of that EIB.

Contrast an EIB award rate under 15% with my first Iraq - CIB award rate around 95%. Many were recieved for driving MSR Tampa an hour BEFORE an IED went off or for being on a FOB that was mortared or for rolling out on QRF after an IED strike - all without ever actually engaging the enemy (i.e. no shots fired). Many others were issued for deliberate firefights, movement to contact patrols, convoy security that engaged and successfully repelled the enemy, or folks who were struck by an IED as an initiation for an ambush and proceeded to defend themselves from the ambush. Not all CIBs were shams - but some were. (Full disclosure - I had reclassed over into MI, and was not part of the 95% CIB rate. If the CAB was around, I most assuredly would have gotten a CAB - which I would not have worn, because I still took more pride in my EIB.)
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SSG Kevin Kirby
SSG Kevin Kirby
4 y
Agreed. If you wore the EIB with a combat patch people would assume you went to combat as a POG
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Can an Army Infantryman wear both the EIB and CIB on the uniform? What happens if you get both?
SSG Jeff Hane
5
5
0
Why is this even a discussion?... This is a board question, that every E4 & above should know...
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SFC Infantryman
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
RESPECT!
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SFC Casey O'Mally
6 y
Ummmm... Because OP is a PV2?
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SGM Bill Frazer
5
5
0
NO,NO, NO you wear either, and if I saw you wearing an EIB when you were awarded a CIB, then you would be in my office for a long talk. Check the regs- it is spelled out as to what class badge and where it is worn.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
6 y
Well SGM I was thinking about allowing you to be seated while we talked about the subject but looks like it would need to be a formal talk you know standing heels together etc. SGM Bill Frazer
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SGM Bill Frazer
SGM Bill Frazer
6 y
CPT William Jones - Of Course Sir, and I would do it gladly, occasionally I needed adult supervision, passion is not always a good thing.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
6 y
I served 32 months in RVN as a combat engineer. My son served in irack with 11 B on brigade CSM security detachment. They were light up either ied and small arms one MRAMP disabled hooked it up and left the scene. All 11 series on detail present received CIB. Medics and my sons gunner(was not an 11 series did nor receive CIB or cMB. No one hurt. Then just as an aside son went to helicopter schoo and flew Hawks in afganisan( his total time was 27 months in sandboxes. We all get a little overzealous at times. My point being CIB is easier to get than EIB. Prerequisite are about the same. Work hard at 11 series get deserved reward. SGM Bill Frazer
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
6 y
The engineers, arty FO etc fighting beside you received nothing in the same fight. But make no mistake thank you for your time on the wall. And you are correct on survivor of the fight but getting is limited. Actually I like marine system. Any one in the fight is awarded Combat Action RibbonSGM Bill Frazer
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SFC Johnathan Severs
5
5
0
The answer is no. I have both, but I wear the EIB over the CIB. Not because I’m not proud of both but the EIB is a challenge whereas the CIB is very circumstantial especially when units start blanketing them on some deployments.

Someday they’ll figure out a way to combine them but until then, only one.
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SSG Assistant Station Commander
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
Perfect response.
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SFC (Other / Not listed)
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4
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You can only wear one or the other, never both. While one earns an EIB, you must sacrifice for a CIB.
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TSgt Senior Cyberwarfare Capabilities Instructor/Integrator
TSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Best response yet
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SFC William Fowle
SFC William Fowle
6 y
TSgt (Join to see)
What sacrafice, you merely need to have an infantry MOD and be present during an enemy ground action? At least you need to study and learn to pass the EIB test.
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SSG Alvin Amezquita
3
3
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Of course you cannot wear both. But whoever does not want to wear the CIB must be out of there mind.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
7 y
Why would they be out of there mind for choosing and some that try don't receive to wear a badge they had to work for and some donot Pass over a badge that can be awarded to any infantry man can receive that happens to get in a position where his unit with him in it finds some enemy and they fire and receive fire from the hostile force, but any engineers, signal men ,arty guys with them cannot receive simply because they do not have an infantry mos. The whole unit enguaged gets the CIB where it is possible he is the only one with an EIB.
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SSG Assistant Station Commander
3
3
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The 1SG is absolutely correct. I had this debate with my NCOIC last week. He claimed that if you've earned both awards, you have to wear the CIB as it takes precedence. This is not true. You can wear either badge if you've earned them both, but not simultaneously.
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SFC Interpreter/Translator
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Yeah, your NCOIC should re-read Para 20-16, DA PAM 670-1. It only lists a precedence by the group of awards, not the individual awards within the group.
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SGT Carl Blas
3
3
0
Just chose the one you like.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
3
3
0
Wear the most prominent badge.
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CPT Mike Sims
1
1
0
I think maybe the question should have been... can you wear CIB and CAB at the same time? Wearing an EIB, and a CIB is like wearing Airborne wings along with Master Airborne wings, or Aviator wings and Senior Aviator wings at the same time. Granted you earned both, but you should always wear the one that denotes higher achievement or accomplishment. Being that CIB and CAB are different awards - they should be allowed to be worn simultaneously. However the CIB should be worn over the top of the CAB since it has been in service longer, and to give respect that is earned to those who serve in our Infrantry forces and take the fight to the enemy - often within eyesight of those hellbent on killing you. That doesn't mean other troops don't engage in close quarter combat... we all know Iraq and Afghanistan have been anything other than a conventional war - where even support MOS troops are sometimes on the front lines engaged in battle... however, the EIB and CIB are definitely reserved for those who dedicate their lives to the rigors of serving and sacrificing ones life as an Infantry Soldier. So, as a former 19K (Armor enlisted), 13B (Artillery enlisted), 14E (ADA officer), 35D (MI officer), 35E (CI Special Agent / officer)... I certainly have much respect for my 11B brothers! Thanks for all you guys do!
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MAJ Craig Clark
1
1
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1c9000a0
Just wear them all....more the merrier
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SGT Philip Roncari
1
1
0
I would have to say no ,at least back in my day that would not be a proper way to display these awards,what I've said on similar posts is that the individual wearing these devices knows their true meaning and recognition by others is superficial by comparison .
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SPC Training Room Nco
1
1
0
Negative, Ghost Rider. One or the other. I know guys that have both that choose to wear the EIB, though it has lower precedence, and I know guys that wear the CIB because they say it proves that they know how to do their job. But you cannot wear both at the same time.

However, quick side not, there is rumor of a MIB (Master Infantry Badge) being talked into production and policy for those who have earned both. Perhaps it will come to pass? Who's to say anymore. The Army has so many different chest candies, it gets really difficult to keep up with.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
6 y
Actually young troop. The EIBShows you know your job. The CIB says you had the 11 series mos when the convoy you were riding in was attacked and the soldier beside you and pulled you out of the line of fire was s cook didn’t get one. Wrong mos.
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COL Deputy G2
1
1
0
Iwhen I was a SPC I had the same question posed to me when I went looking for a job at a LRSD unit. I was embarrassed to not know the answer. AR 670-1. Look it up.
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SSG Robert Webster
1
1
0
Short simple and sweet - No.
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CPT Andrew Wright
1
1
0
One or the other. You can't wear both at the same time. I have both but am most proud of the CIB because you know when the bullets are hitting the concrete blocks all around you-you probably deserve it.
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SPC Collin Guizar
0
0
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No choose one
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SSG Kevin Kirby
0
0
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Both are tier 1 awards. Along with combat medic and CAB only one authorized at a time.
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