Do combat arms soldiers look down on fellow combat arms brethren if they have deployed and not been awarded a combat badge/medal/ribbon?

Not everyone who served could hold a combat arms specialty. Being color blind, all I was “qualified” to do for 26 years was support and logistics... Army tank mechanic at first, then Air Force Reserve freight specialist. No regrets. They couldn’t have earned those badges without the support specialists.

An undeployed infantryman is no different than a pog. Change my kind.

My nephew was wounded in Aphgan. The soldier at Fort Polk treating him looked down on my wounded nephew due to the benefits (misnomer to me since he was wounded he was entitled to the help he received) he was receiving that this hospital orderly was not. My nephew was about ready to give a butt wipping to him but was able to contain himself long enough to just leave. This guy actually expresssd his opinion to my nephew while treating him.

I always looked up to men who were in combat before I went to the Gulf, don't know why they would not look down on me.

Its always troubling to me over this topic. I have served and was in combat, but I don't feel like I have to post my assignments to get respect. We all had changes to be assigned into a combat environment. It was in the draw.

No offense to my fellow brothers that sport the CIB/CMB but the CAB can be look at on three ways: Its awarded for those that don't qualify for a CIB/CMB yet are in direct combat action against enemy forces ex. Tankers, Cav Scouts, Aviation and such. It also awarded to those on the log packs and comvoys bringing up the beans and the bullets to those combat arm units that face daily ambushes and IEDs to keep the infantry humping, the tankers moving, the scouts rolling, and the birds flying (and morale with mail). And the rest are pen in on a FOB getting thr IDF that might make them qualify for one. As a former 31B I earned a CAB in 2003 since the MPs were right out there doing the samething as the infantry, Scouts, and tankers were doing in the early days. And still did later on but the mission was changing to PTT and MTT Ops. Now with that being said when I was in yeah the older troops always gave the younger guys flak for not having a CAB or combat patch but we trained them up, giving them hard learned lessons right from the battlefield, to get them ready and deployed back out them. Most of them earned a CAB for direct action against enemy forces. Now that I'm out I work with a former 11B and we knock on each other about CIB vs CAB but its all in good fun and we get a laugh. The only thing I never like were the chasers; the officers or senior ncos that wanted a combat badge so bad that they took chances to find contact with the enemy so as to qualify for one and possibly get troops under them killed.

I've long been impressed with soldiers authorized to wear the jumpmaster wings, Ranger tab, Pathfinder, and the CIB. Although I wanted to get a star on my wings I couldn't because my duties in the Special Security Office took precedence and would sacrifice critical time as I headed a team or communications center at XVIII AbnC or the 82nd Abn Div. I was on-call status almost all the time I had served in the special security business.

Another obstacle I had before me in obtaining a CIB was that I was assigned Signal Corps and Military Intelligence duties that precluded such awards.

But at the least, I always felt I was accepted among the more decorated SF and Division troopers.

Combat comes in different forms and intensity. Combat for the Infantry is totally different from combat as a result of an IED or indirect fire. Being fired upon and returning fire is not the same as an infantryman. There is a difference between an assault and a defense. I have no problem with combat action badges realizing the combat was not that experienced by infantrman living and working in the badlands looking and searching for an enemy to destroy. I believe the badge is fair but in no means the same status as the CIB or the CMB. Back in the cold war days, the expert infantry badge and expert medical badges were highly respected.

Yes, they/you look down on everyone... until we are not there, and then we can't get there fast enough.... SGT Joseph Gunderson

I never did and never would look sideways at any service member and as far as badges well they are what they are a way of recognizing service rendered; if your looking sideways at a fellow service member check yourself your ego is out of control. VIRIS ET HONOS