Posted on May 30, 2017
Do combat arms soldiers look down on fellow combat arms brethren if they have deployed and not been awarded a combat badge/medal/ribbon?
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It seems like something so trivial, but is just deploying and doing your job enough to keep the respect of your combat arms peers? Does the fact that you were hit by an IED on a convoy, close enough to a falling mortar round, or engaged by small arms fire really make one a more qualified combat arms soldier? What are thoughts on those who were never in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Awards
Combat Arms
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Badges
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 188
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No, I do not. I am one of the very few who got a thrill from being in the face of the enemy, and engaging him, (infantry, and SF). However, I want for no one to have to do so. If you took the oath, but never had to face the fire, you are still my brother/sister
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My thoughts on this?... I've been deployed but I never saw COMBAT, unlike my fellow troops.. my MOS specialty kept me in "the REAR with the GEAR"... I was a QM FOOD SERVICE SERGEANT (92-G30)... so it was my responsibility to FEED and issue gear and equipment as necessary.... I was primarily a COOK, ran a crew of about ten soldiers including myself, had two MSG's who oversaw the operations daily, but it was our task to feed our men and women.... did they look down on us?... I don't think so... if they did?... I didn't pay it any attention... did they have my respect?... CERTAINLY!...a lot of those guys who went out on patrols, and missions were certainly TRAINED for that exposure and situations, I wasn't... but bottom line here guys and gals.... we ALL serve on the same team... and we're all an integral part of how it all works!... I was proud of my crew and the hot and cold chow we put out and served everyday... and they LOVED IT!... my hats off to all of our combat arms MOS TROOPS... and my thanks?... was when they'd come back up to my chow line, and say.."Hey SERGEANT RAYSSES, can I have seconds"???... YOU BET!!!... HOOAH!!.. SSG MIKE RAYSSES, USAR, Ret...
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19Kilo, M1 Abrams Tank Crewmen are not awarded any special hardware for being in Combat. Never heard of Grunt, with or without their unique special awards, every say, "No thanks, don't send in the Tanks, we don't need them." Hell on Wheels, My Brothers.
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Every one measures success in a different t way. I am retired from the military. To me success is when I keep that patient, soldier or civilian alive in surgery. I love my infantry soldiers. Some might think we aren't that important but when you are broken you want a good 66F to take care of you.
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I was in the Navy back in the day (68-73) I had many Marine buddies. We both had jobs, many were the same. We did it! Didn't do it for medals, it was just our jobs. Yeah, I have medals, I don't give a shit. I love the USA
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Badges, medals, lol ur kidding me right. Not when soldiers are given specific badges for nothing more than their rank at time of deployment. This generation made a mockery out of the silver star. Simply stated unless theirs a V with it, you probably got it just for being a platoon Sgt or squad leader......No not impressed and not sorry
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
You mean the bronze star. Silver Star is a valor award and so it is never worn with a V device.
I agree though. BSMs for just being present for a deployment is ridiculous. But you have to remember that for EOT awards, the army is limited as to what they can issue as an appropriate award. MSM would be the equivalent but it is not a combat award. That is why you see everyone receiver ARCOMs and then those with more responsibility are given the BSMs. Not saying I agree with the whole thing, but I can understand it.
I agree though. BSMs for just being present for a deployment is ridiculous. But you have to remember that for EOT awards, the army is limited as to what they can issue as an appropriate award. MSM would be the equivalent but it is not a combat award. That is why you see everyone receiver ARCOMs and then those with more responsibility are given the BSMs. Not saying I agree with the whole thing, but I can understand it.
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Honestly? Seeing anyone over the rank of E-6 or O-2 without a combat patch makes me think less of them. We have been at war for almost 17 years and if you've dodged deployment that much I question your commitment to lead combat soldiers.
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SSG James Gass
I was in the army from 1964 all the way through any action in Vietnam and beyond to include Grenada. The first part of my service was strictly hospital related. I never went to Vietnam. I was in engineers for Grenada. Also was not ordered to Grenada. One thing I learned long ago is that all service men do not deploy to where they are in a combat area. As long as I was in hospitals it was my job to care for others, not lead them in combat. Shame on you for believing all personnel if in for a long time never see action. Sometimes they are kept in other locations.
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As an MP, I didn't look down on fellow MPs that didn't have a CAB. But I tended to not take what they said as serious as those that had CABs.
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Unfortunately it happens way too often. Sad but true. The thing that bothers me is that a Soldier may have deployed and actually done some of the things required to earn them. But because some units like to place extra rules on how to earn them, some of these Soldiers don't get anything at all. It can become a popularity contest.
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In the suck, what don't kill you goes unreported. Aka just wipe some dirt on it and it will be ok.
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