Do Expeditionary Army units get Combat badges if they see combat?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 05:52:58 -0400

We have a certain Soldier in my Unit who tells everyone that when he was deployed that he was shot at and proceeded to return fire, also had multiple people get injured during the line of duty. His excuse for not having a CIB is that the unit was expeditionary and that they weren't even supposed to be deployed so that's why he doesn't have the badge

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Aug 3 at 2019 5:57 AM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 05:57:08 -0400

Sound like BS, where is his Purple Heart? I would let it go in one ear and out the other.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 6:02 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 06:02:09 -0400

Everything about that story screams "BS" to me, but I have been wrong before. Just ask to see his enlisted record brief (ERB). That should tell you all you need to know.

However, I'm assuming that since you are a 14E that you aren't in an infantry company, so why would a non-infantry soldier have a Combat Infantryman Badge?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 3 at 2019 7:36 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 07:36:28 -0400

Just telling stories seeking glory. No one begrudges the Purple Heart, no one begrudges the CAB (CIB not authorized). Tell him that what he is doing is committing acts of stolen valor, and he should prove it or stop telling BS stories. Thank you for your service.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 9:14 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 09:14:11 -0400

Lol the Army doesn't have Expeditionary units.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Aug 3 at 2019 9:33 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 09:33:59 -0400

And Princess Diana asked him to marry her right before the auto accident

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 11:16 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 11:16:32 -0400

That's rich! PFC, anytime an army unit goes overseas it's an expeditionary mission (outside of the US). I was overseas in Jordan for a year-it's considered a combat zone and I got a right sleeve patch for it. No action for our unit and we got "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal" because we didn't meet the requirements for the OIR campaign medal.

He's full of shit because I've heard of grunts in the past stationed in Korea by the DMZ that got into small firefights with the North Korean Army. They got CIBs but didn't have a deployment patch because Korea isn't considered a combat zone.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 3 at 2019 11:51 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 11:51:39 -0400

Sounds like a load of bullshit.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 12:53 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 12:53:15 -0400

"Riigghhhht" and walk off, is the response to something like that.
If it met the requirements for a CIB, or a CAB, it would have been awarded.
Another potential response is to ask which version of COD he was playing, LOL.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 1:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 13:09:23 -0400

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 1:40 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 13:40:04 -0400

Was he in Bosnia or Kosovo?
If so that would make sense to me

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 3 at 2019 2:29 PM

SSG Brian G. — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 14:29:16 -0400

*Blinkety blinkety* Say what? Ok. The ONLY service that I know of that has expeditionary forces is the Marine Corps, the Army does not have them. So if he was not a Marine he is full of crap or something.

Sorry but if he was shot in a combat area, that pretty much guarantees a purple heart. But likely just a bunch of BS, like the rest of his story.

Response by LTC Patrick Turner made Aug 3 at 2019 6:00 PM

LTC Patrick Turner — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Smells like stolen valor.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2019 8:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 20:07:27 -0400

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Aug 3 at 2019 8:24 PM

SPC Kevin Ford — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 20:24:25 -0400

And so there I was, no sh!t...

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Aug 3 at 2019 11:36 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 23:36:33 -0400

Regardless of the type of unit he can only get a CIB if he was Infantry so not having one doesn’t invalidate his story. But the generic “expeditionary” unit that wasn’t supposed to be there is kind of a sign that he doesn’t want to give a real unit because he’s afraid of telling this story in front of someone who was in that unit

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2019 11:04 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 11:04:36 -0400

Update* He said he was shot at and was deployed the 10th Mountain in Fort Drum NY, this is also the same SPC (Now hes a CPL after completing BLC and didnt have enough points to make SGt) who tried to make soldier E1-E3 stand at Parade Rest for him as a Specialist

Response by SFC Tom Crenshaw made Aug 4 at 2019 1:12 PM

SFC Tom Crenshaw — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 13:12:44 -0400

I was a forward observer for the artillery, went on every combat patrol, carried the radio Everytime, got shot at, got shot. I got a purple heart. BUT, no CIB you must have a infantry MOS to be awarded a " Infantry" award.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2019 4:16 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:16:25 -0400

He's also a reclass from 11B, said there wasn't promotions and they wouldn't let him leave Fort Drum

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 4 at 2019 4:27 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:27:39 -0400

I would think so.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Aug 24 at 2019 10:23 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 10:23:40 -0400

WOW Start out with something like this the next time he starts his war stories. No BS now When i was back in WWII I was with a expeditionary unit fighting beside the French the Germans were laying the fire down pretty heavy and I got shot 15 times in my right leg all i got was a sip of whiskey and a promotion to PFC. I still run a marathon every year and manage to pass the PT test. Thank you for your service.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2019 2:39 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 02:39:04 -0400

Sounds suspect... It's possible someone did not complete the paperwork therefore no Badge (CAB/CIB) was awarded. Depending on location and timing of deployment and if he was an augmentee the possibility is real. He likely has a campaign badge and a expeditionary metal I would start there.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jul 10 at 2020 2:22 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 14:22:54 -0400

Not know current regs but 30 days on the line was one requirement unless WIA or KIA.