Posted on Apr 15, 2017
Jabari Powell
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Why do some soldiers have both and some have either or?
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COL Charles Williams
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Jabari Powell what MAJ (Join to see) said. The combat patch means you deployed with a particular unit. The CAB, CIB, and CMB mean you have been involved with an actual engagement with armed enemy of the US... meaning yiou were fired upon, or attacked... Or fired on or attacked an enemy. Not everyone who deploys actively fightd or engages (or is engaged by the enemy).
The latter (CIB, CAB, CMB) are MOS specific and have additional criteria. The CIB is for 11 and 18 series. The CMB is for medics assigned to combat arms units in a combat engagement, meaning the CIB or CAB was awarded.... The CAB for everyone else.
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LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 8 y ago
Two different requirements. They should have CSIB if they have a CAB. Someone wearing a CAB without a CSIB or SSIFWTS is suspect but not wrong. Wearing a combat patch and wearing the CAB are optional unless directed by the commander for a ceremonial/unit event.
CAB = Soldiers who personally engaged, or are engaged by the enemy.
CSIB = deployed in the hostile fire area as designated by the SEC Army or higher.
Some people just don't like wearing extra insignia. Others have a philosophical reasons too numerous to list.
Regulations: AR 600-22-8 para 8-8 and AR 670-1 para 21-17.

AR 600-8-22 8–8. Combat Action Badge
a. On 2 May 2005, the Chief of Staff, Army, approved the creation of the Combat Action Badge (CAB) to provide special recognition to Soldiers who personally engaged, or are engaged by the enemy.
b. The requirements for award of the CAB are Branch and MOS immaterial. Assignment to a Combat Arms unit or a unit organized to conduct close or offensive combat operations, or performing offensive combat operations is not required to qualify for the CAB. However, it is not intended to award all Soldiers who serve in a combat zone or imminent danger area.
c. Specific eligibility requirements.
(1) May be awarded to any Soldier.
(2) Soldier must be performing assigned duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized.
(3) Soldier must be personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing
satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement.
(4) Soldier must be assigned or attached to a unit that would qualify the Soldier for the CIB/CMB. For example, an 11B assigned to Corps staff is eligible for award of the CAB. However, an 11B assigned to an infantry battalion is not eligible for award of the CAB.
d. In addition to Army Soldiers, the CAB may also be awarded to members of other U.S. Armed Forces and foreign military personnel assigned to a U.S. Army unit, provided they meet the above criteria (for example, KATUSA’s in the 2d Infantry Division).
e. Award of the CAB is authorized from 18 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Award for qualifying service in any previous conflict is not authorized.

AR 670-1 21–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
a. General. Authorization to wear a SSI indicating FWTS applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S. Army units that meet the following criteria in subparagraph (1) below:
(1) Required criteria—
(a) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare the theater or area of operation as a hostile environment to which the unit is assigned or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(b) The units must have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile forces in which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(c) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. An exception may be made when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other criteria, and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(d) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for wearing the SSI for FWTS. Note: Units are not authorized to modify their SSI or SSI–FWTS without prior approval from the DCS, G-1. A mirror image SSI-FWTS is considered a modification. In addition, TIOH must approve the design of any modification and authorize its manufac- turing in accordance with paragraph 2–3.
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1SG Armor Senior Sergeant
1SG (Join to see)
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Sir your response was the most informative and in my opinion, the proper way to answer the soldier's question. As I told my soldiers whenever they had a question similar to the one asked, my response "What does the reg say? and when you have found the answer then we will discuss it". Wish more leaders wouldn't respond with the opinionated responses.
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SPC Infantryman
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Edited 8 y ago
Are you related to retired Gen. Colin Powell?
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Jabari Powell
Jabari Powell
8 y
Haha I wish !
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SSG John Jensen
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Jump Wings in '81. in '84 awarded EFMB, in '04 CAB as a truck driver in HETs in gigantic convoy hit by IED and ambush outside Karbala. Rec'd CAB a year after getting home, emailed Dad about the award, later conversation said Dad's CO and 1SG had CIBs from France, did he ever know anybody with 3 badges on their duty uniform, he answered no. I responded "you do now" he was always MR Negative my whole life. It changed at that point.
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LTC William Gilmore
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What is a Combat Identification Badge?
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SFC David Xanten
SFC David Xanten
8 y
Sir, I can't believe that after more then 20 years in the Army you don't know what CIB stands for.
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SSG Operations Sergeant
SSG (Join to see)
8 y
SFC, I can't believe you don't know what CIB stands for. It's Combat Infantry badge.
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LTC William Gilmore
LTC William Gilmore
8 y
SFC David Xanten - You can't recognize sarcasm?
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SFC David Xanten
SFC David Xanten
8 y
You're right about that. I am and always have been a black and white kind of person.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Edited 8 y ago
I have an SSI-FWTS (otherwise known as the combat patch), but I do not have a CAB. There are LOTS of Soldiers that have something on their right sleeve, but are a flatliner when it comes to their chest.
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SPC Infantryman
SPC (Join to see)
8 y
don't worry SSG Livingston, soon you will have the opportunity to wear a Expert Action Badge! If I were still in I sign up for the pilot program. Then I would wear it around just to see all the angry faces.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
MSG (Join to see)
8 y
SPC (Join to see) - I highly doubt I will be granted the opportunity to even test for the EAB. Being a Reservist, and a Medical Reservist at that, we never are given the opportunity to test for badges. The base I'm on houses the HQ of my Medical Division....and I have yet to see ANYTHING set up for the EFMB.
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MSG Mechanic 2nd
MSG (Join to see)
8 y
MSG (Join to see) - that's on your unit and you, I have been to the EFMB twice as a reservist, it is tough and you better be prepped up, I made 3/4 of the way when I got knocked out both times, and was one of the oldest, the course is published, you have to do the work and find it, put in for request for orders, even if it takes you to another world, don't wait for your division to do it there are plenty of others out there that are doing it
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SPC Donn Sinclair
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I've been out a long time, so humor me here. Just exactly what is an Army Combat Identification Badge?
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MSG John Duchesneau
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The correct name of the "Combat Patch" is "Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Former Wartime Service". The SSIFWS is awarded for "in theater" service but not necessarily for being in combat. The common name "Combat Patch" implies combat service is a prerequisite but it is not.
Anyone who received the CIB, CMB or CAB is also qualified to wear the SSIFWS.
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MAJ Ron Peery
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What do you mean by combat identification badge? A CIB is a Combat Infantryman Badge, and is only awarded to an infantryman who has been engaged in combat with the enemy. A CAB, Combat Action Badge, is authorized for non-infantry personnel who have been engaged in combat with the enemy. You can have both, theoretically, if you deploy once as infantry and once as non-infantry, and are engaged with the enemy in both deployments. But the CIB will always take precedence.
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CPT Robert Holden
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Don’t know what goes hand in hand . The only combat badge im aware of is the CIB. I happened to earn mine despite never being infantry . Happened to be a scout platoon leader leading an infantry diffusion in one of my first commands
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
>1 y
Were you in an infantry unit and on orders as such i.e. is scout platoon ldr an infantry slot and were you on orders and detailed for the slot?
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SFC William Farrell
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1
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Why are they all wearing the same sunglasses in the pic?
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SFC Jerry Michalak
SFC Jerry Michalak
7 y
They issue those nowadays, they are ballistic sunglasses. Apparently they figured out when fighting in a desert these aren’t a bad idea.
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MAJ Tom Hutton
MAJ Tom Hutton
7 y
Group discount! Seriously, protective eyewear has been issued as part of equipment fieldings since early years of OEF/OIF. Program Executive Officer-Soldier oversees this initiative and others to provide the soldier quality gear to increase lethality and survivability. If you look up Authorized Protective Eyewear List or APEL, you’ll see a graphic of the eyewear authorized for wear.
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SPC James Harsh
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I have 'spurs' (actually just the paper/PI do have a CIB as well)+~ we had 19d volunteer to come with and the funny thing is that they thought they were infantry
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LTC Chief Of Public Affairs And Protocol
LTC (Join to see)
8 y
A 19D can't be awarded a CIB unless an exception to policy if granted. That doesn't happen often; if ever.
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SFC David Xanten
SFC David Xanten
8 y
I have the CIB and I am a 11E4H, it was awarded when I had a duty MOS of 11B40 for about 6 weeks while assigned to the 3/4 Cav in RVN
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