Does anyone have any experience with submitting paperwork for retroactive CIB awards?

PVT Sergio Delgado — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 01:34:38 -0400

Greetings All! Is there anyone out there who has ever submitted the documentation necessary for the Combat Infantryman Badge AFTER their deployment? For example once your chain of command has gathered all paperwork needed and it is submitted to HRC how long does the approval process take?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2018 1:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 01:54:27 -0400

can you get to the you station with in a wars time they should be able to help see their APC personal

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 1 at 2018 5:41 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 05:41:38 -0400

The time will vary. Yours is submitted with many, as long as the write warrants the Award it will come. Thank you for your service.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Aug 1 at 2018 7:11 AM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 07:11:23 -0400

Good luck, it can be done but...
The only people I know that got their CIB years after were some SF dudes that had been working in areas that were secret, all the awards were approved but were the records were not kept in their file they nor could not wear them.

many years later they were awarded CIBs medals etc... But even then I think what was in their record was either redacted or vague

I know that is not much help but that is all of my experience

Response by SGT Tony Long made Aug 1 at 2018 8:09 AM

SGT Tony Long — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 08:09:19 -0400

Try contacting your US House representative. It’s there elected job to help with such matters. Good luck trooper and GOD bless.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 1 at 2018 8:28 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 08:28:57 -0400

It is pretty much exactly the same as if you were to submit it right after the incident. As long as all of the documentation is correct, the process doesn't change. I actually had an opportunity to submit a retroactive CAB awards for myself and a few others but chose to leave myself out of it; after all, I'm no longer in and the badge doesn't do anything for me lol the other guys got them though.

Response by SFC Douglas Duckett made Aug 1 at 2018 10:19 AM

SFC Douglas Duckett — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:19:47 -0400

Were you assigned to an infantry unit and were you performing the duties of an infantryman? These two qualifiers are critical to the award. You might have been a grunt doing grunt stuff, but assigned to a transportation unit during actual combat operations. If you were in an Infantry unit, I wonder how you slipped through the cracks. Infantry Officers and NCOs take "extreme" pride in earning the CIB and I have NEVER seen anybody passed by if it was earned.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Combat%20Infantry%20Badge%20CIB

An individual must "satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat, to close with and destroy the enemy with direct fires." Please note, the "direct fires" and "close with and destroy".

HRC Homepage

Toll-Free: 1-888-ARMY-HRC (1-888-276-9472) DSN: 983-9500 AskHRC

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2018 10:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:54:58 -0400

Doesn't have to go to HRC. Brigade commander is approving authority.

Response by SPC John Chambers made Aug 1 at 2018 4:53 PM

SPC John Chambers — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 16:53:44 -0400

Before I start, don't laugh. I turned in my paperwork to be awarded the CAB. My MOS is 13M (MLRS Crewmember) and my unit was told we wouldn't have any fire missions, we had 3. The rest of the time I was on the QRF teams kicking down doors and getting in nasty firefights. I left active duty before the CAB came out so my first attempt was at the CIB. Not having the 11B MOS I was denied instantly. Once I learned about the CAB I put in for that and was told I needed 2 eyewitnesses that could draft letters stating that I had been involved in combat and had received fire. They did not accept my ARCOM recommendation letter which listed "success as a rifleman against superior enemy numbers" as one of criteria. Not sure if it helps but don't give up the first time if they shoot you down.

Response by MSG James Devereaux made Feb 13 at 2019 7:30 PM

MSG James Devereaux — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 19:30:48 -0500

Have other dudes in your unit received theirs already? If so, there’s a problem. If not, be patient.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Apr 18 at 2021 1:47 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 13:47:57 -0400

This doesn’t even sound right

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Apr 18 at 2021 6:13 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 18:13:42 -0400

I was awarded a CIB by an Infantry Battalion in Vietnam. I was an Artillery Observer. It was quickly revoked by USARV. Then I was awarded one by 1/27th Intry, 25th ID in 1966. It was also promptly revoked by USARV. The third was while I was TDY with 5th SFGp, it was rejected because of my Artillery MOS

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2021 6:40 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 18:40:51 -0400

Did you ever get it?

Response by CSM David Porterfield made Jul 11 at 2021 11:04 AM

CSM David Porterfield — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 11:04:02 -0400

I got an ARCOMV from HRC directly after deployment and it took a couple years.