Posted on Aug 1, 2018
Does anyone have any experience with submitting paperwork for retroactive CIB awards?
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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?
11B: Infantryman
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Awards
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 13
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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".
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".
Toll-Free: 1-888-ARMY-HRC (1-888-276-9472) DSN: 983-9500 AskHRC
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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
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
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LTC Jeff Shearer
LT I am dont know if the award citation was redacted but I am sure the TM SGT I knew received his CIB years after the event. Apparently all the paper work had been done for all the awards at the time of the event, they may have already been approved but not released due to the nature of what they were doing, secret shit. hahaha
LT I know it was several years later when he was officially awarded the CIB etc. I dont know but maybe the US's involvement in that area became more open. Not sure, as a young SF dude I thought the fact it was so shrouded in secrecy made it that much cooler.
...However, LT for an Army dude a CIB is a pretty cool award. The over simplified description is you were in a fight because some jackass was actively trying to kill you. Understand that is just my description, hell maybe the Army needs to go to that haha
LT I know it was several years later when he was officially awarded the CIB etc. I dont know but maybe the US's involvement in that area became more open. Not sure, as a young SF dude I thought the fact it was so shrouded in secrecy made it that much cooler.
...However, LT for an Army dude a CIB is a pretty cool award. The over simplified description is you were in a fight because some jackass was actively trying to kill you. Understand that is just my description, hell maybe the Army needs to go to that haha
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CPT William Jones
My experience most of those kinds of things were written up vaguely and awarded. Ie serving Vietnam during ground operations so and so did such and such. With nothing that really could identify the time or place b
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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.
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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.
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I got an ARCOMV from HRC directly after deployment and it took a couple years.
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Have other dudes in your unit received theirs already? If so, there’s a problem. If not, be patient.
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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.
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MSG James Devereaux
Why’d you get an award for a job you didn’t have? I’m sure they thought it was fake since you aren’t/weren’t a rifleman.
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Try contacting your US House representative. It’s there elected job to help with such matters. Good luck trooper and GOD bless.
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MSG James Devereaux
You’re joking right? It’s not our elected officials job to track down a soldiers award. You’ll get him an article 15 for completely jumping his chain of command.
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can you get to the you station with in a wars time they should be able to help see their APC personal
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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
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
You needed to get on a MACV Advisory team. CIB regardless of branch. Why you would see a lot of ADA types with CIB. Only ADA was a HAWK BN at LBJ.
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