Posted on Aug 8, 2020
Has anyone ever heard of getting a CAB changed to a CIB?
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Long story long...following a deployment to Kuwait, I volunteered to attach to a unit in Iraq. It ended up being a Combined Arms Battalion (2 INF, 2 Armor) My MOS is 11B20, but I was snatched by the Armor Company. We were doing the same mission as the INF Companies (engaged by enemy, returned fire, etc), who all recieved CIBs, but I was told since I was taken by the Tankers and was slotted as "loader (19K)" on the paperwork (even though I never saw a tank), I am only eligible to recieve the CAB. I understand I may be judged as badge chasing, but, in my defense, I did a 20 month consecutive deployment (after training) as an IRR recall only to have the CIB dream pulled 2x. Thanks!
Posted in these groups: 
11B: Infantryman
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
11B: Infantryman Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Short answer: no.
The CAB, CIB and CMB do not convert to each other.
The Soldier is awarded what they are authorized at the time.
You weren't the first 11B to get a CAB for being in the wrong place at the right time, and you won't be the last.
The CAB, CIB and CMB do not convert to each other.
The Soldier is awarded what they are authorized at the time.
You weren't the first 11B to get a CAB for being in the wrong place at the right time, and you won't be the last.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SGT Darin Hayhurst to add to SGM Jeff Mccloud, if you were Assigned to an Armor Company and not an infantry unit, according to para 8-6 of AR600-8-22, you were eligible for CAB and not a CIB.
Was the Battalion or Brigade an infantry formation? From what you said, it appears to be a COmbined Arms Battalion in an Armored BCT
Was the Battalion or Brigade an infantry formation? From what you said, it appears to be a COmbined Arms Battalion in an Armored BCT
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SGT Darin Hayhurst
LTC Jason Mackay Correct. So, this was a Guard unit. Prior to their deployment, they reorganized as 1st Armored BCT. They took 2 Companies from the INF Battalion and 2 from the AR Battalion and swapped them. The AR Battalion became 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor. The INF Battalion became 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th INF. All of us fill-ins were assigned to 1/194, but only one of us went to A Co., which was one of the INF Companies. He got a CIB.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SGT Darin Hayhurst - unfortunately, yep. You can read para 8-6 of AR600-8-22 which covers award of the CIB and see if you find something different. If you had been assigned to an Armor Co in 1-36IN it maybe different, or attached to that CAB but assigned to TF1-36
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I feel you brother. I was awarded a Combat Action Ribbon in the Marines and my Leadership automatically assumed I had a CIB on my first Army deployment. I had to deploy again and make it known that I didn’t have one when it came paperwork time after our first big TIC.
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Well, no CIB for combat, no Purple Heart for concussion, downgraded Bronze Star to ARCOM for lack of narration, but what matter most was doing one's duty. Those under one's care were taken care off and came home alive. Some golden boys got award submitted 2 to 3 times for the same thing through different Division. Saw some of one's actions on those boys' paper. Was threaten, "my word and yours, you will loose." For a week that one was mad as hell and forgot why he signed up and stayed in that long, and it ain't for the medal to begin with. He was where he was needed and was doing what he was told by the proper chain of command, which is what he was hired and sworn to do. So, be aware that you are not the only one. There are those in the same shoes or worse of than you.
Bottom line is let it go. That's life. However, if you were there to earn medals, then you have the right to be mad as hell. If you are there, is to do what it take so that Uncle Sam will have another competent Soldier in his rank or to win the war a little faster, reduce fewer casualties, look out for your brothers and sisters combat in arms; then you should not feel bad about it at all.
Remember US Army crest what the snake says, "This we'll defend."
Bottom line is let it go. That's life. However, if you were there to earn medals, then you have the right to be mad as hell. If you are there, is to do what it take so that Uncle Sam will have another competent Soldier in his rank or to win the war a little faster, reduce fewer casualties, look out for your brothers and sisters combat in arms; then you should not feel bad about it at all.
Remember US Army crest what the snake says, "This we'll defend."
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Just so you know, the Sergeant Major of the Army has a CAB. (Which makes sense because he's arty). My point is, having our not having the CIB is not necessarily a reflection of a Soldier's career. Just think of how many don't have any sort of Combat badge.
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SGT Christopher Hayden
The thing is, nobody in the Infantry wants a CAB. It's all fine and dandy that the CAB exists (I suppose) but it would make sense than an Infantryman would want a CIB and the history/prestige is carries with it over a badge that was only just recently made due to non-Infantry types complaining that they didn't have one of their own.
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1SG (Join to see)
SGT Christopher Hayden I am A POG (and proud of it). So I don't have the culture ingrained. The only thing I have going is 4 times live nerve agent training
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Buddy, you can chase that rabbit down the hole if you feel it's worth it. To be frank: you, me, and every other mother in the military has experienced something to this level. If you did your job or at least performed your duties that were expected of you, be proud.
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The rules of the award say performing in 11 series MOS within an Infantry unit. So no you do not get a CIB for that. I don't have a CIB. Tried for the EIB. The CIB, well no wars so could not help that but to be honest happy I do not have a CIB with all the CIB pissing contests of whose CIB is better. You don't need to go through that.....at least I don't.
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Dang. I guess since you were temporarily assigned a 19 MOS, you were not entitled to a CIB. You kinda got screwed, and I am not bad mouthing a CAB which is a honorable award. The CAB wasn't even invented when I was in. When the CIB was created, it was only for those who had a 11 MOS. My friend who was a artillery Forward Observer in Nam was upset because he was never awarded one, even though he was with the Grunts and basically doing the same job. He didn't have a 11 MOS. My other friend volunteered to be a Door Gunner. They kept his MOS as 11B and they never changed his MOS to a aviation MOS. Go figure.
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SPC Joseph Kopac
To add a little to this, even though my friend still had a 11 MOS, he was still awarded those aviation wings. So now he has a CIB and aviation wings.
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