Have other Infantrymen have been awarded a Combat Action Badge (CAB) instead of the coveted Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 03:09:43 -0500

As an infantry unit we were tasked with convoy escort. Iraq 2010-11. All 11B's who earned a Combat award received the CAB. For this mission/deployment we were told we were 00F's for the deployment thus no CIB's would be awarded. DD214's showed a 4A designator for reclassification training to support this. Just curious how many others saw this or experienced it outside our battalion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 5:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 05:03:49 -0500

I am well aware of the regulations on the subjects here. Convoy escort is widely viewed as a non infantry mission. This question is not a whine or a gripe. Just curious how often it happens. On a humorous note, I sure do get tired of explaining the CAB that accompanies my blue cord. Haha. 11th year as an 11B and have never had another MOS. It confuses folks sometimes.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 6:22 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 06:22:44 -0500

I've seen 11Bs get a CIB for working in a dog kennel in Afghanistan all deployment.....and ive seen 11Bs get CAB because an indirect round came through a roof...luckily didn't go off, but parts of the ceiling injured a couple of them and they got PHs and CABs....so yea

Response by SSG John Caples made Feb 15 at 2016 8:03 AM

SSG John Caples — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:03:02 -0500

what are the qualifications on wearing the cab and awarded to SM 's ?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 8:29 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:29:23 -0500

I have seen a few infantrymen with it. The situation surrounding it was more to do with being in staff or an additional duty. Most of the time the unit will do everything they can to get them a CIB if they are operating in their MOS. I have seen a guy that got a CIB that wasn't even Infantry. But that was before they came out with the CAB. But in your situation it could have gone both ways. I was in Iraq from 2009-2010. We never did convey security. It was left to those that weren't infantry. And technical they are right. It is not an infantry mission by nature. Although infantrymen could do it and even get a CIB out of it if their command supported it. Either way I wouldn't look down on it.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Feb 15 at 2016 9:40 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:40:32 -0500

There are two key differences in the criteria between CAB and CIB. According to AR 600-8-22:

1) For CAB, one has to "be personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy"
2) For CIB, one has to be "[11B] assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat"

So there is a distinction between "being engaged by the enemy" (i.e. receiving IDF), and "engaging in active ground combat." You could argue that if you are just on the receiving end of an enemy activity, there are times when you weren't actively engaging in ground combat (i.e. you were asleep on a FOB and a mortar round landed near by). The difference may be grey is some situations, but clearly the criteria is not the same.

If you follow the regulation, there could be situations where 11B Soldiers assigned to an infantry unit may not qualify for the CIB because they were not "engaging in active ground combat", but were engaged in by the enemy (IDF, etc.). They could therefore possibly not qualify for EITHER the CIB or CAB, since 11B members in an infantry unit can't be awarded a CAB, and may not meet the higher criteria of a CIB.

In general, we know that despite this being the regulation, many people receive a CAB or a CIB with very relaxed interpretation of the reg, which dilutes the award unfortunately.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:41 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:41:37 -0500

A friend of mine was a member of LRS unit on the books as supply NCO, otherwise lifelong 11B, same patrols, same clearing houses, CAB.

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Feb 15 at 2016 10:12 AM

SGM Billy Herrington — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 10:12:53 -0500

I had guys that were Infantry volunteer back in 2007 to deploy with an Engineer BN. They received a CAB.

We had a convoy escort mission 2009-2010 in Iraq. I put in 10 or so guys for CIB's. They got them. We were in an Infantry BN, in an Infantry Para/Lin, in an Infantry UIC.

I've never heard of being recoded into a 00F. Sounds like a dickhead move by a soft skill MOS to thumb their nose at us.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 1:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:36:39 -0500

I have had 11B Soldiers receive the CAB because they are not in the traditional role of 11B.

Response by 1SG Todd Sullivan made Feb 15 at 2016 2:07 PM

1SG Todd Sullivan — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 14:07:33 -0500

Never saw it.. Makes no sense to me, even having Soldiers detached from our Infatry Battalion and attached to other elements specifically for such a mission when they had direct contact with the enemy they were awarded the CIB.

Response by SSG Ricardo Marcial made Feb 15 at 2016 3:47 PM

SSG Ricardo Marcial — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 15:47:54 -0500

Oh let's not get me started on this, my leadership failed on all awards in my first deployment. I was in the middle of my second deployment (11B) when I noticed the new orders records online. I received a CAB and another award I had no idea I was even in for was downgraded. My unit was disbanded (Guard unit) while I was on my 2nd deployment so I just fell into a unit when I got back. and of course I got no help correcting it. Funny thing, nobody knew I had deployed and when I returned. Lucky for me my weapons turned up or I would have been screwed. So I have a CAB, have never worn it and never will. From the information I was able to get, my 1SG just lumped all the members of the unit into a group and put us all in for a CAB instead of filing a separate award to the infantry soldiers in the group. The other award, a Bronze Star, downgraded for not meeting rank min of E7 or CPT. Funny thing was that the unit I was supporting in Afghanistan on my 4th deployment did the same thing, downgraded because of rank.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 6:11 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 18:11:43 -0500

I know Infantrymen who did not leave the FOB, but were close to the incoming fire we received almost daily who received CIBs and yet I earned my CIB in repeated firefights while I was an Infantryman and a CAB during my first deployment to Iraq. Only difference between the two for my particular situation was that as an Infantryman, we stirred up conflict and as a logistics officer, the enemy just made a bad decision to attack us on our way to bring supplies, etc. In both cases, we were engaging the enemy. It can be difficult to choose which badge to be more proud of because I will always be Infantry at heart, but I served more time in combat as a logistics officer and commanded two logistics units in Afghanistan. Hard to put down the CAB when I have that much of a history with those who only qualified to earn it and not a CIB. Those in the Infantry with no frame of reference for any other side of the Army will definitely disagree with my perspective.

Response by SSG Bruce Jon made Feb 16 at 2016 8:29 AM

SSG Bruce Jon — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 08:29:57 -0500

I have seen this situation several times. Actually, my last platoon sergeant received the CIB during combat while we served together in OEF X and had previously received the CAB in Iraq for convoy operations. Early in 2010, our unit received mortar and machine gun fire in the motor pool. It was quite obvious the criteria for CABs had been met but when I pointed it out to the 1SG later, he became angry and said "to mind my own business." Long story short about a dozen people from the unit (including him and the CO) received nothing. I think it is very important for every command to recognize the intent of CIBs and CABs both. It is also important that soldiers are put in for the appropriate awards for their service during their respective deployments. In this case an extremely poor leader (who the CO deferred to and regretted it) cost several soldiers not to receive an award they had earned.

Response by Sgt Able Snider made Feb 16 at 2016 3:42 PM

Sgt Able Snider — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:42:21 -0500

Ive heard of Infantry guys, 11 Charlie, attached to Cav outfits getting them.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 3:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:56:07 -0500

I was a convoy commander in Iraq. I had one soldier who held an infantry mos in my convoy when we got hit. He got a CIB the rest got a CAB.

Response by 1SG Randy Book made Feb 17 at 2016 5:24 PM

1SG Randy Book — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 17:24:42 -0500

'Nam '69-70, Panama "Just Cause" '89-90". CIB given to all 11B's at JOTB Ft Sherman except CSM, another E-7 and myself because we already had one from VN. Did get a "Certificate of Participation" though. I was Opes Sgt for NCO Academy and deployed students as infantry company. Also worked S-3 as Ops Sgt making out all ops orders etc. One of my cadre received BS for running chow out to troops. All I got, as previously stated was a certificate of participation.

Whole system sucks, NAM I received a SS, and my Bn Cmdr received DSC for my actions. Go figure.

Response by SFC Derrick Harris made Feb 23 at 2016 8:37 PM

SFC Derrick Harris — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:37:13 -0500

I was in Iraq at Besmaya Range/fob hammer and we got nothing my command was to lazy so I spent 22 years in and never got no CAB ate a CIB very disappointed with my Army career

Response by SGT Chester Beedle made May 12 at 2017 2:13 AM

SGT Chester Beedle — Fri, 12 May 2017 02:13:57 -0400

I know it happens. A driver for someone on Division or Corps staff for instance is not eligible for the CIB since it's above brigade level.

Response by SGT Douglas Henry made May 16 at 2018 5:32 PM

SGT Douglas Henry — Wed, 16 May 2018 17:32:41 -0400

This happened to me and many others in 05-06. We were attached to a FA unit that was attached to 18th MP BDE AIRBORNE.
We were awarded the CAB instead of the CIB because we were not in an infantry mission, even tho we were doing some infantry jobs and convoy escorts and getting shot at. I have been told a person can get 5 sworn statements and maybe get it changed.

Response by SPC Kenneth Fink made Mar 6 at 2019 11:15 PM

SPC Kenneth Fink — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 23:15:46 -0500

Was in convoys had 11b but no cib or cab in nam

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2021 12:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 00:19:35 -0400

I was actually engaged by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) as a 12B back in 2000 but couldn't receive a CAB because Kosovo is a Peace Keeping Operation. My brother actively engaged the enemy and was actively engaged by the enemy with 3ID during the Iraq Invasion in 2003. But never received a CAB for it because they did not start being issued out until 2005. He can put in for it now, but he doesn't really care to. Now a SGM.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2022 9:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 21:44:12 -0500

Hell Noooo. CIB no matter if you got mortared in while doing KP in the FOB as 11B. What the hell is wrong with these people?