Posted on Dec 30, 2013
How are so many senior leaders receiving the Combat Action Badge?
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I see a lot of senior leader photos and I see most if not all are wearing the Combat Action Badge but know very well they were never in contact. I think too many people received this award under completely false pretenses.
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Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 17
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Once you're a senior, the approving authority tends to be your battle buddy ;)
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SFC (Join to see)
Yeah there is nothing that drives a General nuts more than seeing a SSG with more medals.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
I wouldn't think GO's would much care either, Stars take precedence over most anything else after all...
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SSG Kenneth Davenport
LOL@ SFC Grudzinski's comment. I have more awards than my CG. My CG has over 30 years of service and no combat time.
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What? No! Next thing that may be discussed is that the 927 months of combat experience that they have is from doing fact finding missions on the 30th of the month and returning on the 1st. I'm retired......I can say it.
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SSG Ricardo Marcial
Fact finding mission, on Chicken Street or the bazaar in Gardez. Yep plenty of those "fact finding" mission going on back then. And yes, I'm retired as well :)
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It is because the eligibility criteria for awarding the CAB is nothing but subjective. Makes it easier to award a CAB for otherwise questionable "engagements" with the enemy. I do not believe the CAB should even exist not sit so prominently on a uniform. At best it should be a ribbon, like the Navy and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon.
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The CAB was well intended as honoring service under fire by those not assigned to an 11 series slot. However, like all good intentions, it's had some foreseeable and sad consequences.
I've seen field grade officers and sergeants major go on unnecessary convoy after convoy just to get shot at and have justification in writing up their award. Entire logistician PSDs referred to themselves as "CAB Hunters" because they knew that their very existence was illogical. Why does a logistics battalion command team need a PSD and a convoy if they are deployed next to an air field and you can reach any notable spot in SWA within 3-7 days by hopping on a free of charge bird?
I've seen field grade officers and sergeants major go on unnecessary convoy after convoy just to get shot at and have justification in writing up their award. Entire logistician PSDs referred to themselves as "CAB Hunters" because they knew that their very existence was illogical. Why does a logistics battalion command team need a PSD and a convoy if they are deployed next to an air field and you can reach any notable spot in SWA within 3-7 days by hopping on a free of charge bird?
The fun thing is that no one at the selection boards asks about the value of the SSI-FWTS or the CAB, just about whether or not they're present. There's a lot of people who deployed and spent an entire tour manning the MWR tent and still got a CAB and shoulder patch.
I remember a rocket impacting in the LSA and killing/injuring zero people. I also remember being awoken at 0300 to sign sworn statements about the location of various individuals so as to substantiate a CAB for 300+ people within the official potential injury radius of the rocket blast. I am really glad the brigade commander said no to all of them.
I remember a rocket impacting in the LSA and killing/injuring zero people. I also remember being awoken at 0300 to sign sworn statements about the location of various individuals so as to substantiate a CAB for 300+ people within the official potential injury radius of the rocket blast. I am really glad the brigade commander said no to all of them.
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SSG John Bacon
Exactly they either go out on convoys, or when a mortar or rocket hits the FOB that they were on wright up their awards but neglect to acknowledge their Soldiers. I had two NCO's during OIF III were in a HUMMVE on LSA Anaconda had a mortar explode about 50 yards in front of them but they never got anything out of that. Another Soldier almost lost his hearing during a rocket attack he was inside of a MILVAN when the rocket exploded outside of it. He didn't get one. Same as using rank structure to assign awards instead of deeds and actions.
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<p>I am proud to say that my scout platoon in Afghanistan earned their CABs for combat operations in Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, Shindand and Mien-a-Shen Afghanistan in 2004-05. They were earned, I was proud to put my Soldiers in for the award and my Soldiers are proud to wear them. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>It is a shame that there are those out there who "work" the system in order to secure awards that they neither deserve or qualify for. It is individuals like that who diminish the award and make it a mockery in online forums, formations and other gatherings of Soldiers and Veterans.</p>
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From the moment they released this badge it has been a joke and sadly diminishes the people who received it for good reason. And for this reason I never petitioned my old unit from OIF I who we saw fire everyday for the CAB. It was just too much effort for such a meaningless badge. I know what I've done and where I've been. They hand out the CAB and CIB like candy. Just my .02
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Agreed completely. For every legitimately earned one, there seems to be about 4 or 5 "a mortar landed on the FOB somewhere, at some point, and I heard it, and it was scary" awards...
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Here is a scenario for you as to why.
FOB or Outpost is known to receive indirect fire frequently. VIP visit, spends the a day or two, FOB or Outpost receives indirect fire, VIP exit day after.
A few weeks later, all the paper works has been fast tracked with the proper signatures, approved.
Instant recipient of a COMBAT (IN)ACTION BADGE.
FOB or Outpost is known to receive indirect fire frequently. VIP visit, spends the a day or two, FOB or Outpost receives indirect fire, VIP exit day after.
A few weeks later, all the paper works has been fast tracked with the proper signatures, approved.
Instant recipient of a COMBAT (IN)ACTION BADGE.
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I wonder the same thing. The criteria was you had to present under fire and / engaging the enemy. How does someone like Gen. Patraeus get a CAB ? I was involved in multiple IED attacks where our ROE was to engage the enemy. Because of a screw up with the 'Remington Rangers' my paperwork never made it. I suppose if I want to get it I'll have to go through a congressman's office.
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
SSG Nick Tramontano May I suggest that you file a DD149 (Application for Correction of Military Records)? It has been known to work!
Be sure to write a narrative that reads like an after-action report!
http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-150601-144.pdf
Be sure to write a narrative that reads like an after-action report!
http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-150601-144.pdf
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No offense, but pretty much the same false pretenses as the CIB and the CMB.
On my first deployment in OIF2 all the medical MOS's in the hardened Aid Station were awarded it for incoming mortars. I mean, everyone. Physically therapy assistants, preventive med, x-ray techs... blanket award.
Then for the CIB, they would "OJT" a guy to give him a secondary MOS 11B and then stick him in the base QRF with us to qualify for his CIB. This was before a CAB.
On my first deployment in OIF2 all the medical MOS's in the hardened Aid Station were awarded it for incoming mortars. I mean, everyone. Physically therapy assistants, preventive med, x-ray techs... blanket award.
Then for the CIB, they would "OJT" a guy to give him a secondary MOS 11B and then stick him in the base QRF with us to qualify for his CIB. This was before a CAB.
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CSM (Join to see)
SFC Boyd,
I am calling BS on what you just described. You cannot OJT into an MOS, nor can you use 11B as a secondary MOS to be awarded a CIB especially when you are not performing an 11CMF job. You are misinformed or someone completely wrote an erroneous award.
I am calling BS on what you just described. You cannot OJT into an MOS, nor can you use 11B as a secondary MOS to be awarded a CIB especially when you are not performing an 11CMF job. You are misinformed or someone completely wrote an erroneous award.
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SFC (Join to see)
You're right, today you can't. However at that time there were ways around that. Today it would require being Ranger qualified. Also, you can be awarded a CIB when it's your secondary MOS. From HRC:
"Personnel with other than an infantry or Special Forces MOS are not eligible, regardless of the circumstances. The infantry or Special Forces SSI or MOS does not necessarily have to be the Soldier’s primary specialty, as long as the Soldier has been properly trained in infantry or Special Forces tactics, possesses the appropriate skill code, and is serving in that specialty when engaged in active ground combat as described above." I'm certain there were a lot of erroneous awards written before the CAB was authorized. Everyone wanted a piece of the glory.
The medical personnel I was describing were assigned to a Charlie Med. So, a medical company in a support battalion, that was part of a combat brigade.
"Personnel with other than an infantry or Special Forces MOS are not eligible, regardless of the circumstances. The infantry or Special Forces SSI or MOS does not necessarily have to be the Soldier’s primary specialty, as long as the Soldier has been properly trained in infantry or Special Forces tactics, possesses the appropriate skill code, and is serving in that specialty when engaged in active ground combat as described above." I'm certain there were a lot of erroneous awards written before the CAB was authorized. Everyone wanted a piece of the glory.
The medical personnel I was describing were assigned to a Charlie Med. So, a medical company in a support battalion, that was part of a combat brigade.
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1LT (Join to see)
You can get "Supervised OJT" for MOSQ when approved by the first GO in your CoC and it meets the other requirements listed in DA PAM 611-21 Chapter 9. This is more of a large scale thing, such as taking an entire class of OSUT 13Bs and training them to be 88Ms as secondary MOS before they ship out of Fort Sill. This would quick-fill critical shortages in MOS without requiring additional facilities to increase total course load in MOS schools.
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I know several Soldiers who deserved this award but never got it but the senior leaders got it for the same actions. hmmm....
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