Master Infantry Badge, is there a place for it in today's Army?

As a Marine who switched over to the army, I gotta tell ya I never understood the obsession with badges and patches. No matter where you go, or what unit you're assigned to, someone is going to look down on you because you don't have this badge or that patch on whatever shoulder. Doesn't matter that you may be the hardest bastard in the unit. Their badge is "better" than yours. For example, I get the CIB, but the EIB? That shouldn't be a special badge, that should be the infantry standard, not something special. The tabbed positions and a few other badges like jump wings and the CIB/ Combat medic badge I understand, most of the rest just seems like overkill. To each their own though I guess.

The requirements needed to earn the EIB, and the sacrifices for the CIB are staunch enough. The Master (somewhat) already exists. Who is th e trainer of the Soldier-the squad leader, who is selected at DA level for SFC-Platoon Sergeant, there is your Master. Anyway, the Army has enough badges and acutremants for its records and uniform.

During my day, there was talk about having a Gold Badge. For those of us who had both the EIB and the CIB. It was a CIB, but with a Gold Kentucky rifle instead of the silver one.

what does a master infantry badge look like

Personally I feel the design, creation, and implementation of a new badge (Master Infantryman or Master Field Medical) is costly and time consuming. I think a change to the AR and DA Pam 670-1s should allow us to wear what we earned, limiting to 3 above the ribbons but not limiting the numbers from the groups. Put combat before the skill tested badges, and make the order of precedence by creation (CIB, CFMB, CAB, EIB, EFMB). Too easy.

I stopped wearing my EIB in 2003,when I earned my CIB. A badge to show we've earned both is pretty cool, I guess.

This is a artist rendition of the proposed Master Infantry Badge which is a combination of the CIB and EIB. There is also a subdued one for ACU/OCP wear but I couldn't find the image.

As for the the concept of an EMB and CMB being combined into something similar I guess... Master Medic Badge or something to that effect. I'm fine with that as I am fine with an MIB.

All that being said I have no stake in either as a 27D.

I look at it as a test. It's not easy, if it was everybody would have one. I don't see a problem with it. You have to do what you have to do to stand out, if there's a test take it and pass it. Make your file look as good as humanly possible.

TEE HEE

The combat badges have a higher rating in my opinion than the other badges. Both required the same three key elements to earn (BST) but the combat ones ALREADY have a distinction that no word can describe them.