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

I don't think the EIB and CIB should be combined into a MIB they are two completely different awards the only thing they have in common is you have to be an Infantryman to get them.

I always thought the training for achieving these types of badges were flawed. I tried to get mine for the first time in 1987 in Ft Stewart Ga. Back then it was conducted on training lanes on post. The process was simple, you train with your unit and wait on your opportunity. Your given a score sheet and you proceed from station to station trying to achieve as many GO's as possible. If got more than one NO GO, I think, you failed. Throughout the training day we would see NCOs get GOs at stations that they CLEARLY FAILED. Some would just walk up and hand the sheet off to their buddies working the lanes for a FREE GO. This was my first and only time trying for my EIB.

I think that the EIB process and other courses like it should be set up at a military school away from your home base, so that EIB lane instructors can't hook up their buddies. If the process has changed since i went through. Hand Clap to the US Army!!!

A long time ago, a wise old infantry soldier once said something that made a lot of sense thwn and now. The EIB is the badge you get for knowing your shit according to whomever wrote the books on being in the infantry. The CIB is a badge you get for showing you know your shit, and living to tell about it after really applying those infantry skills in the "real" world. We don't need no MIB. Both say enough.

I think we need to re-evaluate the combat badges given because when I was in Iraq, I was directly behind a truck carrying a piece of engineer equipment. Granted the trailer took the brunt of the explosion but the only one who got the badge was the officer at the front and we were closer to the end of the convoy. Also, when I got knocked down in a mortar attack where the mortars landed on one side of the wall we had built and I was on the other still no combat badge, so I agree with comments that this is ridiculous.

I don't get paid to think. But this is as fucked just as switching from dress greens to dress blues. It comes down to not letting people feeling get hurt or what not. The Army need to stop thinking about people's feeling and do your job! All this is going to do is water down accomplishments. Think of all that went before you. IE WW1, WW2 etc. Most of the men that got it did not boast, some might have never wanted or did what they need to do or go though. But they did it for their families and their country. Stop thinking about what if I never get a CIB. Maybe your not ready mentally for one. Maybe it's not in God's plan for you to see a war. Maybe you need to feel blessed not to be in a situation to receive such a reward. You can make assumptions all day long. But know this. Most everyone that I know of including me would do it again in a heart beat.

does the Army really need another participation trophy? You all are so concerned with chest glitter, its almost infantile.

Well (here's the old guy speak), back in my day... I sound like my dad... the EFMB was tough as you-know-what to get. When i finally got mine (2nd try), I was happy... tired, but happy. A month later, I was in Grenada (OUF), attached to 2nd Bn 75th Ranger Regiment, when I returned to garrison, I got my CMB. Nothing in the sense of awards,badges,etc... should be easy to attain.
My son's unit, at Ft. Cavazos (Hood) is doing EIB testing as I post this and he said that is the toughest thing he's had to do since RASP.
As I said earlier, no badge should be easy to get.
Getting tabbed and, eventually, scrolled, was the hardest thing I ever did... apart from qualifying for the CMB.
I do agree with the SFC, the Master Infantry Badge is overkill (pardon the term).
RLTW!

Well (here's the old guy speak), back in my day... I sound like my dad... the EFMB was tough as you-know-what to get. When i finally got mine (2nd try), I was happy... tired, but happy. A month later, I was in Grenada (OUF), attached to 2nd Bn 75th Ranger Regiment, when I returned to garrison, I got my CMB. Nothing in the sense of awards,badges,etc... should be easy to attain.
My son's unit, at Ft. Cavazos (Hood) is doing EIB testing as I post this and he said that is the toughest thing he's had to do since RASP.
As I said earlier, no badge should be easy to get.
Getting tabbed and, eventually, scrolled, was the hardest thing I ever did... apart from qualifying for the CMB.
I do agree with the SFC, the Master Infantry Badge is overkill (pardon the term).
RLTW!

I only knew of the EIB (required testing ) and the CIB awarded for 11 Series MOS for being in an infantry unit 30 days in a combat zone. April 1969 I was awarded mine for B 1/22 Infantry 4th ID . I have met new soldiers wearing a CAB (Combat Actions Badge ). These soldiers must have seen combat action but are not 11 series MOS.

Doesn't surprise me. It seems that the Army caters to the Infantry mafia. They have badges for everything. I too have seen the misuse of the CIB during Desert Storm. Our mortar team was in the rear of back towards the mechanics. Ground war ended and they all were pinned with the CIB. They never took fire or firing at the enemy. I haven't ran across anything on this topic. The EIB and CIB is right with the CIB having Stars added for multiple wars. CIB for Desert Storm then a star for being back for Iraq Enduring Freedom or Afghanistan.
I feel....no that's not....deep in my soul, the Armor Branch, Scouts, Combat Engineers and maybe Artillery being combat arms, shout have their own Excellence In and Combat Badge. Armor since the inception of Tanks, have proven their combat effectiveness in multiple wars. WWII being the greatest display of Shoot, Move and Engage the Enemy. Vietnam saw the highest casualty rate of Armor crewmen. 82nd even have tankers for combat readiness when they deployed. The Cold War in Germany, tankers showed great effect in combat training to take on the USSR if they decided to be froggy. Desert Storm, the 20 year war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tankers ended up being door kickers, operating outside their MOS. Tankers have been the deciding factor in multiple wars and numerous battles.
The Armor branch, 19K & 19D, has had their own Combat Armor Badge approved by Congress but....Armor senior officers continuously shoot it down for wear bc it will cheapen the CIB and the Infantry Mafia won't allow it. Armor has a program for tankers called the Excellence in Armor program but higher doesn't make it a priority or something of great value. Armor has a Tank Commander specialty test, TCC (Tank Commander Course). And again, Armor Branch Commanders don't make any of this a high recognition achievement for Armor crew members. All this should be as much of a high recognition as the Infantry EIB and other skills. Another thankless special identifier is the Armor and Bradley Master Gunner Course. They should be awarded with that skill identifier like the Drill Sergeant badge, recruiting badge.
Last one. I promise. The Combat Adviser mission. Those that went thru the course then deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan, then as small teams, trained and conducted operations with either of the National Armies, National Police or Border Patrol, should have approved to wear a Combat Adviser tab. They were operating like the SF ODA teams usually do, Training /mentoring/instructing, to be able to conduct combat operations on their own. And a lot of those teams took fire and returned it. They had mortars, rockets and heavy machine guns, RPGs, IEDs and VBIDs fire at them.
EHHhhh.....what do I know? I'm just a retired old worn out war horse who doesn't have a a say in matters. TANKERS RULE!!! :)