Posted on Oct 17, 2015
Master Infantry Badge, is there a place for it in today's Army?
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My unit will be conducting a EIB in March and I recently seen an article about a possible MIB (master infantry badge) I like the idea, because both cib and EIB are in the same class, also for efmb and cmb for the medical field. What are your thoughts?
11B: Infantryman
SGT
SSG
SFC
Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB)
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 80
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I think this would be a good idea. It would be nice if they combined the two together to make the MIB. The points should be higher for having it.
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SSG Leo Bell
To add on to what I said. In order to have the MIB you would have to earn it like the EIB and not just get it like the CIB for being in combat. I think it's means so much more to earn something instead of having it presented to you. Not taking anything away from the guys who have there CIB for fighting and winning it. I never had either of them. I knew guys who went through the EIB course and didn't make the grade but got there CIB. I'm glad they received there bling bling on there uniform, I just think it would mean more to me to get mine going thru the corse.
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SSG Ronald White
Do you really need the points? if you have the CIB then chances are you have enough awards to max out right or did they change all that? I have been out for a while...
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Sounds like a very reasonable idea SSG (Join to see). What are the proposed requirements for the MIB?
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SPC (Join to see)
As I understand it from the Army Times article I read Sir, the proposed requirement is that you have CIB and EIB anything further than that I am unaware of. This is an artist rendition of what it might look like.
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I think it's a good thought. But I wouldn't make it rate more just have a different bage(like the crossed rifles wreathed, kinda like the rifle qual badge) and have it under the CIB but over other badges. Because while it is hard to get it show you stood where the rubber met the road.
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I think there should be something - when I was in, most of my platoon mates earned their CIBs so there was a very low push, or need felt, to earn an EIB. Hardly anyone had one, and I actually never had the option to get an EIB in my entire 5+ years, if you can believe it!
I agree with some of these commenters about the name MASTER IB potentially being too encompassing (ex: I could call for fire of course, but could've barely worked my way around actually firing a mortar); So, if at least basic knowledge of every skill, of every infantry discipline, isn't a prerequisite, then I would look at the name, but on the surface I like the idea!
I agree with some of these commenters about the name MASTER IB potentially being too encompassing (ex: I could call for fire of course, but could've barely worked my way around actually firing a mortar); So, if at least basic knowledge of every skill, of every infantry discipline, isn't a prerequisite, then I would look at the name, but on the surface I like the idea!
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The last thing the Army needs is another meaningless, superfluous qualification badge . I thought the Instructor badge was BS but this would beat that on the waste-of-time and resources meter.
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Better question: Why do we still have the Combat Infantry Badge?
Seriously!
This badge was created by top brass (mostly former infantry officers) as the last hurrah for the days when infantry were the people who did all the "real" fighting. Throughout the existence of the CIB, the Army has repeatedly tinkered with the requirements, using "points" or days on "the line" to sort out which Infantrymen got the badge but the simple truth is that for more than last half century there has been less and less reason to pretend that infantry do all the fighting and everyone else is a POG just hanging around to support those poor grunts.
The brass got around to creating the CAB in 2005 as a way to deflect criticism of the CIB but no one has some up with a reason for keeping the CIB. Perhaps SFC (Join to see) is right that all the "combat" badges are being over-awarded. Perhaps we do need to find a way to distinguish between people who have actually fought and people who happened to be in the neighborhood when someone else fought. Whatever the right answer might be, I have not seen anything that supports the ridiculous notion that one MOS is more of a fighter than the soldier standing next to them just because of their MOS.
Seriously!
This badge was created by top brass (mostly former infantry officers) as the last hurrah for the days when infantry were the people who did all the "real" fighting. Throughout the existence of the CIB, the Army has repeatedly tinkered with the requirements, using "points" or days on "the line" to sort out which Infantrymen got the badge but the simple truth is that for more than last half century there has been less and less reason to pretend that infantry do all the fighting and everyone else is a POG just hanging around to support those poor grunts.
The brass got around to creating the CAB in 2005 as a way to deflect criticism of the CIB but no one has some up with a reason for keeping the CIB. Perhaps SFC (Join to see) is right that all the "combat" badges are being over-awarded. Perhaps we do need to find a way to distinguish between people who have actually fought and people who happened to be in the neighborhood when someone else fought. Whatever the right answer might be, I have not seen anything that supports the ridiculous notion that one MOS is more of a fighter than the soldier standing next to them just because of their MOS.
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SFC Jason Boyd covered this pretty well! I myself was awarded a CIB in an action where our vehicle was fired upon and our one of our patrol vehicles' gunners fired back. I do consider though that when I was in an RPG attack that took a chunk of one of my feet the actual event for which I earned my CIB, as well as a Purple Heart.
I feel the EIB should be awarded to those who can demonstrate the required skills and meet the qualifications. I don't like any badge protecting that is known to go on. I wish I had earned my EIB while I was in. In contravention of the regs, had I earned both, I would have worn the EIB on the ACU's due to the fact that the CIB had been awarded as if it were Halloween candy to be handed out. The CIB being considered the "higher award," is supposed to be worn if awarded to an individual.
Keep in mind... the EIB can be awarded to non-Infantry personnel, but is not to be worn on any uniform.
Caveat: If anyone can dispute or correct anything I've put out here, I welcome constructive criticism.
I feel the EIB should be awarded to those who can demonstrate the required skills and meet the qualifications. I don't like any badge protecting that is known to go on. I wish I had earned my EIB while I was in. In contravention of the regs, had I earned both, I would have worn the EIB on the ACU's due to the fact that the CIB had been awarded as if it were Halloween candy to be handed out. The CIB being considered the "higher award," is supposed to be worn if awarded to an individual.
Keep in mind... the EIB can be awarded to non-Infantry personnel, but is not to be worn on any uniform.
Caveat: If anyone can dispute or correct anything I've put out here, I welcome constructive criticism.
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1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR)
Established in 1943 during World War II, the EIB was developed to recognize exemplary infantrymen, and became an ongoing program for soldiers to participate in. In 2019, the U.S. Army extended this opportunity to non-infantry soldiers by developing the ESB, which follows the same events held for the EIB. The ESB demonstrates individual Soldier competencies and abilities to perform Skill level I Warrior Task and brigade commander-selected tasks: Training and testing are expected to be tough, realistic, and mission focused. All who meet the standards will be awarded the Expert Soldier Badge. All Soldiers, NCOs, Officers, and Warrant Officers in will be eligible to compete for the ESB except those in the Infantry, Special Forcesw and medical career management fields (CMFs II, I8 or 68). Award is similar to Combat Action Badge without the Wreath.
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Suspended Profile
SGT Szczakowski,
I like the Idea of the MIB badge as well. At one time, the Army was thinking about have the CIB (Combat Infantryman's Badge) to represent the Soldiers that had both their EIB and CIB like myself. Don't know what happend to that, oh yeah they thought it would be great to make a master Astronaut badge and Instructor Badges; instead of following though with the Original plan. Below is what the plan would have looked like.
I like the Idea of the MIB badge as well. At one time, the Army was thinking about have the CIB (Combat Infantryman's Badge) to represent the Soldiers that had both their EIB and CIB like myself. Don't know what happend to that, oh yeah they thought it would be great to make a master Astronaut badge and Instructor Badges; instead of following though with the Original plan. Below is what the plan would have looked like.
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