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

Marine Corps has no such thing. If you’re in the USMC infantry, you’re a “master” at it.

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.

Because Infantrymen really need one more piece of baby blue bling to remind us how full of themselves they are?

There are discussions for master or expert everything (ALL CMFs) badges. They would not necessarily be a bad idea, I would like to see the details first. Not sure how much traction this has gained either. Many new initiatives get proposed, doesn't mean it will happen..... There are supposed to be MOS specific PT tests coming out too, maybe, maybe not, I can tell you the Army has been discussing a revamped PT test for literally decades.......its bound to actually happen one of these days....perhaps sooner rather than later.

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.

Sounds like a very reasonable idea SSG (Join to see). What are the proposed requirements for the MIB?

Agree with the others. Can you provide a source?

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.

yes we need more badges because we do not have enough now. get serious people.

Since I'm biased I won't comment on the applicability according to MOS (because I feel if you qualified, you qualified, regardless of later MOS [change, etc.], but I definitely feel we'll always need such awards and distinctions because even in the "modern war theater" infantry troops will always be needed- who else are you going to send after a massive EMP blast or even a serious, ongoing SATCOM failure or similar threat to the mission. There's no substitute for human eyes and bodies in such a (very possible) scenario.
-Ed