Should Engineers have a Combat Engineer Badge?

To be honest, you guys are the only ones in the army that have your own buttons. Let not be too greedy here.

No, the CAB is bad enough already. &nbsp;The CIB only exists due to the need to raise the profile of the infantry during World War II. &nbsp;The same is true for the blue discs and a very short-lived attempt to change their title to "Fighter." &nbsp;Prior to the CAB, each of the combat arms branches had their own unofficial combat action badges that were not authorized for wear IAW AR 670-1.<br><br>The CAB was only created in place of a combat action ribbon after the fairness of the being worn in a combat uniform vs. the ribbon being dress only was questioned. &nbsp;I really wish we had never dreamed it up; it's become a new piece of window dressing for people to put their lives and others at risk unnecessarily so as to ensure promotion.<br><br>Note: I am not knocking on actual combat action badges or even combat accident badges. &nbsp;I am referring specifically to CAB hunters who went on repeat convoys until they got hit and hid behind their desks thereafter with a mission accomplished banner.

If this lack of recognition is so intolerable, just reenlist for the Infantry.<br>

I would like to comment on the Combat Engineer Badge when I was in Vietnam we were attached out to just about Infantry battalion in the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division when we were sweeping the roads I did not see the infantry get off that dam APC's. When we were in a firefight the infantry was dam glade to see us also I have walked the point more than a few times when we had to blow mines boob traps we did not see the infantry around. So don't tell me were not in combat. I will give credit where credit is due I was very close to my infantry Brothers. I guess you must have been talking about the Construction Engineers. Also we were attached to the Arvin Rangers for over 30 days at a time. we were very proud to have been a Combat Engineer so if you think that Combat Engineers do not see combat well you all can Kiss My Ass and yes we do need our own dam badge.

Don Onley
MSG US Army (Retired)
65th Combat Engineer Battalion

P.S. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

They should be authorized to hang an M81 initiator from the breast pocket.&nbsp; <br>

I hate CAB hunters just as much as anyone else, that's why I rarely wear mine.  but I think Engineers would actually be proud to wear a badge that was solely for them instead of wearing the same badge as a non combat MOS.  I'm sure the FA, Scouts would feel the same if they had their own badge to wear.

Nope, that's a slippery slope. You will have everyone wanting a unique badge. If you want something to stand out you can get a sapper tab.

Awards/Medals = overrated. I have such a bitter taste in my mouth over medals & the CAB. In 2004 our Company was told that only 5% of the company would be awarded Bronze Stars. That 5% made up the officers, Truckmaster, PSGs, and that's about it - Yay, I get one for leadership (note sarcasm), but my soldiers who risked life & limb jumping into burning 915s weren't worthy?! It devalues my Bronze Star, because I know in my heart of hearts that I have men that fought by my side that truly deserved better. The CAB, while it was an honor to receive in 2006, now I think that it has been over used & presented w/o true Combat Action. I agree that just because a mortar goes off on your installation does NOT define you as a COMBAT soldier. MOS, gender, etc. does not define you as a combat soldier. The action you saw, your performance under actual fire/ied/road side bombs... THAT is what makes you a combat soldier. A mortar touching ground a mile away doesn't cut it.

The CAB is enough. There are plenty of maneuver support personnel that leave the FOB. Transportation probably spends as much time on the roads as an infantry unit. I despise these things in the first place. There was a move to make an Expert Armor Badge a while ago too. That was dumb as hell. I find it amusing that we are all supposed to be experts in our field, but when the testing comes out, there is only a 25% pass rate. If we have a CAB, then it's time to do away with the CIB as well. The Armor and the Cavalry spend just as much time in combat with the enemy as the infantry does, and there's no special "make you feel better about your job badge."

No, while they may perform many dangerous missions outside the wire, they are no more "special" than the many other MOSs that perform their own dangerous missions. Their is a reason, although debatable today, why the CIB was initially created during WWII, it was to honor the hard life of the Infantryman during combat. It has been a long, bitter, and seemingly unfair award as viewed by the other Combat Arms MOSs over the years, especially since DS/DS. The CAB was initially created to be awarded to the other Combat Arms MOSs to recognize the hardships that they too experience during times of conflict, but with the non-linear battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, it became somewhat of an award given to any and all personnel who had experienced any sort of "combat". Like many Army awards, it has been/was abused and handed out like candy to the point that many view it as just another trinket. Me personally, I view mine with pride for mine was earned and awarded for my actions and those of my tank platoon during the initial combat of OIF.