Posted on Mar 21, 2014
Should Medics be eligible to receive the CMB regardless of unit? Should medics be 100 percent ineligible for the CAB?
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Regulation sets up a catch 22 for medics who are engaged in combat.
Iraq 2006 I was engaged in combat and had to treat a small girl who received shrapnel. As a medic, if I was with in a combat arms unit I would qualify for the CMB; however, we were under the 89th MP Brigade and I could only receive the CAB, which I would have received regardless of providing medical treatment or not.
Afghanistan 2009 still with the MPs I was engaged in combat and treated a GSW to the leg. This time we were under 2-12 IN and I received the CMB. The issue is my Soldier at the time was also engaged in combat during the deployment, but she never provided any medical treatment. Since we were medics assigned to a CMB eligible unit she could not receive the CAB, so while all the MPs received CABs she received nothing.
Am I the only one who thinks this is unfair? Should Medics be eligible to receive the CMB regardless of unit? Should medics be 100 percent ineligible for the CAB?
You could look at the regulation if you want, but the FAQ on HRC regarding CABs is very useful.
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Combat
Medics
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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Medic should be given one with Oak Leaves and Diamond clusters if they save my butt on a battlefield.
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SGT Edward Thomas
I don't get the whole CAB thing. I was in Signal Corps so I knew in combat I would never get a CIB/CMB and I was okay with that. Did I ever see any action? Yes I did. I still don't need a "special" badge for what I experienced. A handshake and pat on the back from the "B" Team Commander was all I needed. Of course we all got the patches, the ribbons and medals but no badge was necessary . AATW!
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SGT William Howell
SGT Edward Thomas The CAB is really each to there own. I am proud of mine. What I really think about is when I was a young Sailor and seeing Vietnam Vets with CIBs on a Army base. (This was in the early 90's. The only thing big thing going on was the Cold War.) I remember thinking "Those guys with a CIB were in the shit." It does not mean as much right now because there are tons of people that have the CAB, but as people leave the services and these wars wind down it will still mean you were in the shit to some young soldier looking at you.
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I have to agree with you that Medics should receive a CMB regardless of unit affiliation. With the advent of the CAB that means that any unit can be considered "engaged in combat" thus if a medic is attached to a unit that receives a CAB and meets the requirements for a CMB that is what they should receive. It was my understanding that the CAB was created for units involved in combat that were not eligible for a CIB/CMB so I don't see why medics would qualify for both.
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SFC David Cook
SGT Elphick,
Thanks for your response. I would happily give up the CAB in support of changing the regulation, it's always been like getting a 3rd place ribbon.
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LTC Paul Labrador
MAJ Keith Young, IIRC one of the proposed changes to 670-1 only allows for 1 combat badge to be worn. Not sure if that one made it past the final cut.
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I had a doc that deployed with my MP unit in 03 to Iraq. Our mission was far from the traditional MP role. We were tasked with a great number of infantry related missions and my doc was incredible throughout our tour. I don't feel any of my fellow MP's or I deserve a CIB for our actions and I am fine with the CAB as a nice compromise (while I wish the criteria was a little more stringent). However, I do not see why other medics that are not combat arms are not eligible to receive the CMB. I understand it was intended for infantry medics, but that was based off of old war fighting standards and those standards are now blurred. I feel the medics who would qualify for the CMB outside of combat arms should qualify for the CMB. I would also like to see the criteria be beefed up a bit to ensure only those who were in actual combat earn the badge.
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