Posted on Feb 9, 2014
CW2 CH-47F Pilot
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For instance, if a Soldier earned both a CIB and EIB, they are not able to wear both. &nbsp;I believe we should either be able to wear both or have some other way to distinguish someone who has both. &nbsp;Maybe a full color badge with the ACU if you earned both badges? &nbsp;Just a thought.<div><br></div><div>I actually never wear my EIB, despite the fact that only about 10% of my MOS has one. &nbsp;The CIB is considered a more "esteemed" badge. &nbsp;<br><div><br></div><div>The EFMB and CFMB medic badges also fall into this category.</div></div>
Edited >1 y ago
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CPT Senior Instructor
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Mib
I like this idea. They should make a Master Infantry Badge (MIB). I got bored and threw something together. I would sport this. What say you? Everyone else is getting badges, the infantry is due for something new.
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MSG Infantryman
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Don't be a clown !
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1SG(P) First Sergeant
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I've both and don't feel slighted in the least. There's probably something more important to worry about.
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CPT Jim Schwebach
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Edited 10 y ago
Had they used live ammunition and really unfriendly people trying to do me damage personally during my EIB testing and had that testing gone on for three years after I passed I'd be glad to wear my EIB instead of my CIB.
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LTC Substitute Teacher
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I think it would look funny to wear both EIB and CIB and CMB/EFMB. I do think some kind of mark on the combat badge to show you earned both is good. True the combat badges are awarded; Ive never been in combat but I think that would be more rigorous to me than taking the test, as rigorous the test may be. I was fortunate to have earned the EFMB; I am more proud to wear that than anything else not because it a feather on my cap, but because Im proud to be part of the "fraternity" of our outstanding soldier-medics!
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LTC Substitute Teacher
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I think some ad-on symbol on the combat badge showing both were earned would be appropriate.
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SSG Parachute Rigger
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I totally agree with you CW2 (Join to see).

One solution might be a redesign of the badge completely. There should be a way to distinguish those who have earned the coveted EIB or EFMB respectively as these show excellence within the M.O.S.

It could be something that an individual could submit and get recognized for.
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SSG Johnnie Lawson
SSG Johnnie Lawson
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I have 3 of the 4 mentioned... hard for me to understand your mention of "Coveted"... as I have only heard opinions personally that My CMB was confused as a WuTangClan button...

ALL are EARNED!
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SSG Parachute Rigger
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SSG Johnnie Lawson, it can be argued that a Combat badge is an "Award" for actions during deployment to a hostile area.
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SFC(P) Infantryman
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I like the idea put forth earlier about Gold leaf around the musket, wouldn't be that hard, they already do it for combat jumps with their gold stars.
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SFC(P) Readiness Nco
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Even a gold rifle...
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SFC(P) Infantryman
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Yeah, gold rifle would be nice. We need to do something to seperate us from all the CAB soldiers, haha.
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MSG Infantryman
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The small group of soldiers that feel the need to have their entire 201 file on display on their uniforms and POVs.. . . . .
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SGT Shon D. Hill
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Awesome post! Yes please Sir, ma'am, Sergeant, etc...I earned both the EFMB (as a young 19 year-old PFC, much to my surprise lol!) and 10 years later earned CMB in Iraq (would gladly give it back to have 3 brothers return home). It would be great to somehow show both awards, same for da' grunts ;)
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CW3 Senior Instructor Pilot
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From a completely outside perspective (I'm aviation), I have senior crewmember wings.  There's no 'combat crew wings', and the wings are awarded by the MOS, even to those who don't actually crew.  To me that's absurd but besides the point.  I'm about to go to flight school though, and I'll have aviator wings, and I will not be able to wear both.  I don't mind that at all as I rarely ever put any badges at all (wings, air assault, cab(actually earned)).  My ASU's tell all, but my duty uniform eh, it gets dirty.  I do not know if wearing aviator wings is REQUIRED, but if given the option, it's only going to go on my ASU's.  Leave the eye candy for the ASU's is my take I suppose.  That being said, no one really cares what's on anyone's chest in duty uniform.  Combat patch, and tabs should pretty much say all the bragging to be quite frank. 
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SFC(P) Infantryman
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I disagree to an extent. Skills badges denote just that, skills and keeping them secret to me says why did you even go to the school to begin with. Those patches represent you and you should be proud of them. When I see an NCO with a Drill Sergeant badge, I know I will expect a certain amount out of them, if I don't see that, then, well, maybe it's a bias, but if you haven't been on the Trail for a couple years, then you wouldn't understand. Same goes for a Ranger, Sapper, Special Forces, you know what you are getting. Duty uniform or not, you earned them, wear them. We are going to come to a point very soon where those skills and schools will set you apart from the rest, just like it did pre-war. Plus, it just shows that you have a little pride in yourself and it shows junior soldiers what they can aspire to.
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CW3 Senior Instructor Pilot
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For the most part I agree with you as you put it. I personally make a distinction between a drill Sergeant patch and air assault wings. Drill sergeant can be viewed as a profession in itself. MOS is not necessarily a factor to become a drill Sergeant. Infantry badges are pretty MOS specific. Other skill badges like airborne, air assault, hell even marksmanship, aren't generally professions in and of themselves. For the most part anyone can get ranger rab, but a Ranger PATCH says far more, that makes it a profession. I guess what I'm saying is, professions ate respectable, skills are a dime a dozen.
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MAJ Health Services Systems Management
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I'm on the fence about change so I would recommend that no change occur to the award of wearable classes on the ACU but would like to be able to wear multiple Class I and II badges on the dress uniform.
We could argue that it is possible to run out of room above the breast pocket so it could read that if multiple Class I or II badges are worn no more than three rows of ribbons/medals be worn.

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SFC Thomas Van Valkenburg
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It sounds like someone is really over thinking this, leave it alone. If you tried to go this route then what would you look like if you had the parachutist badge, senior parachutist badge and then the master parachutist badge. You don't want real soldiers to look like the ones you see on you tube under Stolen Valor.
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MSG Infantryman
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Well said
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SFC Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst
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Jesus, like it's not bad enough the our ASUs have so much bling....how about wearing both a CIB and a EIB at the same time? lol

I guess we don't call them "I love me badges" for no reason.
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SSG Squad Leader
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EIB+CIB= Gold rifle on award. The same could work for the other awards?
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LTC Lewis Cox
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Good idea!
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LTC Lewis Cox
LTC Lewis Cox
10 y
When I earned my EIB in 1956 with the 3rd Infantry Division there were only about 35 of us out of the entire Division who earned it. I can only feel the standards have been lowered! Too many are receiving it. This degrades the value of earning the badge!
In my BN only 5 out of over 1200 passed. Comments?
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MSG Infantryman
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I earned my CIB in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, an EIB did not help me out of that mess.
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SFC(P) Readiness Nco
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I think SFC Watson is on to something. Gold trimmed CIB or CFMB would do the trick, and easy to create for the subdued version.
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SGT(P) Signals Acquisition/Exploitation Analyst
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Edited >1 y ago

There's been talk about that for a bit now.


I think that some sort of recognition of having both would be appropriate .

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MSG Infantryman
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It is the chain of command that initiates the necessary paperwork for any awards and that is where the criteria needs to be closely interpreted. I have know REMFs that went to 11B MOSQ but when it came time to be a Grunt, they were deemed totally useless. There is no need for a distinction in having both CIB and EIB, wear the award you want if you have that option. I didn't wear my CIB (earned from harassing small weapons fire) till I survived an IED detonation in my assigned vehicle. The vehicle was a total loss & all paxs survived. I EARNED MY CIB and that's why I wear it.
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SA Harold Hansmann
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Even simpler solution: "badges, we don't need no stinkin badges."
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LTC Lewis Cox
LTC Lewis Cox
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Ah! Come-on! Just at a glance a stranger can see your basic his story from a glance at your Chest! Wear them, if you have them!
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MSG Infantryman
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LTC LEWIS COX sound like you're part of the small group people that feel the need to have their entire 201 file on display on their uniforms and POVs.
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SSG John Erny
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Edited 10 y ago
Put a bayonet on the rifle fore those who have both, that would look.....Sharp!

Not a ref. to SHARP training.....NO
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SA Harold Hansmann
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Simple solution to your problem: take both badges to the bandsaw and cut them in half and attach 1/2 of each on to the opposite other and make a new badge that covers both badges.
See how easy that was.
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