Posted on May 27, 2017
PV2 Athelete
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SGT Tony Long
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It's all attitude. When I was in 1981 - 1986, and all the other men got off duty they would usually go out drinking, etc. I would stay on base in my barracks and study my military manuals. Attn. to details young man. Always do what will make you a better soldier.
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SPC Kelly Grindstaff
SPC Kelly Grindstaff
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I was Infantry during the Same time period and when I got bored I did read all the manuals, Drove the Sgts and Officers crazy that I would be spot on to standard. I partied a hell of a lot to..
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SFC Mark Biggs
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Promotions above E-4 are usually faster for Infantry soldiers. The reason is that Infantry has more Sergeants, so more Specialists get promoted. In order to excell, you need to be the soldier who stands above your peers in everything - best uniform, best marksmanship, best PT score, etc. If you are going to be the best, be Infantry, earn your EIB, go Airborne Ranger, go SF. Make it difficult to promote the other guy, because you are THE most outstanding soldier in your unit.
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SGT(P) Master Driver
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No, but needs to have combat experience. Doesn't need to be a Ranger or infrantry either. Their are other mos out there.
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Lt Col Jim Coe
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F47efcf5
My brief (6 years) experience with the Army shows the Combat Arms soldiers do better over a 20-year career. This is an entirely subjective observation based no my time as an Army Civilian. The Combat Service and Combat Service Support soldiers often do well within their MOS groups, but don't make it to the most senior leadership positions in the Army. Transportation is an example of this. The most senior Transportation Officer is normally a Maj Gen. Gen Dunwoody is and exception as SSG Robert Webster noted. It's important to know that Gen Dunwoody made the jump from Transportation to Logistics to advance her career beyond Commanding SDDC as a 2-star to Commanding AMC.

Combat Arms Soldiers and their equivalents in the other Services tend to be the Chiefs of Staff and serve in positions of similar leadership responsibility and rank.
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MAJ Operations Officer (S3)
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Edited 8 y ago
No, but it definitely helps. There's a reason the majority of our senior leaders are combat arms. Tabs, badges, etc. also provide a certain level of credibility. I wouldn't get too hung up on them however. It's already becoming increasingly rare to have a CIB below the E6 level. EIBs are more common, but it still ultimately depends on the unit. You would be surprised how many active duty Soldiers in mech units don't have EIBs.

With that said, even if you're Infantry you may never get the opportunity to earn either one. In 11 years in the ARNG I've never had the opportunity to participate in an EIB event. At this point my Battalion doesn't even have enough qualified graders to conduct one. The same goes for a CIB. I've deployed twice as a combat arms Soldier. Even leading troops "outside the wire" in Iraq I never experienced anything that would qualify me for a CAB or CIB. A lot of it's simply the luck of the draw.
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COL Jeff Williams
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As I am sure many on this thread can attest to, if you spend most of your time focusing on getting promoted or moving swiftly through the ranks, chances are you will not. Also when you do that, people notice. Focus on your Soldiers and your mission and everything else will fall in place
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
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I ass only a sp. 4 combat infantryman in Viet nam. I did my 2 years and got out (drafted). and to me the CIB is a badge of honor. It proves that the soldier was actually in combat not a REMF. I don't care if the soldier is a private or a general I respect anyone who has earned the CIB. I do think it matters for gaining rank.
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MAJ Bruce I.
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Yes, it is important. Ranger and Airborne Schools too.
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SSG Leo Curtis
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It depends on what your definition of Excel is if you want to general of the army it would not hurt if you are looking to be a base commander just be all you can be.
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SGT John C.
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to answer your question simply...No. It is YOU the soldier who will make or break your career and nobody else. I knew a lot of senior NCO's with no Combat Badges and they all were successful in their chosen military career. You are the ultimate arbiter of how far you can/will go. Good luck to you
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