Too many CABs?..... Probably not?

2018-08-15T16:24:19-04:00

Occasionally I have conversations with young troops that leave me scratching my head and saying where did that come from. This started with a young Soldier asking me if I was aware that CABs weren’t retroactive when I was getting a replacement for mine that was all scratched up. I replied roger, thanks. Kid then says they gave ‘em out like candy, Me; must be a unit thing. Which got me thinking……..
With a tooth to tail ratio of 1 to 2.5 for Iraq (Ft Leavenworth’s, the long war, occasional paper #23) The 106,600 CABs awarded over the duration of OIF with 1.5 million Soldiers having served (DPCC, Iraq by the numbers) amount to about +/- 8% of the total force. While 78,146 CIBs were awarded or about +/- 3% of the force. Surprisingly 8% is about a 2.5 to 1 ratio to 3%. Which leads me to believe that the CAB was awarded in about or close to the numbers that it could have been expected to be.
Then consider that every Soldier who was not an infantryman who received the Purple Heart was authorized consideration for the CAB (or the CMB). Add to that every non Infantry Soldier who was in a vehicle hit by an EFP or IED or VBIED regardless of if they were wounded or not (figure 3 to 5 troops per vehicle). Adds up pretty quick and those are objective and hard to argue against.
Direct and indirect fire incidents where bullets are flying around and mortars are dropping in, are a little harder with having to consider kill radius and cover but they can’t be discounted out of hand.
So while I have no doubt that there were instances of the candy man sowing joy, love, and CABs on folks. I’m pretty confident even with the shallow dive research that the bulk of Commanders did their due diligence in protecting the intended esteem of the CAB and the vast majority of those out there ought to be.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Aug 15 at 2018 4:37 PM

2018-08-15T16:37:09-04:00

CMB's don't come with Purple Hearts, you have to be integral to a combat arms unit that actually engages in combat while performing medical duties.. Had this candy bar been around 50 years ago, 3 million would have been awarded.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 15 at 2018 8:03 PM

2018-08-15T20:03:28-04:00

Nice work, interesting, detailed report. CSM Richard StCyr

Response by MSG David Johnson made Aug 15 at 2018 8:20 PM

2018-08-15T20:20:27-04:00

I voted 'Too Many'. While doing Route Clearance in Ramadi 2006-07 we would get officers from different units that would request to go out on mission with us so they could possibly get their CAB. The unit we replaced warned us about this, and it continued for most of the time we were there.
We called them CAB Rides, these were staff officers, or commanders of units that would not normally go outside the wire, and there was only one reason they were going out with us.
It got to the point that no paperwork would be done unless an IED detonated on the vehicle the person was in. Our company had over 50% Purple Heart rate the last I heard.

In my opinion, at least in our area, there were too many Soldiers awarded CABs who did not really deserve one.