What are the requirements for a Combat Action Badge versus a Combat Medical Badge?

As the regs were initially written, the CAB was for any person participating in combat action who doesn't qualify for a CMB or CIB. The assignment qualifications are straightforward... since Desert Storm, assignment to a regimental or brigade (or lower) combat arms unit. For the CMB, the duty phase is more arduous. You must have rendered treatment to a combat casualty while being engaged by enemy combatants.

This means that if you are pulling sick call on a diarrhea patient and get incoming, you don't meet the duty requirement. Members of a division medical unit who gets shot up and treat casualties also don't qualify because of the assignment (although a brigade Charlie Med would.)

Both organic and attached personnel qualify, incidentally. My regiment had additional wheeled ambulances attached from a Guard unit, and because they were attached at the squadron/battalion level, they were eligible of the situation dictated.

Dont worry about it man you got a badge worth 30 points it doesn't define you or what you have done.

Too add to the top, basically. Performing medical duties is something you could argue i did that day, by just being the medic, or getting a sitrep on everyone's health during and after... when I asked HRC if there was anyway to initiate a review to retroactively change the award, he basically told me to shut my mouth and be happy I got an award, and that he could pull it from my file if he wanted to be a dick... should I just drop it and get over it? Anyone else have stories of medics either getting a CAB or shafted while their infantry buddies get awarded the CIB for just being engaged?

I believe the CIB is only given to those in MOS: 11B

Downrange, our medics earned their CMB while rendering AID to wounded while the rest of the PLT was in the fight. They were put in for CMB specific not CAB. It is though entirely up to the unit to read the bullets of the award and then decide if it signifies the right action for a CAB or a CMB. Most medics I know have their CMB. all medics I know, have received their CMB while rendering AID though since that's what is in the reg. A medic who just helps to engage the enemy and suppress the enemy without rendering aid isn't carrying out the MEDICAL portion which is in the CMB.

No it doesn't.
For the CMB you must render medical aid under fire; explosion and gunfire. You think being a Medic is stressful then doing so with rounds hitting near you is far worse. The rest of the squad is supposed to lay down covering fire, the PS or LG on the radio while giving instructions, and the Medic covered or behind something to treat the wounded. The reqs for both are online.

As a medic you can be awarded a CAB (current in AR600-8-22) - I got one in Afghanistan in 2017 so it is a thing. Just cuz you’re a medic doesn’t mean you cant get one.

however, if you are awarded a CMB, you cannot wear both awards on your uniform - as far as i am aware, the CMB will supercede the CAB, though if you prefer the CAB I doubt anyone will argue with you about wearing it over a CMB...not that any self respecting medic would but just saying.

I was a 91B Airborne medic attached to the 19th Combat Engineer Battalion, 18th Brigade, in Viet Nam. I was awarded the Bronze Star with the "V" for action on 12/29/69. We had 2 KIA that day along with 14 wounded. Mortars, B-40 rocket, machine gun fire plus AK-47. I got out 4 guys that day. Later in the year I was wounded on March 6, 1970 and received a Purple Heart. According to the new rules in 2005, I was with a combat arms unit. I always felt I should have been eligible for the CMB but my unit I was attached to was a "Combat Engineer Unit." Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks. SP5 "Doc" Hillyer

Much respect to the Docs and Medics out there I wouldn't do that. Is the award for being under fire as a medic or actually having to administer aid? Seems silly IMO to be neglected because fortunately no one was hit. You were engaged in ground combat , or mortared , or rocketed, and no one was hurt. You were there willing to do your part. Seems arbitrary.

I was in a similar situation on the deployment I was on last year. There were previous times we had taken direct fire and obviously a lot of IDF on a FOB and off the FOB, I hadn't needed to render any aid to any of my guys at the time thankfully but I was put in for a CAB nonetheless for participating in the fun. The CAB was denied seeing as I was attatched to the infantry and the only badge I could earn by doctrine is the CMB.