Posted on Apr 5, 2015
What are your thoughts on the Combat Action Badge, and it becoming retroactive to 1941?
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The Combat Action Badge was created in 2005 to honor those who'd engaged or been engaged by enemy forces during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but weren't eligible for similar awards available to medics or infantrymen.
It was made retroactive to Sept. 18, 2001, but since shortly after its founding, lawmakers and veterans groups have pushed to send it back much farther — to the outbreak of World War II.
As Maneuver Support Soldier, I know support personal (like Aviation, Engineers, MPs, Truck Drivers, etc. (in addition to our Medics who accompany maneuver forces) are often also directly engaged in close combat along side of our infantry and armor brothers. So, the CAB made sense to me, to accompany the CIB and CMB.
Despite the frenzy that ensued, and discussions of "CAB hunters," I still believe this is an important award, especially for MOSs like MP and Engineers.... who, as an example, during the surge in Iraq were rivaling our combat arms brothers in daily combat casualties.
I was personally shot at more and returned fire more in Somalia, than Iraq. So, this being retroactive also makes sense.
I think this is a good idea, and deserved, however, the logistics of doing this will be overwhelming.
Before you CAB naysayers chime in... Consider COP Keating... Those guys were not 11Bs. They were scouts and armor crewmen. 2 MOHs and many other medals were awarded there. 8 Soldiers were killed and many were wounded. Does not that merit such an award? There are many others like it.
What are your thoughts?
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/04/04/combat-action-badge-retroactive/25235333/
It was made retroactive to Sept. 18, 2001, but since shortly after its founding, lawmakers and veterans groups have pushed to send it back much farther — to the outbreak of World War II.
As Maneuver Support Soldier, I know support personal (like Aviation, Engineers, MPs, Truck Drivers, etc. (in addition to our Medics who accompany maneuver forces) are often also directly engaged in close combat along side of our infantry and armor brothers. So, the CAB made sense to me, to accompany the CIB and CMB.
Despite the frenzy that ensued, and discussions of "CAB hunters," I still believe this is an important award, especially for MOSs like MP and Engineers.... who, as an example, during the surge in Iraq were rivaling our combat arms brothers in daily combat casualties.
I was personally shot at more and returned fire more in Somalia, than Iraq. So, this being retroactive also makes sense.
I think this is a good idea, and deserved, however, the logistics of doing this will be overwhelming.
Before you CAB naysayers chime in... Consider COP Keating... Those guys were not 11Bs. They were scouts and armor crewmen. 2 MOHs and many other medals were awarded there. 8 Soldiers were killed and many were wounded. Does not that merit such an award? There are many others like it.
What are your thoughts?
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/04/04/combat-action-badge-retroactive/25235333/
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 75
I think that's going too far. How are they going to document the eligibility of millions of potential recipients. Yes, I can see it if they give it only to those who received Purple Hearts in non-Infantry or Medical MOS's but otherwise it will be more trouble than its worth.
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Retroactive to 1941? What would be the criteria? No disrespect to those who've earned it, (my son's one of them), but expanding eligibility would, IMHO, cheapen it to the level of a participation trophy. Personally, if it's not on my DD-214, I didn't earn it, and don't want it.
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I don’t get the bruised egos here. The CAB literally takes nothing away from the infantry guys. And also, armor, cav, cooks, maintainers, etc. don’t necessarily choose other jobs out of “self-preservation”, but where can I be of more benefit to the overall effort.
Infantry is a combat profession, but not the only one. Maybe the toughest one, but again, not the only one. So why should infantry be recognized for combat service and nobody else?
Yeah most of us enlisted during wartime, including the infantry guys, so we ALL knew the risks that come. How does that mean that only infantry should be recognized for combat service? That logic would more suggest that there be no combat badges, or maybe just one blanket combat award, like every other branch—letting your MOS/AFSC/Rating speak for the conditions in which you served. Why don’t we all quit ragging on each other and support one another because in the end, we all did our part, and we should all be proud of our efforts. Quit one-uping.
Infantry is a combat profession, but not the only one. Maybe the toughest one, but again, not the only one. So why should infantry be recognized for combat service and nobody else?
Yeah most of us enlisted during wartime, including the infantry guys, so we ALL knew the risks that come. How does that mean that only infantry should be recognized for combat service? That logic would more suggest that there be no combat badges, or maybe just one blanket combat award, like every other branch—letting your MOS/AFSC/Rating speak for the conditions in which you served. Why don’t we all quit ragging on each other and support one another because in the end, we all did our part, and we should all be proud of our efforts. Quit one-uping.
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I’m a DS/DS veteran, I was A 13b at that time, did my job, engaged the enemy multiple times. After the war I joined the ONG, served as a 11b for 8 years. Did a stint in Bosnia. I consider myself Infantry! I never tested for the EIB nor did I earn the CIB. Both are highly desired! But not having them does not diminish my pride in service!!! My actions would have earn the CAB if it had been around at my time of war, I do not feel the need to receive it. It’s abstract to my service timeline. For those that have earned it, I say, “job well done”.
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