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/
Awards
Badges
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 75
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Why not a ribbon like the Navy and Marine Corps? This way anyone who meets the criteria can get it awarded.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Yeah, I've seen my brothers uniform. He is airborne, does something in supply and he has a lot of flair on his uniform too.
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TSgt David L.
Gotcha SSgt Jonathan Bowler I know it was talked about but I didn't know it was now authorized. My troops and I were deployed just as the CAM was in the works and the packages for both the CAB and CAM got lost in the shuffle so we never got either one. Kind of pissed me off that I couldn't take care of my troops but shit happens.
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The ones that do really need to get it, seem to be forgotten the most! 19 Series; Tankers and Scouts!!!! As the motto is for Scouts: "Out Front" alone should explain itself!!!!!!
"Garry Owen"
"Garry Owen"
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I am one that would be eligible if it were made retroactive. I suppose if I were still serving it would be nice to get, but I got out in 1998. I have all my ribbons and badges somewhere in the basement. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of my service and the things I did during those 12 years, but at this point another badge to sit in the box down stairs really means nothing to me. I don't have an objection to it, but don't find it necessary either. I bet it would mean even less to older vets.
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I don't have a problem with the CAB personally, so long as it is awarded (not given) to the right people and that the criteria is met as stated in the regulation. I see there are a lot of people arguing over the validity of this badge, which in my opinion should be another topic altogether. The question at hand is whether or not the CAB should be retroactively awarded for previous conflicts.
I believe that the award should not be awarded retroactively for the simple fact that the logistics needed and manpower to ensure that it is done properly would be monumentally wasteful, especially in a modern Army that is focusing on reducing the force and appropriating resources elsewhere.
The Army has always been good at throwing money at projects that serve little or no use for the organization as a whole, and I believe this to be one of them. We need to focus more on the Army we have now and how we're going to move forward as a force rather than petty things such as this in my opinion.
I believe that the award should not be awarded retroactively for the simple fact that the logistics needed and manpower to ensure that it is done properly would be monumentally wasteful, especially in a modern Army that is focusing on reducing the force and appropriating resources elsewhere.
The Army has always been good at throwing money at projects that serve little or no use for the organization as a whole, and I believe this to be one of them. We need to focus more on the Army we have now and how we're going to move forward as a force rather than petty things such as this in my opinion.
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I agree it should be dated farther back then just OIF/OEF. Those men and women deserve to be recognized just an much as we do(OIF/OEF veterans)
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SSG(P) (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) yous guy voted this idea down, but provide no comments?
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The CAB is a ludicrous gimme award. It's a participation trophy. Why would anyone want that thing?
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COL Charles Williams
I disagree SGT Bill Goodwin, but you are entitled to your opinion. The issue with the CAB (and the frenzy surrounding its roll-out) was that every Commander interpreted the guidance differently. My brigades were very tight without... other units not so much. This has also happened with the CIB. No awards are gimmes, in my view.
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We were told at the end of Desert Storm, by MG Griffin, that they were looking to award Scouts with the EIB and create a Combat Armor Crewman badge for tankers. Never heard about it again.
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COL Charles Williams
That is what the CAB was for.... Non-Infantry or 18 version of the CIB... which includes Armor.
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Good idea. We need to make sure our support elements get the recognition that they deserve. This coming from myself who is an engineer and a recipient of the combat action badge.
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