Posted on Apr 5, 2015
COL Charles Williams
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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/
Posted in these groups: Us medals AwardsHqdefault Badges
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SSgt Station Commander
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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 Station Commander
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10 y
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.
TSgt David L.
10 y
The Air Force has a (Combat Action Medal) medal rather than just a ribbon or another badge. Feel free to dog the AF for it's "combat" nature. LOL :-)
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TSgt David L.
TSgt David L.
10 y
SSgt Jonathan Bowler, most EOD troops have CABs as well. You may or may not know that we worked for the Army in Iraq. Too bad its not allowed to be worn on the AF uniform.
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TSgt David L.
TSgt David L.
10 y
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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SGT Thomas Lucken
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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"
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SSG Clayton Blackwell
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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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LTC Bink Romanick
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Yes.
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SGT Squad Leader
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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.
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CPL Rob Stephenson
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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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COL Charles Williams
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Edited >1 y ago
SSG(P) (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) yous guy voted this idea down, but provide no comments?
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SGT Bill Goodwin
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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
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
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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SSG Wayne Jumper
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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
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
That is what the CAB was for.... Non-Infantry or 18 version of the CIB... which includes Armor.
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SPC Team Leader
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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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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
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Hooah! Thanks for your comments!
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SPC James Johnson
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We def need the CAB, but it shouldn't be handed out like candy. The requirements should be equal to that(or pretty dang close) of the CIB. I can understand being hit by an IED and not having a target to engage afterwards, or a handful of similar situations also.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
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Hooah! Thanks for your comments!
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SrA Mark Riv
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If you served your country during hostile action sure
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
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Hooah! Thanks for your comments!
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SFC Senior Drill Sergeant
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Holy Crap! I can't believe this is being discussed, the award shouldn't even exist in the first place. Statistics show that the vast majority of casualties are borne by Infantrymen and that the percentage has doubled since WW2. The award criteria are more stringent for the CIB for good reason, the fights we get in are vastly different than a simple IED, IDF, or smattering of small arms fire. Stop pandering to the soft skill Soldiers and axe the stupid award.
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SFC Senior Drill Sergeant
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>1 y
Ha! I will be the first to tell you that my beloved Army's award system is far from perfect (hell, nothing in the army is even close to perfect). I'm sure there are many thousands of undeserved awards of all types handed out over the years. However, the CIB and CMB were created to recognize the special sacrifice that the infantryman and his medics make on the battlefield. Again, what infantrymen do to make contact, once in contact, and to finish contact is very much different than what anyone else in the Army does. I would argue that the CAB was created out of jealousy, and detracts from the prestige of the CIB and CMB. To clarify, I don't hate the rest of the Army or detract from what they do, I just think they often forget that point of everything the Army does is getting the grunts to kill the bad guys. Oh, and don't tempt me about an all Infantry Army, that sounds absolutely brilliant (only partially joking).
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2LT Scott Armstrong
2LT Scott Armstrong
>1 y
I don't like to diminish anyone's service but it seems ridiculous to reach back and award things that were not in existence at the time of service. That is checking a political box, not recognizing military service.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
Thanks SFC (Join to see) for responding. I loved my job in the Army, and believed being an MP was the most important job in the Army. I also learned as a young Armor Officer, Maneuver forces were the certain of the Army Universe, and really in the Army Infantry is the center of that universe. I also knew as a MP, that no cared if we were around until we are not there. That is the life of all support Soldiers, and aside from you (Infantry), we are all support Soldiers. We know, we are not the main effort, but we know you can't do it alone or without us. I have seen silliness with all awards, but I think the CAB was necessary for many of us, who while not Infantry, are out patrolling, searching for and finding the enemy, and fighting with you and in support of you. Thank you again, and thank you for your service.
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SFC Bill Hayes
SFC Bill Hayes
>1 y
yes I believe Inf do see a lot of action but Rome plow opeartors were one of the most award Purple Hearts of all Engineers Unit in Vietman,couldn"t be awarded a CIB
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SFC Emergency Preparedness   Risk Comm & Surge Planner
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All in
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SPC Jesse Cannon
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I wish they would allow something for the CAV other than CAB. Were combat arms but dont get the recognition for it like infantry and medics. Wed do 2-3 combat patrols daily but share an award with cooks
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
... And MPs (who do wide area security just like our Cav brothers 24/7), and Engineers, Truck Drivers... and a bunch of other Pogues... At one time each branch has a design, but one design made better sense; I think. SPC Jesse Cannon.
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SPC Jesse Cannon
SPC Jesse Cannon
>1 y
I see what your saying and it is a valid point and i guess my pride in the cavalry wants more since pretty much anyone can wear a stetson were loosing our uniqueness
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
I have a stetson, and spurs, and am in the order of the spur from two CAV units. SPC Jesse Cannon. At one time, they were consider awards by branch. I understand as a Armor Soldier, being grouped with the rest of us is not your choice.
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SPC Jesse Cannon
SPC Jesse Cannon
>1 y
Honestly at the end of the day we all have our job. Ive got close friends who were tankers , mechanics, even infanty and mps and would take a bullet for every one of them. And im sure the Cav is on its way out as it doesnt really have a place im the modern era of wars we fight. It doesnt bother me so much now that I am retired. I do feel if the right criteria is met then it should be given to those who earned it. I think its a great idea but im just a specialist
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SPC Clifton Sommer
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As a holder of the CIB, I see nothing wrong with this idea.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
Hooah! Thanks for your comments!
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MAJ Jim Woods
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I know this answer will get some negative reviews but here goes. No. It originated during a time when everyone needed a touchy feely. Everyone is jealous of the CIB. Only every one can't be Infantry. I am not saying that I haven't recognized the contribution that is required to support the Infantry. I just know that the Infantry's combat situation needs more Recognition. You want a combat specific award? Join the Infantry.
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COL Charles Williams
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COL All Source Intelligence
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While the retroactive plan is a valid and noble cause, the fact of it would be to just give them to everyone and make them even more tarnished than then are already...
The ability to exactly identify and prove those that were not only in DA combat would be difficult, AND that is specifically not the complete criteria for the CAB. The requirement for a CAB is that you are :
1. Personally engaged in Active, Ground Combat; AND
2. You complete an Offensive / Defensive Act while participating in combat operations, engaging, or being engaged by the enemy; AND
3. performing their assigned duties Associated with the unit’s combat mission; AND
4. Battle participation and Purple Heart are not sufficient;
I'd argue that dropping to the dirt doesn't count, IDF hits 20-50-100 meters away doesn't count, but that if you pull your weapon and returned fire in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement , that counts.
CABs (and CIBs) were given away as participation awards by several units over the last 20 years - highly tarnishing them. Specifically, I know a SGM who spent 2 hours in a bunker with no IDF within a click = got a CAB. The whole 2020 Jalalabad Admin unit was in a hard building when the FOB was attacked with no IDF within a half click and never left their desks = all got CABs. Complete failure of the Colonel to read and understand the regulation and criteria - Active, Ground Combat AND Offensive/Defensive Action AND Personally Engaged by or Engaging the Enemy.

PH / IDF / Battle Participation = Not Sufficient.

If DoD wants me to head up the effort with a team of 20 x 42s - I'd be happy to do it, but that also means I am going through all the CABs from 2001 to 2022 and there are going to be a lot of revocations... F

YI, I don't have a CAB and don't want one. I never ended up pulling my weapon in my 38 months down range and therefore can be a completely objective party. ;-)
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SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
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Yes, i think so.
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MSG James Devereaux
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I feel only nauseous. Soldiers and their shiny things... This is all because they were told they were all winners and who was first wasn’t important.
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MSG John Duchesneau
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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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SSG Kenneth Ponder
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Do away with it, its not needed
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SPC Donn Sinclair
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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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SrA Jared Hall
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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.
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SSG Howard Hicks
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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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