Posted on Aug 12, 2016
With support of Army grunts, NCO moves forward with combined CIB and EIB badge
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When Sgt. Robert Flak first came up with the idea for an award for soldiers who have earned both the Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge, he didn’t expect such an overwhelming response.
“I had people come out of the woodwork,” Flak said, after an article about the proposed award, tentatively called the Master Infantry Badge, appeared in Army Times.
Many soldiers e-mailed Flak, a human resources specialist, directly. Others responded on the Army Times Facebook page and in e-mails to the paper’s staff.
“For about two weeks, I read the comments,” Flak said. “I’m not going to lie, some of them hurt, but more often than not, [the comments] were positive. That inspired me.”
The positive feedback has spurred Flak to submit the paperwork required by the Army to get a new award approved by the Army.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Master Infantry Badge?
Army combat and special skill badges are divided into groups in order of precedence, according to Army Pamphlet 670-1. The CIB, which was established during World War II and recognizes infantry and Special Forces soldiers in the ranks of colonel and below who engage in active ground combat, and the EIB, which recognizes infantrymen who have demonstrated a mastery of critical tasks and skills, are both in group 1.
Army regulations allow soldiers to wear “only one combat or special skill badges from either group 1 or group 2” above their ribbons on the dress uniform. This means the CIB and EIB cannot be worn together.
The Master Infantry Badge, which would represent both awards, would fix that. Flak debated calling it instead the Expert Combat Infantry Badge, or ECIB, but he decided Master Infantry Badge had more "clout and prestige." Staff Sgt. Rusty Hutchison, an infantryman and Flak's friend, helped the NCO develop the name MIB.
What does it look like?
Flak’s design is a mix between the CIB and the EIB, with subtle color changes to signify what the new award would represent. The new badge would have a gold infantry musket and wreath instead of the usual silver.
Since going public with his proposal, Flak has talked to experts at The Institute of Heraldry, which is responsible for research, design, development, standardization, quality control and other services relating to the creation and custody of official heraldic items.
Flak said he learned that the award, as he designed it, “technically already exists.” It is meant to signify a fifth award of the CIB.
“But nobody’s ever gotten it, nobody would ever get it,” Flak said he was told. “Why would we have an award that nobody could ever get?”
Flak plans to submit his award design and, if it’s approved, seek a new name and policy change.
And because the proposed award looks so much like the existing CIB, it would not cost the Army any more money to produce, Flak said.
How do you earn a Master Infantry Badge?
Soldiers who have earned both the CIB and the EIB would qualify for the Master Infantry Badge, if it’s approved, Flak said. He would seek to retain the same approval authority – the first colonel in the soldier’s chain of command.
“If I’m not mistaken, the CIB and EIB both [require] brigade commander approval,” he said. “From my standpoint, it should stay the same. As an S1, if someone comes to me for orders for an MIB, I’d ask to see both the CIB and EIB, then I’d generate orders to send to the first O-6 for a decision.”
In his application packet, Flak also plans to propose that the MIB be worth 65 promotion points.
The CIB and EIB each are worth 30 promotion points. Soldiers with the MIB would gain five extra points, under Flak’s proposal, “to recognize you as a master in your craft,” he said. “That extra five points could help” soldiers gain an edge when competing for promotion.
How do you get a new award approved by the Army?
The soldier must submit an award recommendation though his chain of command. The submission goes to the Army Chief of Staff via the Awards and Decorations Branch at Human Resources Command, and it must go through the staffing process to ensure appropriate reviews.
Submissions must include information on training requirements or proficiency levels required for the award; input from the appropriate proponent or Army command; the award approval authority; an outline of basic eligibility requirements; and a description of the proposed badge.
Three new badges have been approved by the Army since January 2011, including the Space Badge, Master Recruiter Badge and Army Instructor Badge.
What’s next?
Flak recently moved from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Texas for recruiting duty, but he still plans to submit a proposal for the MIB. He’s already talked to his recruiting center leader, a sergeant first class, to get the OK to pursue this on his own time.
He’s also working with Vanguard Industries, which specializes in military insignia, to possibly get a couple of prototypes of the award to submit alongside the packet.
Flak said he plans to work on his submission “very shortly,” and he hopes commanders throughout the staffing process will sign off on his proposal.
Infantrymen across the Army deserve to be properly recognized, Flak said.
“They’re the ones keeping me safe at night, they’re the ones out there,” he said. “Why can’t they get recognition for something like this?”
“I had people come out of the woodwork,” Flak said, after an article about the proposed award, tentatively called the Master Infantry Badge, appeared in Army Times.
Many soldiers e-mailed Flak, a human resources specialist, directly. Others responded on the Army Times Facebook page and in e-mails to the paper’s staff.
“For about two weeks, I read the comments,” Flak said. “I’m not going to lie, some of them hurt, but more often than not, [the comments] were positive. That inspired me.”
The positive feedback has spurred Flak to submit the paperwork required by the Army to get a new award approved by the Army.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Master Infantry Badge?
Army combat and special skill badges are divided into groups in order of precedence, according to Army Pamphlet 670-1. The CIB, which was established during World War II and recognizes infantry and Special Forces soldiers in the ranks of colonel and below who engage in active ground combat, and the EIB, which recognizes infantrymen who have demonstrated a mastery of critical tasks and skills, are both in group 1.
Army regulations allow soldiers to wear “only one combat or special skill badges from either group 1 or group 2” above their ribbons on the dress uniform. This means the CIB and EIB cannot be worn together.
The Master Infantry Badge, which would represent both awards, would fix that. Flak debated calling it instead the Expert Combat Infantry Badge, or ECIB, but he decided Master Infantry Badge had more "clout and prestige." Staff Sgt. Rusty Hutchison, an infantryman and Flak's friend, helped the NCO develop the name MIB.
What does it look like?
Flak’s design is a mix between the CIB and the EIB, with subtle color changes to signify what the new award would represent. The new badge would have a gold infantry musket and wreath instead of the usual silver.
Since going public with his proposal, Flak has talked to experts at The Institute of Heraldry, which is responsible for research, design, development, standardization, quality control and other services relating to the creation and custody of official heraldic items.
Flak said he learned that the award, as he designed it, “technically already exists.” It is meant to signify a fifth award of the CIB.
“But nobody’s ever gotten it, nobody would ever get it,” Flak said he was told. “Why would we have an award that nobody could ever get?”
Flak plans to submit his award design and, if it’s approved, seek a new name and policy change.
And because the proposed award looks so much like the existing CIB, it would not cost the Army any more money to produce, Flak said.
How do you earn a Master Infantry Badge?
Soldiers who have earned both the CIB and the EIB would qualify for the Master Infantry Badge, if it’s approved, Flak said. He would seek to retain the same approval authority – the first colonel in the soldier’s chain of command.
“If I’m not mistaken, the CIB and EIB both [require] brigade commander approval,” he said. “From my standpoint, it should stay the same. As an S1, if someone comes to me for orders for an MIB, I’d ask to see both the CIB and EIB, then I’d generate orders to send to the first O-6 for a decision.”
In his application packet, Flak also plans to propose that the MIB be worth 65 promotion points.
The CIB and EIB each are worth 30 promotion points. Soldiers with the MIB would gain five extra points, under Flak’s proposal, “to recognize you as a master in your craft,” he said. “That extra five points could help” soldiers gain an edge when competing for promotion.
How do you get a new award approved by the Army?
The soldier must submit an award recommendation though his chain of command. The submission goes to the Army Chief of Staff via the Awards and Decorations Branch at Human Resources Command, and it must go through the staffing process to ensure appropriate reviews.
Submissions must include information on training requirements or proficiency levels required for the award; input from the appropriate proponent or Army command; the award approval authority; an outline of basic eligibility requirements; and a description of the proposed badge.
Three new badges have been approved by the Army since January 2011, including the Space Badge, Master Recruiter Badge and Army Instructor Badge.
What’s next?
Flak recently moved from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Texas for recruiting duty, but he still plans to submit a proposal for the MIB. He’s already talked to his recruiting center leader, a sergeant first class, to get the OK to pursue this on his own time.
He’s also working with Vanguard Industries, which specializes in military insignia, to possibly get a couple of prototypes of the award to submit alongside the packet.
Flak said he plans to work on his submission “very shortly,” and he hopes commanders throughout the staffing process will sign off on his proposal.
Infantrymen across the Army deserve to be properly recognized, Flak said.
“They’re the ones keeping me safe at night, they’re the ones out there,” he said. “Why can’t they get recognition for something like this?”
With support of Army grunts, NCO moves forward with combined CIB and EIB badge
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
Posted 6 y ago
As a retired infantryman with two CIB’s and an EIB over a 23 year career I must agree with the Marine here. An EIB doesn’t carry the weight it once did. Only 3 of us out of more than 500 soldiers earned the EIB when I received mine. Over the years as an instructor/grader for countless EIB Tests I have personally witnessed No Go’s being overturned by CSM’s in order to increase the number of EIB recipients for the unit. Not to mention the good ol’ boy system that passed buddies at various test sites. Although EIB Testing is a great training opportunity it really isn’t that much different than Soldier/NCO Boards that don’t give a true assessment of a soldiers actual ability to shoot, move and communicate under heavy fire from a determined enemy. An EIB says that the recipient is able to briefly remember what he is supposed to doin combat. A CIB states that the recipient did what he was supposed to do while under direct fire from an actual enemy not a make believe enemy as is the case with the EIB. Don’t worry about peacetime badges. Focus on knowing your job so that if and when that time comes you must go into battle you will be the one who comes home to cherish what is truly important. Your family and life you get to live out.
(23)
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1SG Tommy McGee
4 y
None of the services are as hard as they once were!! Ask anyone that Enlisted or retired 10 years before you, everyone says back in the old Army, Marines, Airforce, Navy, Coast Guard or any alphabet service that goes to combat with us.....they all say these service members are not near as tough as we were. Awards don’t make a good fighter but a good fighter will always have a lot recognition, be it awards, letters of appreciation, letters of Commendation, and a Miriad of other things.
(3)
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1SG Tommy McGee
4 y
LTC Wayne Brandon Awards in general are like that now and have been for awhile. I’ve seen a lot o bronze stars handed out to desk jockeys that never left the wire and soldiers putting their lives on the line get an Army Achievement Medal for their combat service. Pretty much if a bronze start doesn’t have a V on it, it isn’t any better than an Army Achievement Medal IMHO.!
(4)
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LTC Wayne Brandon
4 y
1SG Tommy McGee - You are correct, 1SG McGee.
Some of my instructors and senior NCO's had served in WWII and/or Korea and had trouble not keeping their opinions free from comparisons of the 'Brown Boot Army' vs the 'Black Boot' Army. Now that most everyone wears brown boots again, I'm not sure their arguments would hold much water. Different times, different circumstances and different locations will set the tone for how an individual will respond yet even in WWII there were attitudes about who had it tougher - The G.I. in Europe and Africa or the Marine or G.I. in the South Pacific. It's all bad; no matter where a soldier finds himself or what is the color of his boots. Thanks for your comments tonight and stay well.
Some of my instructors and senior NCO's had served in WWII and/or Korea and had trouble not keeping their opinions free from comparisons of the 'Brown Boot Army' vs the 'Black Boot' Army. Now that most everyone wears brown boots again, I'm not sure their arguments would hold much water. Different times, different circumstances and different locations will set the tone for how an individual will respond yet even in WWII there were attitudes about who had it tougher - The G.I. in Europe and Africa or the Marine or G.I. in the South Pacific. It's all bad; no matter where a soldier finds himself or what is the color of his boots. Thanks for your comments tonight and stay well.
(4)
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As a Marine, I just kind of assumed that by the time you dogface boys had a rocker under your chevrons and crossed rifles on your lapels, you were infantry experts. Maybe you guys should look at adding a charm bracelet to your uniforms. :)
(13)
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SSG Cliff Richardson
>1 y
I joined the Marines in 1978 made corporal, in 1980 branched transfered to Army started out as E1 in infantry, left active service in 1993 as a Staff Sergeant. Army was great, learned more about Infantry than in USMC. Oassed the EIB test it took a few years, you won't believe what you have to do to get it, and it's nothing compared to say Ranger school, SF, very much harder, than Marines. OK you have Recon, and Raiders, they to wear wings, and scuba, and other things, so don't complain, because Most Marines wont go through the real hard stuff. We had Marines drop out in Army Ranger school, too tuff for them, and I also earned the CIB, It let's people know what kind of a man or woman they are dealing with wiithout asking what are you qualified for, it's right on the uniform, I don't have to waste time asking, I just gotta look!!!
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Posted 6 y ago
Proud of my service in Desert Storm but worked my ass off for my EIB. I wanted to keep wearing my EIB and was reprimanded for not wearing highest earned. I am all for this!
(8)
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SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
As far as i remember you can where either one or the other if you have earned them.. Only when in dress type situations do they require you to where your Highest decorations. But will they do the same for the Medics who have earn the EFMB and the CMB
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