Close Combat Badge

[Duty Honor Country]

Here it is, the non combat MOS combat award. This is given to any non infantry mos who has taken enemy fire. Like the Marine close combat badge, recipients do not have to return fire. They only have to perform "honorably."

LINK TO PICT OF CCB

Since I serve with the infantry, I know they are laughing their butts off at this badge. A word of advice is do not wear this badge if you work with infantry on a regular basis. You will not hear the end of it.

With that said that do you all think about the Close Combat Badge?

READ UP ON THE CCB

 

[A Can of Man]

If you end up doing infantry work, why don't you just get a CIB regardless of MOS?

 

[Buzzcut]

Well.. I guess it's quite honorable in some way if your MOS is not infantry but you still get fired upon like a grunt. I just can't understand why you would give this sorta thing to Infantry, they do grunt work everyday-- which is most likely why it's simply laughable to be wearing it around with your platoon.

 

[FutureDevilDog]

I think the badge is long over due. They have a badge for everything else, why not this?


:tank:

 

[A Can of Man]

I think if you get shot at, the medal should be the same whether your MOS is infantry or supply.

 

[DTop]

I think if you get shot at, the medal should be the same whether your MOS is infantry or supply.

Sorry, 13th it just doesn't work that way. The CIB is an infantry only badge. If you're a cook and someone takes a potshot at your stove pipe, you don't qualifly for a CIB.
To get a CIB, you must have spent at least 30 days in a combat zone and in an infantry unit and as an infantryman. It's not awarded because just because you get shot at while strolling to the latrine either.
IMO, this new award would be better served if it had some time element involved and/or if it was more MOS specific.
To me an award like this should something to be earned by time and effort. There are MOSs other than infantry, that certainly deserve an award for performing their duties in a combat area. Maybe each would be better served with their own MOS specific combat badge provided they met the 30 days service in a combat area criteria.
Maybe it seems that I am over-reacting to this but I don't think so. In any event, this new award will never be considered on a par with the CIB.
I wonder how an artilleryman, for example, who was been in a combat area for at least 30 days and has been repeatedly fired upon feels about this award being given to some remf who gets shot at once back at HQ. Should they both get the same award? I would think not, but I'd like to hear it from other MOSs.

 

[03USMC]

No dog in this fight but I'll give my opinion anyway

I understand my Army counterparts in the Infantry hold the Combat Infantry Badge in the highest of regard and well they should, it has a proud history and that should be maintained. I don't see this new CCB as a badge on par with the CIB.

However in light of the current conflicts maybe there is a need for another badge within the army. I don't know. I tend to like the Marine Corps/Navy Combat Action Ribbon concept.

And I really don't like the design.......U G L Y.

 

[DTop]

Well 03USMC, I found this quote.

The new badge will be the equivalent of the Army’s Combat Infantry Badge, which was created in 1943.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=&article=26332&archive=true

Then there's this from Rumsfeld.

One question in particular caught my eye — a question from a female MP soldier regarding the Close Combat Badge the Army plans to unveil at some point in the near future. Despite interest on Capitol Hill into this very issue, Secretary Rumsfeld deflected the question to Lt. Gen. David Barno, the senior U.S. commander and senior Army officer in Afghanistan. Here's the transcript:

QUESTION: Specialist Imael [sp.] from 133rd Airborne.

I’m wondering why our MPs aren't considered for the close-combat patch?

RUMSFELD: You're wondering what?

QUESTION: Why MPs aren't considered for the close-combat patch.

RUMSFELD: What's the answer?

BARNO: Our Army leadership's decision was that the close combat badge would only be for those units that were designated to fight as infantry, in other words they were retrained to be full-time infantrymen instead of being artillerymen or engineers.

BARNO: So that initially has not been extended any beyond field artillery, armor, engineers, the general combat arms. That's the current set of the decision at least.

RUMSFELD: But General Barno, she didn't ask what the decision was. She asked why that was the decision. [Laughter].

BARNO: You guys have got to realize that I get to do this with the Secretary every two weeks and we get lots of tough questions like that. [Laughter].

RUMSFELD: Last question. Make it an easy one. I've had a long day. I started in Baku.

http://www.intel-dump.com/posts/1113580478.shtml

I wonder what the truth is.

 

[DTop]

CCB Replaced by CAB

Well after some searching I found that the CCB has been replaced already! It's replacement is call the Combat Action Badge (CAB).
Here's part of an article from Stars & Stripes:

By Lisa Burgess
Stars and Stripes Mideast edition

ARLINGTON, Va. — The “Close Combat Badge,” a controversial Army award created for soldiers with “combat” in their official job description, is dead.

In its place is a new “Combat Action Badge” or CAB, and its criteria is simple:

You are an American soldier assigned to a combat zone.

The bullets start to fly.

You fight back, as you were trained to do.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=28602&archive=true

 

[Whispering Death]

I'm not up on all the millitary badges so I'm just going to throw my .02 into the ring theoretically.

I think there should be a badge like this mostly for support troops. Of course the infantry and other front line troops are only trained to fight but for a medic or a mechanic or whatever other MOS have you, actually fighting in a battle is something worth of commendation... certainly not medal of honor or anything just for shooting back but a small commendation like this is a good idea. Basically saying "this man has been through the test of combat and passed."

 

[DTop]

I don't think I'd have a problem with the CAB as it is described in the Stars & Stripes article.

 

[A Can of Man]

To get a CIB, you must have spent at least 30 days in a combat zone

Ahhh this I didn't know.
But let's give the example of an artillery forward observer or an air controller attached to an infantry unit. Certainly if they were in the same combat zone for at least 30 days they should be eligible for it, no?

Besides, from some stories out of Iraq, it seems an MP's job can be just as dangerous as an infantryman's job depending on the nature of the conflict. Iraq would be a place where it would be very dangerous to be an MP. The Brits lost a few of their red caps when they got ambushed in a city doing their work.

 

[DTop]

To get a CIB, you must have spent at least 30 days in a combat zone

Ahhh this I didn't know.
But let's give the example of an artillery forward observer or an air controller attached to an infantry unit. Certainly if they were in the same combat zone for at least 30 days they should be eligible for it, no?

Besides, from some stories out of Iraq, it seems an MP's job can be just as dangerous as an infantryman's job depending on the nature of the conflict. Iraq would be a place where it would be very dangerous to be an MP. The Brits lost a few of their red caps when they got ambushed in a city doing their work.

You missed the point a little I think. The "I" in CIB stands for Infantry. You must be an Infantryman to qualify. An MP or Artilleryman even though he may be in the same place, is not an Infantryman. That's why I think the CAB is appropriate for non-Infantry types.
The fact that the CIB requires 30 days in a combat area also differentiates it from the proposed CAB requirements in a big way. These will be (are) totally different awards.
BTW, why would an Infantry unit need an air controller?

 

[03USMC]

Well 03USMC, I found this quote.

The new badge will be the equivalent of the Army’s Combat Infantry Badge, which was created in 1943.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=&article=26332&archive=true

I don't see how the CCB/CAB could be the equivalent of a CIB regardless of what Higher wants to say. Two different awards two different criteria. Of course my hearts with the Infantry and whatever stand they take.

As far as Air Controllers maybe he means USAF Tac Air Control Party, or USMC ANGLICO attached to an Army Infantry element. Ethier way that wouldn't come into play for ANGLICO the CIB isn't authorized for them according to both Army and Marine Corps regs. Don't know about the Air Force.

 

[Missileer]

I see the CIB as a unique award to the Infantry. If a tank commander gives and takes fire in a shootout, the crew should receive an award unique to the type of warfare involved. The design should be designed around armor. The bayonet should be a dagger for Special Ops. Artillery should have an enemy engagement with an appropriate design just as helicopter pilots should be awarded one of their unique design. This is long overdue for anyone who takes enemy fire but the design is too fake and cheap looking.

 

[A Can of Man]

BTW, why would an Infantry unit need an air controller?

As far as Air Controllers maybe he means USAF Tac Air Control Party, or USMC ANGLICO attached to an Army Infantry element. Ethier way that wouldn't come into play for ANGLICO the CIB isn't authorized for them according to both Army and Marine Corps regs. Don't know about the Air Force.

Yes this is the type of unit I mean. Many countries have their own equivilents of these.
I just wasn't sure what you call them.

 

[hicks]

Troops deserve recognition for doing front line activity when they are Infantry, but give them a medal... not a badge.

This is taking away from both the CIB and CFMB.

 

[03USMC]

Troops deserve recognition for doing front line activity when they are Infantry, but give them a medal... not a badge.

This is taking away from both the CIB and CFMB.

Really man I don't see how it takes away from the CIB/CMB. Everybody who matters will know the difference. What ever the Non Infantry choose to tell their peeps back on the block or each other back in Garrision doesn't matter or wouldn't to me. I look at it like a Overseas Ribbon it says I was there.

 

[greenarmy1980]

I think the Combat Action Badge is a great way to give out recognition. I would however say that I prefer monetary compensation, but hey, I will take the 15 promotion points and just go on my merry way. I like getting a badge for doing my job, also it assists me in making me more equal with my peers who are 11B and reclassed. If it were not for this I would be 15 points behind them. All though our boards the CIB still will hold much higher prestige. It is only natural that everyone that gets shot at or blown up should get something too.

With that being said. To earn the CAB you need to have at least two statements of the event that took place and you need to submit it to the first MG in your chain of command.

On the other hand, you could be an 11B assigned as TOC guard in a war zone, never even fire your weapon and you can get your CIB.

So I will have no problem wearing my CAB amongst the Infantry units that I may work with in the future. I will be able to look them in the eye with pride and state that I did indeed shoot my weapon in combat and I have been "blown up" so to speak by an IED.

 

[DTop]

This badge is not on a par with the CIB. Take a look at the requirements. I'm not against anyone getting recognition for what they do but I think this badge is about as close to a CIB as a CIB is to a Purple Heart.
The CIB has always been an Infantry badge and unless you are Infantry, forget about it.
The CAB will stand on its own merit as will the CIB. They're just not equal.

So I will have no problem wearing my CIB amongst the Infantry units that I may work with in the future.

Just curious, your profile says you're Civil Affairs, how did/will you get a CIB?