| Combat Infantryman Badge | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Awarded by United States Army | |
| Type | Badge |
| Eligibility | An infantryman or Special Forces soldier |
| Awarded for | Being personally present, and under hostile fire, whilst serving in assigned, primary infantry or special forces duty in a unit actively engaging the enemy in ground combat. |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Last awarded | Continuing |
| Distinct recipients |
3,534 in Grenada [1] 8,031 in Panama [2] 21,877 in Gulf War [3] 1,280 in Somalia [4] 16,280 in OEF (as of 21 July '09)[5] 38,303 in OIF (as of 21 July '09)[6] |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | None |
| Equivalent | (Group 1 badges) CIB - EIB - CAB |
| Next (lower) | (Group 2 badges) CMB - EFMB |
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers — enlisted men and officers (commissioned and warrant) holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size or smaller, any time after 6 December 1941. The CIB and its non-combat analogue, the infantry skill-recognition Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) were simultaneously created during World War II as primary recognition of the combat service and sacrifices of the infantrymen who likely would be wounded or killed in numbers disproportionate to those of soldiers from the Army’s other service branches.
Contents |
History
During the Second World War (1941–1945), the U.S. Army had difficulty in recruiting Infantry branch volunteers, unlike its other, more glamorous branches (e.g. the Tank Corps, the Army Air Forces), and the Marine Corps and Navy. To increase recruitment and raise its esprit de corps, General Lesley J. McNair, the Army Ground Forces commander, conceived of two ideas — (i) a large, recognizable combat service badge, for the infantry ranks, and (ii) replacing the title Private with the title Fighter, thereby, raising the soldier’s morale when addressing “Private Jones” as “Fighter Jones”. The badge idea was accepted, the title idea rejected; however, the General insisted upon the Fighter Badge title.[1][2] On the 7th of October 1943, the War Department formally established the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) awards in Section I, War Department Circular 269 (27 October 1943):
The present war has demonstrated the importance of highly-proficient, tough, hard, and aggressive infantry, which can be obtained only by developing a high degree of individual all-around proficiency on the part of every infantryman. As a means of attaining the high standards desired and to foster esprit de corps in infantry units; the Expert Infantryman and the Combat Infantryman badges are established for infantry personnel.
Moreover, War Department Circular 269 stipulated: . . . only one of these badges will be worn at one time and the Combat Infantryman badge is the highest award; the awarding of the CIB was officially authorized with an executive order dated 15 November 1943; later, on 10 June 1944, the U.S. Congress approved an extra ten dollars in monthly pay to every infantryman awarded the CIB — excepting commissioned officers. The WWII regulations did not formally prescribe a specific combat service period establishing the infantryman’s eligibility for being awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge, thus, in 1947, the U.S. Government implemented a policy authorizing the retroactive awarding of the Bronze Star Medal to World War II veteran soldiers who had been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, because the CIB was awarded only to soldiers who had borne combat duties befitting the recognition conferred by a Bronze Star Medal. Both awards required a commander’s recommendation and a citation in the pertinent orders. General Marshall initiated this after Medal of Honor-recipient Major Charles W. Davis noted to him that: It would be wonderful, if someone could design a badge for every infantryman who faces the enemy, every day and every night, with so little recognition. [7]
Eligibility requirements
(1) In 1943, the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded to infantrymen, including officers, and, in May 1944, eligibility for the award specified only the enlisted men and officers of infantry regiments and subordinate infantry units (however, General Joseph Stilwell did not meet these requirements but was awarded the CIB due to an act of Congress); per AR 600-70 (24 September 1951) the eligibility comprehended soldiers of Ranger infantry companies, and commissioned officers, who, although not of the infantry branch, had commanded an infantry unit, of regimental or smaller size, for at least 30 days. Later, in 1969, Change 19 to AR 672-5-1 (20 June 1969) clarified an officer’s eligibility, requiring that he must hold colonel rank or grade, or below; Change 19 also defined the eligible categories of Vietnam War combat service.
(2) The recipient soldier must have been personally present — and under hostile fire — whilst serving primary duty, in either an assigned infantry or a special forces unit, that was actively fighting the enemy in ground combat; said unit might be either of brigade-size or smaller. For example, soldiers with an infantry MOS (military occupational specialty), who are members of a rifle squad organic to a cavalry platoon, in a cavalry troop, would be eligible for the CIB. Battle or campaign participation-credit, alone, is insufficient; the unit must have fought the enemy in active ground combat in that assigned-duty time.
(3) Soldiers with a non-infantry or special forces MOS are ineligible — regardless of the combat circumstance. The soldier’s infantry or special forces MOS or SSI (secondary skill indicator) need not be his primary duty MOS, so long as he had been properly trained in either infantry or special forces tactics, possesses the appropriate skill code, and is serving in that specialty when fighting in active ground combat, as described above. Unit commanders are not authorized to make any exceptions to this policy.
(4) A Combat Infantryman Badge will not be awarded to either general officers or to the soldiers of a headquarters company of units larger than brigade-size.
Subsequent CIB awards
(1) To date, a separate award of the CIB has been authorized for qualified infantry soldiers who fought in any or several of these five wars: (i) World War II (7 December 1941–3 September 1945), (ii) the Korean Conflict (27 June 1950–27 July 1953), and (iii) the Vietnam Conflict (1961–1973). Combat service in the Republic of Vietnam Conflict (1 March 1961–1973) combined with qualifying service in either Laos (19 April 1961–6 October 1962), the Dominican Republic (28 April 1965–1 September 1966), the Korean DMZ (after 28 July, 1953), Grenada (23 October–21 November 1983), Panama (20 December 1989–31 January 1990), (iv) the Persian Gulf War (17 January–11 April 1991), and (v) the Global War on Terrorism (8 September 2001 to date) is recognized with only one award of the badge, whether or not the soldier served one or more tours of duty in any, or all, of these wars. If the soldier was awarded the CIB for service in any of the Vietnam-era conflicts, he is ineligible to earn the Combat Medical Badge.
(2) The second- and third-award CIBs are indicated with superimposed five-point stars; 1 for the second award, 2 for the third award, respectively, at the badge’s top, between the points of the oak-leaf wreath.
Special provisions – Republic of Vietnam Conflict
(1) Any officer whose basic, army-service-branch is other than infantry who, under appropriate orders, has commanded a line infantry unit (not an HQ unit) of either brigade-, regiment-, or smaller size, for at least 30 consecutive days, is deemed to have been detailed to infantry, and, so, is eligible for a CIB award, notwithstanding the absence of a written directive detailing said officer soldier to the infantry, provided he met all other requirements for being awarded the CIB. Formal orders, directing said officer to assume infantry command, will be confirmed in writing at the earliest, practicable date.
(2) In addition, any commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted man whose branch of service is other than infantry, who, under appropriate orders, was assigned to advise a unit listed in paragraphs (4) and (5), below, or who was assigned, as a member, to an Operation White Star Mobile Training Team or to a Military Assistance Advisory Group team in Laos (MAAG–Laos), as indicated in sub-paragraphs f(1) and (2), below, will be eligible for the CIB award, provided he has met all other requirements.
(3) After 1 December 1967, for service in the Republic of Vietnam, non-commissioned officers serving as Command Sergeants Major of infantry battalions and brigades in a combat zone, for periods of at least 30 consecutive days, are eligible for a CIB award, provided they have met all other requirements.
Subsequent to 1 March 1961, the soldier must have been:
(a) Assigned as an advisor to an infantry unit, Ranger unit, or infantry-type civil guard unit of regiment-size, or smaller, and/or an infantry-type self-defense corps unit of regiment-size, or smaller, of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam during any period when such unit engaged in ground combat.
(b) Assigned as an advisor to an irregular force unit, comparable to the above-described infantry units, under similar ground combat conditions.
(c) Personally was present, and under fire, whilst serving assigned, primary infantry duty, as member of a tactical advisory team, while that advisory unit was in ground combat.
(4) Subsequent to 24 May 1965: To qualify for the CIB, soldiers serving in U.S. Army units must meet the requirements of sub-paragraph c(1), above. Soldiers who performed military-liaison duties in Vietnam with combat units of either the Royal Thai Army or the Army of the Republic of Korea are eligible for the CIB award, provided they meet all other requirements.
Laos — 19 April 1961–6 October 1962, the soldier must have been:
(1) An assigned member of a White Star Mobile Training Team while it was attached to, or working with, a unit of regiment-size (Groupment mobile), or smaller, of the Forces Armée du Royaume (FAR — Armed Forces of the Realm), or with an irregular-type forces unit of either regiment-size, or smaller.
(2) An assigned member to a MAAG-Laos team assigned as an advisor in an FAR region or zone, or whilst serving with irregular-type forces unit(s) of either regiment-size, or smaller.
(3) Personally under hostile fire, while assigned as specified in either paragraph(s) (1) and (2), above.
The Dominican Republic — 28 April 1965–21 September 1966, the soldier must have met the criteria prescribed in sub-paragraphs b and c, above.
The CIB is authorized for award for The Republic of Korea, on the DMZ.(28 July 1953 to 31 March 1994) The special requirements for award of the CIB for service in the Republic of Korea are rescinded. Army veterans and service members who served in Korea on or after 28 July 1953, and meet the criteria for award of the CIB outlined in paragraph 8–6c,of AR 600-8-22, may submit an application (to include supporting documentation) for award of the CIB to USA HRC, ATTN: AHRC–PDO–PA, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471. Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized for service prior to 29 July 1953.
(5) Been eligible for the CIB award after 4 January 1969, for combat-zone service in the Republic of Vietnam, as a non-commissioned officer serving as a Command Sergeant Major of either an infantry battalion and/or an infantry brigade, for at least 30 consecutive days.
Grenada (Operation URGENT FURY) — 25 October 1983–21 November 1983, the soldier must have met the criteria prescribed in sub-paragraphs b and c, above.
Panama (Operation JUST CAUSE) — 20 December 1989–31 January 1990, the soldier must have met the criteria prescribed in sub-paragraphs b and c, above. Effective 20 December 1989, Special Forces soldiers (excluding the Special Forces medical sergeant) are eligible for the CIB; retroactive awards are unauthorized.
Persian Gulf War (Operation DESERT STORM) — 17 January 1991–11 April 1991, the soldier must have met the criteria prescribed in sub-paragraphs b and c, above; retroactive awards are unauthorized.
Somalia (Operation Restore Hope/ Continue Hope) — 9 December 1992–31 March 1994, the soldier must be either an Infantry or a Special Forces officer holding colonel rank or below, or be either an enlisted soldier or a warrant officer with an infantry or special forces MOS, who satisfactorily performed infantry duty, while assigned, or attached, as a member of either an infantry or Special Forces unit of brigade or smaller size, engaged in active ground combat.
Global War on Terrorism era (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom) — from 18 September 2001 to date, the soldier must be either an Infantry or a Special Forces officer holding colonel rank or below, or be either an enlisted soldier or a warrant officer with an infantry or special forces MOS, who satisfactorily performed infantry duty, whilst assigned, or attached, as a member of either an infantry, Stryker, Ranger, or Special Forces unit of brigade-, regiment-, or smaller size, or as an advisor in an equivalent Coalition Forces infantry unit, during any period that said unit engaged in active ground combat.
Commanders who may award the CIB
(1) Current awards: In war-time, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) may be awarded by the Secretary of the Army and by the Commanding General of the U.S. Army’s Human Resources Command. Effective 1 November 2006, commanders with delegated authority to award the CIB may further delegate badge-awarding authority to commanders holding brigadier general-rank, or above. Permanent orders are required.
(2) Retroactive awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Action Badge (CAB), and the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) may be effected to fully-qualified soldiers. Active duty and Reserve duty soldiers must submit their badge-award applications through their respective command channels to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, ATTN: AHRC-PDO-PA, 200 Stoval Street Alexandria, Virginia 22332. Veterans, Individual Ready Reserve soldiers, and members of other U.S. armed services, and foreign military personnel should directly submit a written to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command ATTN: AHRC-PDO-PA, 200 Stoval Street Alexandria, Virginia 22332.
Design of the Combat Infantryman Badge
The design inspiration of the U.S. Army’s Combat Infantryman Badge derives from two Wehrmacht infantry combat service recognition decorations: the Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie Sturmabzeichen), featuring a service rifle enclosed in an oak-leaf wreath, and the Close Combat Clasp (Nahkampfspange).
The original, Second World War-model CIB was a silver and enamel badge, consisting of a 3-inch wide rectangular bar with an infantry-blue field upon which is superimposed the War of Independence-era Springfield Arsenal Musket, Model 1795. The composite device is superimposed to an elliptic oak-leaf wreath, symbolizing steadfast character, strength, and loyalty. During WW2, there existed metallic, composite models of the CIB composed of a separate EIB rectangle-badge and oak-leaf wreath that then was pinned to the blouse, as a Combat Infantryman Badge. Later, a matte-black subdued metal badge was created for wearing on the fatigues in the field. Since World War II, the CIB has been made in cloth (colored and subdued) for wear, like the matte-metal model, on the fatigue field uniform, and, a miniature (1.25 inches long) lacquered-metal CIB model is available for wearing on the mess dress uniform and civilian clothes.
On 8 February 1952, the Army approved the addition of stars to the CIB indicating the soldier’s having fought in more than one war. The first was the second-award CIB recognizing Korean War combat operations; in that time, the U.S. Army’s Institute of Heraldry also had created eighth-award CIB designs. The second- through fourth-award CIB awards were indicated with silver five-point stars, 1 to 3 stars centered, at badge’s top, between the tips of the oak-leaf wreath; the fifth- through eighth-awards of the CIB were indicated with gold stars.
The Combat Infantryman Badge is worn one-quarter (0.25") inch above the service ribbons above the left-breast pocket of the Class-A uniform coat and of the other uniforms with which the CIB is authorized; however, infantrymen of the 2nd Armored Division wore it on the flap of the same pocket.[3]
 1st award CIB |
 2nd award CIB |
 3rd award CIB |
 4th award CIB |
Analogue combat service badges: the CMB and the CAB, EIB, EFMB
The U.S. Army also recognizes the combat service of medics with the Combat Medical Badge, awarded to medical personnel who usually serve alongside infantry units, and the Combat Action Badge, awarded to combat arms other than Infantry (Armor, Cavalry, Field Artillery), combat support (CSC) and combat service support (CSS) soldiers who serve in combat in contemporary wars without delineated front lines. This last badge, the CAB, was created in 2005 for soldiers who, otherwise, qualify for neither the CIB nor the CMB. The US Army Expert Infantryman Badge is similar but different to the CIB. The Expert Field Medical Badge is the equivalent to the EIB.
 U.S. Army Combat Medical Badge |
 U.S. Army Combat Action Badge |
 U.S. Army Expert Infantryman Badge |
 U.S. Army expert Field Medical Badge |
See: Military badges of the United States and three-time recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge
Similar awards
- Infantry combat badge (Australia)
- Combat Action Ribbon (USN & USMC)
- Air Force Combat Action Medal (USAF)
- Pro Patria Medal Orders, decorations, and medals of South Africa
References
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This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (June 2008) |
- ^ Perret, Geoffrey, There's a War to Be Won: The United States Army in World War II (1991) Random House, p.475
- ^ http://www.americal.org/awards/cib.htm
- ^ http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar670-1.pdf
External links
- Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia (AR 670-1)
- Military Awards (AR 600-8-22)
- National Infantry Museum Three-Time Recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge (U.S. Army)
- List of Three-time Combat Infantryman Badge Recipients
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