The Army Gets It Right

Well it took them two tries, but I think the Army leadership has finally gotten its Combat Action Badge right. According to this article:

The CAB, whose design features both a bayonet and grenade, may be awarded to any Soldier performing assigned duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized, who is personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement, according to the specific eligibility requirements.

Award of the CAB is not limited by one’s branch or military occupational specialty; however, to receive the CAB, a Soldier must not be assigned or attached to a unit that would quality the Soldier for the CIB or CMB.

If I read this correctly, this means any male or female and any soldier other than infantry can qualify for this badge. Importantly, this badge is not automatically awarded to all soldiers serving in a combat zone or imminent danger area, but is awarded to those that are engaging and/or engaged by the enemy in a hostile area. Upon reading the letter of the award, it appears that infantry soldiers COULD get a CAB if they were assigned to a non-infantry unit (for example, a Corps headquarters) and otherwise met the guidelines.

Well, this looks like a good deal, especially to all us combat support soldiers that are assigned to front-line combat units. I wonder if we're going to hear about Jessica Lynch's unit being awarded retroactive CABs. I don't know, I think I might rather have a Marine Corps' CAR than an Army CAB.

Comments

[Saheli]

Sorry to be irrelevant, but goodness, that's a nice design.