Posted on Jun 4, 2018
Why are the CIB and CAB not authorized for wear simultaneously?
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I was awarded the CAB during OIF 05-06, as an Infantry officer commanding an Engineer unit (this ineligible for the CIB), and the CIB during OEF 08, as an Infantry ETT (ultimately working with the ANP). Now retired, I don’t have access to the data as to why both awards were not authorized for wear simultaneously. Anyone?
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Infantry
Badges
Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB)
Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Awards Infantry Badges Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) Combat Infantry Badge (CIB)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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Both are in the same awards group- and according to regs- only 1 of that group may be worn at a time.
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SSG (Join to see)
CDR Tom Davy - Not correct. AR-670-1 specifically states that Retirees must still follow regs with respect to how awards and decorations are worn on the dress uniform. Now, if he wants to display them while wearing a suit and he pins the miniature badges on his lapel, it should be fine. It all boils down to him wearing the dress uniform for ceremonies and other authorized events. If he chooses to wear the uniform, he must follow current Army regulations.
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SGT Ruben Lozada
I concur Sergeant Major. Same goes for the EIB and CIB. Only one can be worn on the ACU's.
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COL John F. S.
My dad earned both the EIB and CIB in WW2. He always preferred to wear the EIB badge because it had to be earned by the hard skill testing required (which made him a more proficient Infantryman). He fought through France, and Germany while in the "Fighting 69th Infantry Division" as it was named. It was in this Division that the 69th was the first U.S. Army Division to meet up with the Russians at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945. So he had plenty of combat ribbons (medals) displaying the theaters across which he fought, as well as overseas combat zone arm patches belonging to different Corps. I had men in my command who fought overseas but because they fired their weapons and were in a combat zone, refused to wear the CIB badge as they stated, "simply because they shot at the enemy but never saw them or knew if they even hit them". I had one of my command Soldiers (an officer) hand me back his CIB for that reason. He didn't feel worthy just for having just been there so to speak as opposed to let's say, very hard and graphic fighting with all the results of it on both sides.
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Sir, you absolutely have access to the data. AR/DA PAM 670-1 explains in detail why the two can’t be worn simultaneously.
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1SG (Join to see)
armypubs.army.mil is accessible to all, and it’s pretty official, with the .mil and all that good stuff. Be that as it may, the man was a field grade officer as recently as OEF 8. I’d like to think that he’s capable of referencing it himself.
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LTC Stephen C.
Concur, 1SG (Join to see). I’ve been retired since ‘98, and I’ve had no difficulty thus far in accessing ARs, DA Pam’s, etc., especially those pertaining to wear of the uniform.
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