How are so many senior leaders receiving the Combat Action Badge?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:17:20 -0500

I see a lot of senior leader photos and I see most if not all are wearing the Combat Action Badge but know very well they were never in contact. I think too many people received this award under completely false pretenses. 

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 30 at 2013 8:20 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:20:01 -0500

Once you're a senior, the approving authority tends to be your battle buddy ;)

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 30 at 2013 8:20 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:20:30 -0500

That can be said for many awards. Don't get me started on purple hearts. I had a MAJ who ran into a T-wall because he heard an explosion from a mortar round that was over 1000 meters away. Busted his nose and lip....Purple heart.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 9:58 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 09:58:17 -0500

From the moment they released this badge it has been a joke and sadly diminishes the people who received it for good reason. And for this reason I never petitioned my old unit from OIF I who we saw fire everyday for the CAB. It was just too much effort for such a meaningless badge. I know what I've done and where I've been. They hand out the CAB and CIB like candy. Just my .02

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 12:49 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 12:49:48 -0500

The CAB was well intended as honoring service under fire by those not assigned to an 11 series slot. However, like all good intentions, it's had some foreseeable and sad consequences.
I've seen field grade officers and sergeants major go on unnecessary convoy after convoy just to get shot at and have justification in writing up their award. Entire logistician PSDs referred to themselves as "CAB Hunters" because they knew that their very existence was illogical. Why does a logistics battalion command team need a PSD and a convoy if they are deployed next to an air field and you can reach any notable spot in SWA within 3-7 days by hopping on a free of charge bird?

The fun thing is that no one at the selection boards asks about the value of the SSI-FWTS or the CAB, just about whether or not they're present. There's a lot of people who deployed and spent an entire tour manning the MWR tent and still got a CAB and shoulder patch.
I remember a rocket impacting in the LSA and killing/injuring zero people. I also remember being awoken at 0300 to sign sworn statements about the location of various individuals so as to substantiate a CAB for 300+ people within the official potential injury radius of the rocket blast. I am really glad the brigade commander said no to all of them.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 30 at 2013 1:51 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 13:51:06 -0500

I am proud to say that my scout platoon in Afghanistan earned their CABs for combat operations in Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, Shindand and Mien-a-Shen Afghanistan in 2004-05.  They were earned, I was proud to put my Soldiers in for the award and my Soldiers are proud to wear them.  It is a shame that there are those out there who "work" the system in order to secure awards that they neither deserve or qualify for.  It is individuals like that who diminish the award and make it a mockery in online forums, formations and other gatherings of Soldiers and Veterans.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 30 at 2013 7:03 PM

CSM Mike Maynard — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:03:43 -0500

SFC Grudzinski, I would like to think that these seniors weren't so senior when they qualified. It has been a long war and they probably earned those things a long time ago and probably rightly so.

Additionally, only COLs and below in Infantry Regiments can earn the CIB, so they may have been put in for the CAB instead.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2014 12:52 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 00:52:13 -0500

I remember looking at my awards page on Marine Online and all of sudden a Combat Action Ribbon was there. One of the officers put it in for the members in our team who were in this very small firefight and I didn't feel it in my heart that I rated it although under the guidelines I did. There are a lot of ribbon chasers out there! However, I definitely rated it in the firefights that occurred later in the deployment anyways.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 1 at 2014 1:04 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 01:04:05 -0400

What? No! Next thing that may be discussed is that the 927 months of combat experience that they have is from doing fact finding missions on the 30th of the month and returning on the 1st. I'm retired......I can say it.

Response by SSG John Bacon made Sep 1 at 2014 1:12 AM

SSG John Bacon — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 01:12:42 -0400

I know several Soldiers who deserved this award but never got it but the senior leaders got it for the same actions. hmmm....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2014 2:46 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 02:46:58 -0400

No offense, but pretty much the same false pretenses as the CIB and the CMB.

On my first deployment in OIF2 all the medical MOS's in the hardened Aid Station were awarded it for incoming mortars. I mean, everyone. Physically therapy assistants, preventive med, x-ray techs... blanket award.

Then for the CIB, they would "OJT" a guy to give him a secondary MOS 11B and then stick him in the base QRF with us to qualify for his CIB. This was before a CAB.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 10:20 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 10:20:11 -0400

It is because the eligibility criteria for awarding the CAB is nothing but subjective. Makes it easier to award a CAB for otherwise questionable "engagements" with the enemy. I do not believe the CAB should even exist not sit so prominently on a uniform. At best it should be a ribbon, like the Navy and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon.

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Jul 12 at 2015 12:59 AM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:59:30 -0400

I wonder the same thing. The criteria was you had to present under fire and / engaging the enemy. How does someone like Gen. Patraeus get a CAB ? I was involved in multiple IED attacks where our ROE was to engage the enemy. Because of a screw up with the 'Remington Rangers' my paperwork never made it. I suppose if I want to get it I'll have to go through a congressman's office.

Response by SSG Ricardo Marcial made Sep 11 at 2015 1:40 PM

SSG Ricardo Marcial — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:40:24 -0400

Here is a scenario for you as to why.

FOB or Outpost is known to receive indirect fire frequently. VIP visit, spends the a day or two, FOB or Outpost receives indirect fire, VIP exit day after.

A few weeks later, all the paper works has been fast tracked with the proper signatures, approved.

Instant recipient of a COMBAT (IN)ACTION BADGE.

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made Sep 11 at 2015 6:54 PM

1SG Patrick Sims — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:54:53 -0400

The US military has a habit of handing out medals like cookies.

Response by SGT John Tobin made Oct 26 at 2017 12:43 PM

SGT John Tobin — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 12:43:26 -0400

The reg needs to be changed. The FOB or COP can get hit with a mortor and the metal chasers say they tried to kill everyone so I was directly engaged by the enemy

Response by PO1 Darren Martin made Aug 14 at 2021 3:35 PM

PO1 Darren Martin — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 15:35:18 -0400

Had a senior marine officer and sailor HMC I was in Iraq with both got the CAR. Neither never left the wire in Hit but we had so many Marines and sailors getting their CAR that they slide there’s in and intimidated junior personal to say hey remember we were there and wrote statements for them.

That chief got court martialed for faking his Purple Heart and instead of retiring as a HMSC he retired as a HM2.

Response by SPC Michael Ricklin made Feb 6 at 2022 10:50 PM

SPC Michael Ricklin — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:50:04 -0500

Heck, me and a friend of mine have been trying to get ours from Iraq in 2007-2008. We are qualified, but were never issued them, or put in for them in theater (it was actually more than just us two). Now we're stuck in a predicament trying to get them approved years later