Should the "I" in EIB and CIB be changed from "Infantryman" to "Infantry"?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:17:59 -0400

With the integration of females into combat arms and the new CIB testing being implemented is it time to make the EIB and CIB names less gender specific?

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 8 at 2015 1:20 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:20:11 -0400

Support MOS have been able to test for the EIB since I was a PVT in the 90's, so no, don't change the name. Just maintain the standards that are required to earn it. Regardless of MOS when the shit starts flying, we're all grunts on the ground.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 8 at 2015 1:33 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:33:17 -0400

I would like to hear how the women feel before I make up my mind on this one.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 8 at 2015 1:33 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:33:54 -0400

I have at least 5 EIB's as I had to keep going to "show Moral and be a role model to other soldiers" so I really dont care one way or the other, just dont ask me to go for it again next year....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 1:55 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:55:29 -0400

No.
Next question!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 8 at 2015 2:05 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:05:26 -0400

In this current climate, I say immediately. That way you can blame everything on me and cut the troops some slack. This is my week to take the blame. Next week it goes to CW5 Private RallyPoint Member. SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", you are on the ready deck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 2:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:07:49 -0400

1SG Private RallyPoint Member and SGT Jerrold Pesz Since I don't see any other women jumping in here, I will do it. I vote for leaving it alone, not because of heritage (which is a great reason) but because we are suppose to be adults and not act like children. Can we please just get over ourselves and move away from all this touchy feely nonsense.!? That said I'm sure, to be PC, it will eventually be changed to just "Infantry".

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Sep 8 at 2015 2:14 PM

SSG Leo Bell — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:14:51 -0400

No not at all. No matter what the gender is they are still infantrymen. (IE woman n women) men is still there no matter what.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 8 at 2015 2:54 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:54:48 -0400

Infantryman is a genderless noun like Policeman, and Fireman are genderless nouns.

Just because something has the word "men" in it doesn't imply a gender bias. The word women has "men" in it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 3:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 15:06:11 -0400

With the inclusion of females into combat arms, the logical answer would be yes. Although you might get a different answer if you ask an Infantryman! Hooah!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 3:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 15:22:04 -0400

I don't think so.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 3:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 15:54:16 -0400

Yes - you're saving ink and money! (make sure you have your sarcasm font reader turned on for that one)

On a serious note, no. Keep it infantryman. Heritage, laziness, and I just really don't care. It would be like me getting offended over being called a combat cameraman. There are more important things to worry about. Like dinner.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Sep 8 at 2015 4:10 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:10:03 -0400

Don't start mucking things up. So instead of Infantry are we going to be called people charging with guns? Infatryperson? Muck it! Just call us GRUNTS! Expert Grunt Badge or CGB Combat Grunt Badge!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 4:23 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:23:15 -0400

Women in the Air Force are called Airmen. Women in the Infantry will be called Infantrymen. End of story.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 8 at 2015 6:11 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 18:11:10 -0400

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 8 at 2015 6:16 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 18:16:46 -0400

It's fine the way it is

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 7:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:39:07 -0400

Aren't Junior Enlisted in the Air Force and Navy referred to as Airmen and Seamen respectively? Just sayin'... ;)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 7:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:58:44 -0400

Let me show you how silly this is: Guys if you're going to discuss this then does that mean all the terms in the military using man will have to be changed such as marksman?

I thought of a few more: artilleryman, rifleman, signalman, longshoreman boatsman, yeoman

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 10:42 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 22:42:30 -0400

Should Airman be changed to Air???

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Sep 8 at 2015 10:54 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 22:54:12 -0400

I guess it would depend...
What would be the proper title of a woman in the infantry? (This could take years...)
I think the best thing to do is leave it alone, and make the title 'Infantryman" and all it's variants a "gender-neutral" title. We do it all the time in the military. I'm happy, you're happy, everyone's happy as, I feel, in this case, it is the heritage of the name and what it represents that's important!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 11:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 23:10:26 -0400

SFC Swanson, I'm sick to death with this political correctness stuff! The military is an important institution and has many Grassroots organizations that made our military great & our Nation great! Just because some numb nuts in DC want dissect the military and incorporate transgender, etc. has my hairs on my neck standing up! It's the military! And if you don't like the way we operate, don't join! We need to persevere the traditions that we were held too by the soldiers,Marines,sailors, airmen and not exclude our female counterparts. We need to hold firm and defend what our forefathers fought for!

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Sep 9 at 2015 1:15 AM

CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 01:15:25 -0400

I think it should be changed to "Infantryperson." LOL.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 4:41 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:41:55 -0400

The new CIB testing? Changing the "I" in EIB and CIB? This is how stolen valor videos start off on Youtube...

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Sep 9 at 2015 2:57 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:57:10 -0400

I actually thought it WAS Expert Infantry and Combat Infantry Badge...oops....

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Sep 9 at 2015 2:57 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:57:24 -0400

I actually thought it WAS Expert Infantry and Combat Infantry Badge...oops....

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Sep 9 at 2015 2:57 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:57:42 -0400

I actually thought it WAS Expert Infantry and Combat Infantry Badge...oops....

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Sep 9 at 2015 3:14 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:14:36 -0400

Changing "Infantryman" to "Infantry" should follow other societal norms and changes such as policeman, fireman, etc. Are they "police" now? Are they "firepersons"? I don't know. I just think we don't have to reinvent the wheel here and can follow models in other professions that have dealt with the same issue.

Response by SPC Jillian O'Malley made Sep 9 at 2015 9:37 PM

SPC Jillian O'Malley — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 21:37:28 -0400

I know this is a civilian example, but I have competed in a few Ironman Triathlons. When you finish an Ironman, they call you an Ironman and you are known as an Ironman. The first ever Ironman Triathlon in 1978 was all men, and even when women joined the race and few years later all finishers were called an Ironman. So in this case I say keep it the same, anyone who understands tradition shouldn't find it offensive (hopefully)

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 10 at 2015 5:36 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 05:36:25 -0400

I believe it should be changed to Non Gender Oriented Human Person Death Dealer. That way we could all say "look at those NoGO HP Double D's. Love those folks."

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 12:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 00:24:43 -0400

No because they aren't actually integrated into infantry rifle platoons and no U.S. Females have been awarded an EIB/CIB to date.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2020 5:48 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 05:48:37 -0500

Negative.