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Occasionally I have conversations with young troops that leave me scratching my head and saying where did that come from. This started with a young Soldier asking me if I was aware that CABs weren’t retroactive when I was getting a replacement for mine that was all scratched up. I replied roger, thanks. Kid then says they gave ‘em out like candy, Me; must be a unit thing. Which got me thinking……..
With a tooth to tail ratio of 1 to 2.5 for Iraq (Ft Leavenworth’s, the long war, occasional paper #23) The 106,600 CABs awarded over the duration of OIF with 1.5 million Soldiers having served (DPCC, Iraq by the numbers) amount to about +/- 8% of the total force. While 78,146 CIBs were awarded or about +/- 3% of the force. Surprisingly 8% is about a 2.5 to 1 ratio to 3%. Which leads me to believe that the CAB was awarded in about or close to the numbers that it could have been expected to be.
Then consider that every Soldier who was not an infantryman who received the Purple Heart was authorized consideration for the CAB (or the CMB). Add to that every non Infantry Soldier who was in a vehicle hit by an EFP or IED or VBIED regardless of if they were wounded or not (figure 3 to 5 troops per vehicle). Adds up pretty quick and those are objective and hard to argue against.
Direct and indirect fire incidents where bullets are flying around and mortars are dropping in, are a little harder with having to consider kill radius and cover but they can’t be discounted out of hand.
So while I have no doubt that there were instances of the candy man sowing joy, love, and CABs on folks. I’m pretty confident even with the shallow dive research that the bulk of Commanders did their due diligence in protecting the intended esteem of the CAB and the vast majority of those out there ought to be.
With a tooth to tail ratio of 1 to 2.5 for Iraq (Ft Leavenworth’s, the long war, occasional paper #23) The 106,600 CABs awarded over the duration of OIF with 1.5 million Soldiers having served (DPCC, Iraq by the numbers) amount to about +/- 8% of the total force. While 78,146 CIBs were awarded or about +/- 3% of the force. Surprisingly 8% is about a 2.5 to 1 ratio to 3%. Which leads me to believe that the CAB was awarded in about or close to the numbers that it could have been expected to be.
Then consider that every Soldier who was not an infantryman who received the Purple Heart was authorized consideration for the CAB (or the CMB). Add to that every non Infantry Soldier who was in a vehicle hit by an EFP or IED or VBIED regardless of if they were wounded or not (figure 3 to 5 troops per vehicle). Adds up pretty quick and those are objective and hard to argue against.
Direct and indirect fire incidents where bullets are flying around and mortars are dropping in, are a little harder with having to consider kill radius and cover but they can’t be discounted out of hand.
So while I have no doubt that there were instances of the candy man sowing joy, love, and CABs on folks. I’m pretty confident even with the shallow dive research that the bulk of Commanders did their due diligence in protecting the intended esteem of the CAB and the vast majority of those out there ought to be.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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I voted 'Too Many'. While doing Route Clearance in Ramadi 2006-07 we would get officers from different units that would request to go out on mission with us so they could possibly get their CAB. The unit we replaced warned us about this, and it continued for most of the time we were there.
We called them CAB Rides, these were staff officers, or commanders of units that would not normally go outside the wire, and there was only one reason they were going out with us.
It got to the point that no paperwork would be done unless an IED detonated on the vehicle the person was in. Our company had over 50% Purple Heart rate the last I heard.
In my opinion, at least in our area, there were too many Soldiers awarded CABs who did not really deserve one.
We called them CAB Rides, these were staff officers, or commanders of units that would not normally go outside the wire, and there was only one reason they were going out with us.
It got to the point that no paperwork would be done unless an IED detonated on the vehicle the person was in. Our company had over 50% Purple Heart rate the last I heard.
In my opinion, at least in our area, there were too many Soldiers awarded CABs who did not really deserve one.
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CSM Richard StCyr
I'm familiar with the phenomenon of "CAB Rides" and you included the factor that dissuades badge hounds from ride alongs in your response "It got to the point that no paperwork would be done unless an IED detonated on the vehicle the person was in." Bet that trimmed the ash and trash down pretty quick once they figured they had to actually be at risk of getting hurt.
I appreciate the work you guys did down range and your taking time to respond.
I appreciate the work you guys did down range and your taking time to respond.
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MSG David Johnson
It irritated a bunch of the O-4 and O-5's that worked days and found out they would have to go out another night because they didn't get a hit on their truck.
They started out riding with me in the CASEVAC Cougar cuz we were gonna be 'close enough' to a blast to get a CAB because I was usually within 20-30 meters of the Buffalo while they were digging.
Our company commander was an O-4 so he took the brunt of a lot of the riders who would bring in the 'guidelines' showing they had 'qualified' for the CAB. Since the SNCO's and Officers lived in the same building as the TOC we would hear some of these conversations, and if they didn't like what they heard at our company level, our BN commander was an O-6 and backed the Company CO's 100%.
They started out riding with me in the CASEVAC Cougar cuz we were gonna be 'close enough' to a blast to get a CAB because I was usually within 20-30 meters of the Buffalo while they were digging.
Our company commander was an O-4 so he took the brunt of a lot of the riders who would bring in the 'guidelines' showing they had 'qualified' for the CAB. Since the SNCO's and Officers lived in the same building as the TOC we would hear some of these conversations, and if they didn't like what they heard at our company level, our BN commander was an O-6 and backed the Company CO's 100%.
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CMB's don't come with Purple Hearts, you have to be integral to a combat arms unit that actually engages in combat while performing medical duties.. Had this candy bar been around 50 years ago, 3 million would have been awarded.
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CSM Richard StCyr
"you have to be integral to a combat arms unit that actually engages in combat while performing medical duties."
Pete; Usually medics who are doing this and get wounded or blown up while integrally supporting and engaging in combat with their Combat arms unit; do get purple hearts ....Thus the reason they were placed where I placed them.
Pete; Usually medics who are doing this and get wounded or blown up while integrally supporting and engaging in combat with their Combat arms unit; do get purple hearts ....Thus the reason they were placed where I placed them.
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SP5 Peter Keane
CSM Richard StCyr - Very true, however while I have a couple, I know medics that were fortunate enough to not be hit while still earning the CMB. That was all I was saying.
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