All Soldiers Will Be Fighters in the New Army

NY Times ^ | September 4, 2003 | ERIC SCHMITT

[Prodigal Son]

Yeah, that struck me as funny too.

[JoeSixPack1]

"The question is, do they think they feel like a soldier?"

Feelings?? Fastest way to a body bag. Or did I miss something at NonCom school?

[dts32041]

I thoght the war was over in Europe of Dec 1945.

The only thing he had to fight off was the Frauliens.

Could you possibly have met DEC 1944?

[dts32041]

That is why it it on the USMC reading list for the young enlisted.

I know I gave up my copy to a kid leaving for the corps tomorrow.

[Prof Engineer]

I will have to get down to the bookstore and add it to the pile...

You're gonna enjoy it.

[Jeff Gordon]

Just what does the CIB symbolize?
Do tank drivers ever get the CIB?
Do combat MPs ever get the CIB?

[Prodigal Son]

Combat Infantryman's Badge.

No.

No (not that I'm aware).

It is reserved for 11 Series MOS- Infantry only. There aint but one way to get it either- although many general officers have been known to fly into the 'combat zone' for a short time from the Pentagon to get theirs (and then they fly away again).

To the civilian, it's just a badge on the uniform. But to an infantryman, it's a career. It says loud and clear that "I have seen the elephant".

It's a rifle (silver) over a blue background with a wreath around it. It's worn on the left breast above all other awards. On BDUs it's subdued in black. There is an EIB as well (Expert Infantryman's Badge) and it is the same except without the wreath. It is awarded for proficiency decided through a series of about 30 tests/tasks that the infantryman performs at expert level. Not quite as esteemed as the CIB- but you don't have to get shot at to get it either.

If you're an infantry officer, you really ought to have one or the other. You get to Major without at least an EIB and every pair of boots in the line companies knows you screwed the pooch every time you went to test. And this is easy for an officer to do because it's always EMs and NCOs doing the grading on the tests ;-)

[Prodigal Son]

BTW, next time you watch a Pentagon or CENTCOM briefing, and it's an Army officer giving the brief look at his left breast- you might see it if the officer is infantry. It's fairly conspicuous on the dress uniform (it's above his stack of medals) and it sticks out fairly well on the desert BDU too.

[Jeff Gordon]

Thanks for the info on the CIB.

[cherry]

"Yup. Let the contractors do the non-combatant light lifting. Why run cook, mechanic, clerk types, etc through combat training; and then assign them to peeling potatoes, ladling soup, changing HumVee oil and shuffling papers"

I dissagree totally....

do you have any idea how much civilian employees would cost?.....with unions?....with the present day civil service program, the potato peelers would make out better than the tank drivers...

even if the jobs were given to the best bidder, it would still be prohibitive and you know how slimy these generals and contractors can be....

besides...a combatant should be able to do all things necessary for his and the team's welfare....cooking, sewing, building, fixing, etc...

[Gamecock]

The CIB is the Combat Infantry Badge. It is awarded to soldiers in the Infantry involved in direct contact with the enemy.

It is only awarded to soldiers in the Infanty/Special Forces.

Click here for more info!

http://www.americal.org/awards/cib.htm

BTW: Medics have a similar award, the Combat Medical Badge
http://www.1stcavmedic.com/cmb.html

[LibKill]

If they can do this it will multiply their force, as in when the shiite hits the fan they can draw on the cooks and mechanics to fill in.

The problem is what to do with all those female soldiers.

[Gritty]

Re your Post #21...

I think you just about covered it!

[Cogadh na Sith]

Whoa, dude! You nailed it.

[Restorer]

Actually, I was replying to Congressman Billybob and poking fun that he misstated that his uncle was 30 miles behind the German lines with his support unit, rather than 30 miles behind the American lines. But I didn't notice the date mistake!

Good catch.

[montag813]

They should just make every single Army recruit go through Parris Island.

[Congressman Billybob]

Yep, you're both right. Berlin fell and WW II ended in Europe in May, 1945. I'm glad my uncle was a lot better at handling troops than I am at handling a computer keyboard.

Billybob / John

[Tailback]

I've read, re-read, and read that book again. In fact, my first copy was so beat up I bought a new one and made the old one my platoon's copy to be read by new privates. Excellent book.

[Prof Engineer]

bought a new one and made the old one my platoon's copy to be read by new privates. Excellent book.

I've read nearly all of Heinlein's work, but this book stands out above all. He was an amazing writer, and patriot.

BTW - Humblegunner has "This I believe" on his profile.

[Prodigal Son]

Thanks to both of you for the recommend. It's one of those crazy things. I like sci-fi and have always meant to read the book but have never gotten around to it somehow. I think I must make time now though after hearing so many good things about it and hearing it referenced so often ;-)