Posted on 02/12/2005 5:47:14 PM PST by neverdem
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 - Army troops assigned to combat units that come under fire will be eligible for a new badge that recognizes their efforts separately from ribbons for all who serve in Iraq or Afghanistan or who support the Pentagon's antiterrorism missions based in the United States, a senior Army official said Saturday.
The new medal, called the Close Combat Badge, was unveiled to a private conference of four-star generals convened in Washington this weekend by Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, the senior official said.
Army and Pentagon officials discussed the badge on the condition that they not be identified by name.
The badge was requested by field commanders and reflects their desire to distinguish the efforts of soldiers whose units are "organized to routinely conduct close combat operations and engage in direct combat," the Army official said.
Previous decisions that created ribbons to honor military efforts in the Bush administration's global campaign against terrorism have been harshly criticized by members of Congress, veterans and even some current service members.
The Army officer said on Saturday that the new badge was, at least in part, meant to answer some of those concerns.
The first military honor created after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was called the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and frustrated some in uniform who wanted ribbons that were awarded for specific deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Some leading members of Congress, in fact, accused the Bush administration of creating one generic medal to ensure that the effort to topple Saddam Hussein of Iraq would be viewed as part of the larger antiterror campaign. That effort began with the war to unseat the Taliban government in Afghanistan and rout leaders of Al Qaeda there.
Last May, legislation creating separate campaign medals for Iraq and for Afghanistan was approved by Congress, but even the new ribbons did not differentiate between front-line combat troops and those assigned to support missions.
"The previous ribbons are awarded for service - for just being physically in the theater of operations," said a Pentagon official. "There is a ribbon now for being in Afghanistan or Iraq, and also a ribbon awarded for those based in the United States who support the mission."
In contrast, the Close Combat Badge "will be presented only to eligible soldiers who are personally present and under fire while engaged in active ground combat," the Army official said.
It will not be given to members of support units attacked while performing their missions, even though supply convoys have been a regular target of the insurgency in Iraq.
In particular, the badge will be for soldiers who serve with armored, cavalry, combat engineering and field artillery units at the brigade size or smaller that come under attack and "close with and destroy the enemy with direct fires," the Army official said.
While the Army has the authority to approve and issue the badge on its own, senior Army officers were notifying members of Congress on Saturday of the decision to issue the award to combat troops.
"And I got THIS one for kicking insurgent ass!"
Any image of the badge?
Isn't that what the CIB does? Now everybody gets a badge and a beret.
What about those who come under attack, but don't have a chance to return fire? There's no rear echelon in Iraq. And what if they engage the enemy but don't manage to "destroy" it?
Just went to here http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/, here http://www.dod.mil/, and here http://www.army.mil/ and there is nothing about this badge. Don't know but the NYSlymes could be at it again. I'll check on Monday for any updates. The Pajamahadeen may have caught another one.
No, maybe they are renaming the combat infantryman's badge, with troops in the other types of units now being eligible.
See reply six. None of what you just said is in there either.
Do they get one for putting their boots on the right feet too??
Since long before I entered active duty in 1966 all Army personnel who were assigned to a combat theatre have been required to wear the Ptach of the combat theatre unit on the right shoulder of their uniforms, and it remains so today. Any time you see a patch on the right shoulder of an Army servicemember, he/she has served in a combat zone in THAT unit. There is no other qualification or reason for a patch on the right shoulder.
Personally, I do not some make-believe medal is necessary, as it cheapens medals/badges awarded for merit. But who am I, I'd have vetoed gratuitous berets for everyone, too.
February 11, 2005
In response to requests from field commanders and after careful analysis, the U.S. Army announced today a new badge for selected combat arms Soldiers in combat arms brigades who engage in active ground combat.
The Close Combat Badge will provide special recognition to ground combat arms Soldiers who are trained and employed in direct combat missions similar to Infantry and Special Forces who will continue to be recognized for their ground-combat role with the Combat Infantryman Badge.
The Army will award the CCB to Armor, Cavalry, Combat Engineer, and Field Artillery Soldiers in Military Occupational Specialties or corresponding officer branch/specialties recognized as having a high probability to routinely engage in direct combat, and they must be assigned or attached to an Army unit of brigade or below that is purposefully organized to routinely conduct close combat operations and engage in direct combat in accordance with existing rules and policy.
The CCB will be presented only to eligible Soldiers who are personally present and under fire while engaged in active ground combat, to close with and destroy the enemy with direct fires.
The Army expects to release in March an administrative message outlining exact rules and regulations. The CCB should be available this Fall through unit supply and also for purchase in military clothing sales stores.
You just beat me to the punch!
See post #11. Army Announces Close Combat Badge
If you dig around the third link that you gave, you can find it. The first two links were dead.
Good question..I guess having your camp mortared daily and your chopper fired at on every mission doesn't count...go figure.
This is being called a badge, not a ribbon. It will probably be placed above all the fruit salad when worn on a dress uniform.
The Army had the CIB, Combat Infantryman's Badge, since World War II.
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