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.
Yes, but only for those holding an infantry MOS.
Other combat arms troops couldn't get one even if they were up to their butts in enemy.
I respect those with a CIB, but giving respect to others doesn't diminish the CIB.
Yes, it is simply amazing what happens when one does a goggle news search on the combination of words like (Close Combat Badge). :o)
This must be the new "shot at and missed/sh*t on and hit" badge
I believe that the CIB [Combat Infantryman's Badge] is for exposure to 24 consecutive hours of hostile fire. Think of this as the CIB for IED.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Close+Combat+Badge&btnG=Search
Dang,..... and I did a search in them under Close Combat Badge and nothing came up. Maybe I should have doen the search under CCB?
It would be cheaper too, but then, you're using logic.
IIRC, it was for being an infantryman in an infantry unit that made contact or 30 days in the field in a combat zone.
It was #1 if searching http://news.google.com/news.
"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."
Ahhh, come on.... badge, ribbon, medal.... there all the same according to Kerry, right?
Didn't search under CCB but only Close Combat Badge.
This is the one to look for on a Marine's chest.
When you see one of these in the Restaurant or Bar -- call the waitress over and pick up their bill.... Hell, even if you don't see it -- pick up their bill.
Semper Fi
Since it is such a resent article, release, I went to google news first and then searched on Close Combat Badge.
Thanks for the tip. I never noticed their news function.
Good evening.
This badge would take care of people without an infantry MOS who are often out on the sharp end in the WOT.
Michael Frazier
That's what I get for breaking the habit of thinking everything is in acronymns.
"As I understand this, the point of the close combat badge is to recognize those who were in combat versus being in a combat zone but never being engaged in combat."
...such as truck drivers.
I see the stipulation that it be for brigade and lower as a good first step. That'll keep the "I-was-there" PowerPoint Rangers from getting anything.
When we were 'chuting up for Operation Just Kidding (the almost invasion of Haiti) a dentist and his assistant told our Jumpmaster to kick a machine gun team off so they could jump. The Jumpmaster told him to pound sand, that we needed bullet throwers not "toof cleaners" on the DZ. We all rolled laughing.
Good evening.
A universal Combat Action Ribbon would do the trick but it wouldn't attract the ladies eye like a nice shiny badge does. They can't use Infantry blue enamel but it can be shiny and, like jump wings, tell some things about you.
Michael Frazier
Roger that!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.