What's your opinion on combat badges and awards?

Question

To those who know the rules: In your opinion, are the Army's regulations on handing out combat badges, CAB's, even other awards such as the Purple Heart, Silver Star, etc, too lax? Soldiers used to have to prove themselves, do their jobs well, perform with exception to be awarded honors that are now handed out like candy just to make everyone feel special. Was this a right move on the Army's part?

brianpoj, I agree with your comments to the extent that the CAB is a useless award. It's given to practically everyone. It was a good idea, it just didn't hold its true purpose. I will, however, admit that I say that as the wife of a very proud cav scout who does his job, pulls his weight and earned the CAB that he, for these very reasons, loathes to wear.

Kevin P, way to play it safe. You worded that like a politician. :)

dspider1, I love how you kept that short and to the point. I know what you mean about incentives, and it's sad that the people making the rules see it that way.

I'm choosing my best answer not because it's my own thoughts written down practically word for word, but because this person took the time to not only to detail the reality of the situation, but that the answer itself is written so well, even with its length. The sentiment is there within the combat ranks, I just hope more people will speak up for change.

Besides the stories my husband has brought back about bogus Purple Hearts (a mortar round hits a click away and startles a woman who's leaning back on her desk chair, she falls, hurts her hand or something, and gets a Purple Heart!?) and the private who got passed over for an award he more than earned because the unit had already given such a number of awards to the command, I've seen it myself.

There's a guy in my husband's platoon right now that got a bronze star for valor for a situation where there wasn't even a hazard to his safety or those around him.

When my husband deployed the first time, some of the Rear Detachment people had the gaul to start wearing the unit's combat badge because the UNIT was deployed. That movement was quickly squashed by some of the men home on R&R.

"We will never see their like again." Ike was right. What do the soldiers have to work for if they get a handful of awards just for signing the paperwork?

Answer 1

With all due respect to the CSM above, people who do NOT deserve any sort of award get them through "attaboys". I have seen a Purple Heart awarded for a self-inflicted cut. I have seen Bronze Stars awarded to people who NEVER stepped out of an air-conditioned office the whole time they were in "combat".

We do not need a "Combat Ribbon" - we already have the Combat Action Badge for the Army, while the Navy and Marine Corps already have Combat Ribbons. The awards system is broke. People who do outstanding things get piddling awards because of rank, while higher-ranked individuals get put in for major awards. Take a look at any unit returning from Iraq and how the awards are distributed. If you're in a leadership position over a platoon or higher, you get an award - usually a Bronze Star, just for being there.

Awards are handed out like candy alright - through a system that rewards nepotism. NCOERs and OERs are broke. People who are guilty of all sorts of violations of regulations and Federal law skate by because hardly anyone has the guts to run these scumbags out of service. If you've been in service, you must have met at least one individual in a leadership position who had no place being there. There are plenty of those around.

As for those who aren't favored, they get screwed. Either an award is denied, unfavorable reviews are written, or they get passed over for promotion. Come on people - this is a day and age when "Correspondence Courses" instead of character and achievements is how you really get promoted. And those in service know how to cheat on those (i.e. 5000 hours of correspondence courses done in four days. Impossible? Not at all).

The Army is lax alright - lax on policing itself up. The attaboy system for awards and everything else is a joke. It needs to be fixed, but the right people to fix it keep on saying "Screw This" and leaving. This has been going on for years and years, since Vietnam. Will it change? I certainly hope so.

In the meantime, Bronze Stars without a "V" device aren't worth much, and everyone gets a CIB or CAB, so those not earned outside of the first years of OIF or OEF are suspect. It's a shame for all those who do work hard that we have such rodents wearing the uniform and getting accolades they haven't earned.

Answer 2

Being an Infantryman, the CAB issue is near and dear to my heart. For years and years you wore a combat patch if you fought in combat. If you was in the Infantry, Special Forces or Medics and fought in combat you were awarded either the CIB or CFMB. Now I know there have been numerous blanket awards for these especially during Desert Storm/Shield. Numerous soldiers got these badges for doing nothing. During my last deployment OIF 3, you had to be put in for the badge on a by name basis proving that you had engaged the enemy. Now personally, me, I HATE the CAB. If you are in the Army and you want a badge that denotes you have been in combat, join the Infantry or shut up!! CAB's are now being given away like candy, as with other awards. Should a cook get a CAB when the other side of a FOB gets mortar attacked? NO, but it happens. Worthless badge as far as I am concerned.

Answer 3

Soldier's are recommended for awards. The paperwork must go through the chain of command, and must be proved. It is up to the Battalion or Brigade Commander to approve them depending on the type of award. Now, as a retired SGM, I will tell you that it is not a perfect world just like the promotion system, but it is the best system. So if you think someone didn't deserve the award, you must have the substantial proof to support your allegations.

Personally, we need to add a "Combat Ribbon" for our women soldiers who have actually been involved in a fire-fight in the many convoys that were attacked.

Answer 4

Honestly i hear some of the citations when the awards are presented and wonder how in the world this person got any type of award at all! Yes they have gotten too lax, but they need every kind of incentive to keep people in. It may not seem like a lot, but recognition goes a long way to entice someone to reenlist!

Answer 5

I agree with your assertion to a large extent. ALthough I dont have statistics it does seem that decorations and awards are indeed handed out more frequently now. It MIGHT be perception but there does seem to be a trend toward a "more liberal" awards policy.

Answer 6

They are not too lax on their policy. If one is wounded in combat, they get a purple heart. A lot of troops have been wounded, therefore a lot more combat badges have been given out. If you got shot or wounded in the GW on Terrorism, you would have a combat badge too. What I would rather see is more badges and more pay for the troops.

Answer 7

Goverments start wars. The soldiers are the pawns. They deserve to be rewarded they were put there buy higher powers.