I’m guessing the whole unit got put in for them, and he was part of the unit, just not in an MOS (military occupational specialty) qualified to earn this particular combat badge. Someone didn’t look close enough and just rubber stamped it. Basically, it just slipped through the cracks… but he knows as he knew then he wasn’t in an MOS that could receive this award.
The Combat Infantry Badge, as the article mentions, is only awarded to infantry and special forces soldiers that have seen combat as typically these units were the only ones that saw action. With Afghanistan and Iraq, we saw a new form of conflict where there wasn’t a specified frontline to the fighting and support rolls (such as the one he was in) often found themselves under fire. There was some push to award all soldiers that saw combat a CIB regardless of what job they held. The Army decided against doing this, but they did eventually create the Combat Action Badge (CAB) in 2005, which is similar to a CIB in that the recipient must be engaged in combat to earn it, but it is awarded to any MOS. He likely would have qualified for the CAB through his service, but I’m guessing it just wasn’t a thing when he served.
As someone who has never been in the military, I don’t feel qualified to comment negatively on anyone’s service. If someone is getting shot at, I don’t care if they are in a formal combat role or not, they are still out there protecting my ass and I won’t second guess them.
But those that have served understand that distinction, though, and I’ll have to defer to them to understand how cringy it all is.
Wearing medals or badges you didn’t earn is super cringy, and you’re basically just shitting on everyone who actually did earn them. I’m not trying to take away this guys service, but as an actual recipient of a CIB, I feel like his lying is a direct slap in the face.
I’m guessing the whole unit got put in for them, and he was part of the unit, just not in an MOS (military occupational specialty) qualified to earn this particular combat badge. Someone didn’t look close enough and just rubber stamped it. Basically, it just slipped through the cracks… but he knows as he knew then he wasn’t in an MOS that could receive this award.
The Combat Infantry Badge, as the article mentions, is only awarded to infantry and special forces soldiers that have seen combat as typically these units were the only ones that saw action. With Afghanistan and Iraq, we saw a new form of conflict where there wasn’t a specified frontline to the fighting and support rolls (such as the one he was in) often found themselves under fire. There was some push to award all soldiers that saw combat a CIB regardless of what job they held. The Army decided against doing this, but they did eventually create the Combat Action Badge (CAB) in 2005, which is similar to a CIB in that the recipient must be engaged in combat to earn it, but it is awarded to any MOS. He likely would have qualified for the CAB through his service, but I’m guessing it just wasn’t a thing when he served.
As someone who has never been in the military, I don’t feel qualified to comment negatively on anyone’s service. If someone is getting shot at, I don’t care if they are in a formal combat role or not, they are still out there protecting my ass and I won’t second guess them.
But those that have served understand that distinction, though, and I’ll have to defer to them to understand how cringy it all is.
Wearing medals or badges you didn’t earn is super cringy, and you’re basically just shitting on everyone who actually did earn them. I’m not trying to take away this guys service, but as an actual recipient of a CIB, I feel like his lying is a direct slap in the face.