Misplaced Pages

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47-521: The Close Combat Badge (or CCB ) was an approved badge that was never issued. It was quickly scrapped and replaced by the Combat Action Badge . The U.S. Army would have awarded the CCB to armor , cavalry , combat engineer , and field artillery soldiers in military occupational specialties . It could also have been awarded to corresponding officer branch/specialties recognized as having

94-565: A combat area nor being awarded the Purple Heart Medal automatically makes a service member eligible", and specific sailors and marines may receive the ribbon in recognition of individual actions or various minor operations. In 2017, sailors from USS  Nitze , USS  Mason , USS  Ponce , and USS  San Antonio were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon after their ships were fired upon by rebels off

141-462: A designated combat zone does not qualify a service member for the award. Only one Combat Action Ribbon is awarded to a service member per theater of war. The CAR is a positive assessment of a service member's battle effectiveness during a combat engagement within a specific theater of war and is not awarded for additional combat interactions therein. Colloquially speaking, it's one CAR per war. A military member who serves in special operations, who by

188-524: A ground or surface engagement. The Combat Action Ribbon will not be awarded to personnel for aerial combat, since the Strike/flight Air Medal provides recognition for aerial combat exposure; however, a pilot, flight officer/navigator, or other crew member forced to escape or evade, after being forced down, may be eligible for the award. Direct exposure to the detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) used by an enemy, with or without

235-428: 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 purposely organized to routinely conduct close combat operations and engage in direct combat in accordance with existing rules and policy. This United States military article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Combat Action Badge On 2 May 2005,

282-574: A question put to Donald Rumsfeld in an April 2005 Afghanistan town hall meeting by a female military policeman as to why the CCB would not include military police soldiers in its awarding criteria despite the combat nature of the military police's job in Afghanistan and Iraq's 360-degree battlefield. The Combat Action Badge was approved on May 2, 2005, and was retroactively awarded to soldiers who were engaged in combat after September 18, 2001. On June 29, 2005, General Peter J. Schoomaker awarded

329-529: A rectangle bearing a bayonet surmounting a grenade, all silver. In comparison to the CIB, the CAB has a silver rectangle backing rather than blue, and the CAB is 1 inch shorter in length than the CIB. Second and subsequent award of the CAB will be indicated by superimposing one and two stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath; one star for the second award and two stars for

376-550: A role where they would be eligible for the CIB. In addition to Army soldiers, the CAB may also be awarded to Servicemembers of other U.S. Armed Forces and foreign military personnel assigned to a U.S. Army unit, provided they meet the above criteria (for example, KATUSA in the 2d Infantry Division). The Combat Action badge is unique in that unlike the Combat Infantryman and Combat Medical badges, it can be awarded to soldiers of any rank, including general officers, whereas

423-403: Is a United States Navy , United States Coast Guard , and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to United States sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat." Coast Guardsmen, Navy sailors, and Marines active in clandestine, stealth or special operations are deemed eligible for consideration of the award. The ribbon is awarded to members of

470-451: Is authorized for wear, with each additional CAR award signified with a 5 ⁄ 16 inch gold or silver star device attached to the center of the ribbon. For example, two CAR awards are signified with the CAR and the addition of one gold star device. Three awards are signified with the ribbon and two gold star devices. In full dress uniform medals are worn on the member's left side. The CAR

517-646: Is authorized for: Other minor operations and specific actions may allow the award, as determined by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Only one award per operation is authorized. Initially, all other similar military awards from other services were required to be converted to the Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon in order to be worn on the Coast Guard uniform, but the policy was modified effective January 1, 2009 to allow wearing

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564-450: Is authorized. This listing is not all-inclusive, as the Combat Action Ribbon has been awarded in minor operations, as well as for specific actions. The Combat Action Ribbon is currently authorized with a U.S. Navy/Marine Corps design, and as of 2008, a U.S. Coast Guard version. The Navy CAR covers the Navy and Marine Corps since the establishment of the CAR in 1969. Additionally, the award

611-619: Is awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM), which includes both full and miniature size suspension medals and a ribbon. The Combat Action Ribbon is worn in order of precedence on a member's " ribbon rack " displayed on the left (or right) side of a service member's uniform. The outermost blue stripe is always to the wearer's center, with the central colors in order of red, white, and blue (left to right when worn on left side of uniform; right to left when worn on right side of uniform); only one Combat Action Ribbon

658-455: Is awarded to members who have actively participated in ground or maritime combat. Satisfactory performance under fire with the enemy is required. From 2009 forward U.S. Coast Guard members will receive the CGCAR regardless if a member is operating in conjunction with or under the control of the U.S. Navy. Those USCG members awarded the U.S. Navy CAR prior to 2009 are authorized to continue wearing

705-421: Is therefore worn on the right side of the uniform. The CAR is the highest rated ribbon-only award in the U.S. military decorations order of precedence and is superseded only by medals of meritorious achievement and combat valor. An individual whose eligibility has been established in combat in any of the following listed operations may be authorized award of the Combat Action Ribbon. Only one award per operation

752-586: The Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (CSA) approved the creation of the CAB to provide special recognition to U.S. soldiers who personally engaged, or are engaged by, the enemy. The CAB is intended to serve as a companion to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and Combat Medical Badge (CMB) and was created to recognize the greatly expanded role of non-infantry soldiers in active, ground combat. U.S. Army infantrymen or special forces soldiers with

799-667: The EIB /CIB. Despite numerous staff studies and recommendations, the request never gained the support of senior U.S. Army leadership. However, as soldiers from across the spectrum of military occupational specialties engaged in direct contact with enemy forces in the Global War on Terrorism , the proposal gained new traction. It appears that the concept for the Combat Action Badge came when Captain Shawn Monien reignited

846-544: The Navy/Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon created in 1969). However, as ribbons are generally seen as less prestigious than medals and badges, the CAB was then proposed as the "Close Combat Badge" (or CCB), thus granting the award badge status vice ribbon. This was to be a combat award only for soldiers who did not hold the infantry military occupational specialty (MOS), but who were deployed specifically to fulfill an infantry duty. This

893-584: The CAB cannot convert it to a CAR, though if they were awarded the CIB or CMB they can, by submitting a request to their commanding officer. United States Air Force Airmen are authorized to wear the Combat Action Badge on their uniform if awarded. The CAB does not convert into the Air Force Combat Action Medal as the criteria required for the AFCAM is more stringent. Navy Combat Action Ribbon The Combat Action Ribbon ( CAR )

940-543: The CAB for the first time to Sergeants April Pashley, Michael Buyas, Manuel J. Montano, Timothy Gustafson and Sean Steans. Over one hundred thousand CABs have been awarded since the creation of the award. Most commanders do not issue the CAB to qualified soldiers unless they are directly engaged in combat. Notably, it is granted exclusively for contact with enemy combatants, so actions by noncombatants like detainees or rioting civilians do not qualify. The soldier must be personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by

987-460: The CIB and CMB are both restricted to colonels and below. Award of the CAB is not automatic and will not be awarded solely based on award of the Purple Heart . The only open qualifying period for the CAB is the Global War on Terrorism . Only one CAB can be awarded to any soldier. Retroactive awards of the CAB are not authorized prior to 18 September 2001. Award of the CAB is authorized for

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1034-651: The Combat Action Ribbon after their ships were fired upon by Houthi rebels during the 2024 missile strikes in Yemen and shooting down drones in the Red Sea for the time period of October 2023 to April 2024. In October 1999, World War II and Korean War veterans became retroactively eligible for the Navy Combat Action Ribbon by Public Law 106-65 on 5 October 1999, which permitted the Secretary of

1081-528: The Combat Action Ribbon or other awards of this nature. The Navy's Combat Action Ribbon ("CAR") was established during the Vietnam War by a Secretary of the Navy Notice, dated February 17, 1969, with retroactive award to 1 March 1961. The Navy CAR is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps (and Coast Guard, when operating under the control of the Navy during a war or national emergency), with

1128-554: The Combat Action Ribbon; naval aviators , naval flight officers and enlisted naval air crewmen, while in the performance of aerial flight, are instead eligible for consideration for the Air Medal . For a military member to be awarded a Combat Action Ribbon evidence must establish the member engaged the enemy, was under hostile fire, or was physically attacked by the enemy. The service member must have demonstrated satisfactory performance under enemy fire while actively participating in

1175-575: The Navy (SECNAV) to award the Combat Action Ribbon to a member of the Navy or Marine Corps for participation in ground or surface combat during any period on or after 7 December 1941, and before 1 March 1961, if the Secretary determines that the member has not been previously recognized in an appropriate manner for such participation. Two specific blocks of time were later designated by then SECNAV Danzig : Dec. 7, 1941 – Apr. 14, 1946 (World War II), and June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1954 (Korean War) In 2009,

1222-401: The Navy and Marine Corps with a rank no higher than captain and colonel, respectively. The U.S. Navy first authorized the Combat Action Ribbon on 17 February 1969. The Navy ribbon was originally retroactive to March 1961; in 1999 it was made retroactive to 7 December 1941. The Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon was authorized on 16 July 2008, and may be awarded to members of the Coast Guard in

1269-404: The Navy award, or at the member's option can choose to wear the CGCAR. Eligibility for the CGCAR also includes personnel having direct exposure to the detonation of an enemy's improvised explosive device , and to personnel who served in clandestine/special operations and were restricted in their ability to return fire, where the risk of enemy fire was great. The Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon

1316-475: The U.S. Army and were awarded the CAB cannot wear it on their uniform though they may convert it to the Combat Action Ribbon by submitting a request to the Chief of Naval Operations through their commanding officer. If said sailors were awarded the CIB however, approval is only necessary by the commanding officer. U.S. Marine Corps personnel who were formerly U.S. Army soldiers and were awarded

1363-548: The U.S. Army, Air Force, or Space Force, may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon upon application to the Department of the Navy (or Department of Homeland Security, as applicable). After the destroyer USS  Cole was attacked by suicide bombers in 2000, the entire crew of the ship was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon a year later. In January 2013, the awarding criteria were expanded to include dangerous exposure to IEDs, mines, and scatterable munitions, be it

1410-480: The U.S. Coast Guard began awarding a Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon (CGCAR), that is stylized similarly in design to the Navy Combat Action Ribbon. Prior to 2008 Coast Guard members awarded the Combat Action Ribbon received the U.S. Navy CAR because in times of conflict and war the Coast Guard in combat areas typically operated with or under the U.S. Navy. For example, in the Vietnam War's Operation Market Time

1457-545: The U.S. Coast Guard had at any one time approximately 1,200 Coast Guard members participating in brown water navy riverine warfare operations. Those Coast Guard members were awarded the U.S. Navy Combat Action Ribbon by the Commander U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam. The U.S. Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon (CGCAR) was established by the approval of the Secretary of Homeland Security on 16 July 2008, in ALCOAST 361/08. The CGCAR

Close Combat Badge - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-401: The award arising from combat action in which all participated. A military member does not automatically qualify for the Combat Action Ribbon. The CAR is awarded after the service member's command takes into consideration the evidence and specified criteria. The evidence must show a service member was engaged in direct combat, not indirect or in an area where combat is occurring; mere presence in

1551-578: The coast of Yemen in 2016, one of the few instances in the 21st century when U.S. Navy sailors aboard a commissioned warship were awarded the ribbon for combat occurring at sea. In 2005, the crew of the USS ; Kearsarge were awarded the CAR as well. In 2024, sailors from the destroyers USS  Carney , USS  Mason , USS  Gravely , USS  Laboon , USS  Thomas Hudner , USS  Cole , Cruiser USS  Philippine Sea and Carrier USS  Dwight D. Eisenhower were awarded

1598-802: The debate on establishing combat/expert badges for all soldiers of the United States Army in his September–October 2003 Armor magazine article, "Reinstating the Combat Tanker Badge" drawing historical references to General George S. Patton in World War I and other historical vignettes from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. Monien's article encouraged former United States Army Chief of Armor, Major General Thomas H. Tait to re-join

1645-767: The detonation of such or direct action taken to disable, render safe, or destroy such; servicemembers may be deemed eligible if the IEDs are detonated or specifically emplaced by the enemy. Previous eligibility applied only to exposure to IEDs actually detonated by the enemy. Eligibility under this criterion is retroactive only to 7 October 2001. Blanket lists of units and operations whose members or participants are deemed to be "in-combat", and thus potentially eligible, can be found in OPNAVNOTE 1650 (for specific units and ships) and in chapter 2, appendix E, of recent SECNAVINSTs (for specific operations and ships) though, "Neither service in

1692-478: The effort: Major Matthew De Pirro continued the narrative of a combat badge in 2004 with an article written for Armor magazine in Spring 2004 describing the need for such a badge based upon the evolving face of warfare and the ongoing transformation of the army. De Pirro stated: The Combat Action Badge was originally planned as a ribbon which was to have been known as the " Combat Recognition Ribbon " (similar to

1739-541: The enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. There is no specific requirement for the enemy hostile contact to be direct. The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier not assigned or attached to a unit that would qualify the soldier for the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or Combat Medical Badge (CMB) after the date of September 18, 2001, and: The CAB may be awarded to any army branch or military occupational specialty including infantrymen except when serving in

1786-493: The following qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations. A separate award of the CAB has been authorized for qualified soldiers in the following qualifying period: Award for qualifying service in any previous conflict is not authorized. Subsequent award of the CAB is not authorized for the same qualifying period, as outlined. The emblem features both an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade . A silver badge 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width overall consisting of an oak wreath supporting

1833-410: The grade of captain/colonel and below, who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. Marines, Navy sailors, or Coast Guardsmen who are awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge , Combat Medical Badge , Combat Action Badge , or Combat Action Medal while assigned to United States Army , United States Air Force , and United States Space Force units, or who earned such for prior service in

1880-409: The immediate presence of enemy forces, constitutes active participation in a ground or surface engagement. Eligibility under this criterion is retroactive to 7 October 2001. The Combat Action Ribbon is awarded to individuals only. The CAR is not awarded to a military unit, station, or group, although multiple individual service members (e.g., those stationed on a boat or warship) may be nominated for

1927-521: The nature of their mission, are restricted in their ability to return fire, and who are operating in conditions where the risk of enemy fire was great and expected to be encountered, may be eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon. The Combat Action Ribbon is a ribbon-only decoration in contrast to military branches that award a badge or medal. Compare: the U.S. Army awards the Combat Infantryman Badge , Combat Action Badge , or Combat Medical Badge . U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force combat participant

Close Combat Badge - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-526: The rank of captain and below, "who have actively participated in ground or maritime combat." The Coast Guard ribbon is retroactive to 1 May 1975 (during the Vietnam war Coast Guard members were awarded the Navy Combat Action ribbon). Coast Guardsmen in Vietnam riverine warfare operations were deemed eligible for award of the Navy Combat Action Ribbon. Air combat does not meet the criteria for

2021-724: The rank of colonel or below and who are a member of a brigade-sized or smaller infantry or special forces unit, receive the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) instead of the CAB. Since the Combat Infantryman Badge was introduced in 1943, followed by the Combat Medical Badge in 1945, other army branches argued in favor of their own badges, but a War Department review board just after the war ruled these out. Unofficial combat badges for non-infantry soldiers were in some instances worn in violation of uniform regulations or included in personal award displays wherein

2068-477: The rifle and blue field of the CIB were replaced with the appropriate army branch insignia and color. These unofficial combat badges began to appear shortly after the creation of the Combat Infantryman Badge and while the practice continued until the creation of an official non-infantry combat badge it never became widespread. Throughout the Vietnam War and afterward, soldiers serving in combat engineer and armored units continued to lobby for their own version of

2115-474: The third award. However, like the CIB and CMB, only one can be awarded per "qualifying period;" as defined in AR 600-8-22. When worn, the CAB is worn on the left side of a jacket or blouse. On combat uniforms it is worn on the blouse above the "U.S. ARMY" nametape and on dress and service uniforms it is worn on the shirt or jacket above any ribbons and medals. Since 2013, U.S. Navy sailors who were formerly soldiers in

2162-474: Was in response to the large number of non-infantry (Tank crews, Field Artillerymen example) who were deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and whose units were reorganized to function as infantry (motorized or light) due to the lack of need for tanks, Artillery and shortage of infantry. The change from the Close Combat Badge to the Combat Action Badge may have come about thanks to

2209-507: Was made retroactive to 7 December 1941. Prior to 2008, eligible U.S. Coast Guardsmen were awarded the Navy Combat Action Ribbon (because in most conflicts and wars Coast Guard members usually operated with or under the U.S. Navy). From 2009 forward, Coast Guard members who engage in combat are now awarded the Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard veterans are advised to submit requests about eligibility or other matters to their respective branches to inquire about

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