New Army combat badge is on its way
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The Army's new Combat Action Badge, which honors any soldier who sees combat during the global war on terrorism, is expected to be available by late summer or early fall, according to Army officials.
The design of the badge, which was approved by Gen. Peter Schoomaker, Army chief of staff, features a bayonet and a grenade.
The badge specifically honors any soldier, regardless of occupational specialty, who engages an enemy or is engaged by an enemy on the battlefield. The Army wanted broad-based criteria for such a badge because of the shifting nature of what it means to be on the front lines of insurgent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The older Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded only to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers.
Army officials said the badge will provide an opportunity to honor soldiers who are not traditionally in combat — truck drivers, for example — but who come under attack or fight off insurgents while performing their missions. The Army announced the creation of the badge earlier this month.
"Warfare is still a human endeavor," Schoomaker said. "Our intent is to recognize soldiers who demonstrate and live the warrior ethos."
The badge is retroactive to Sept. 18, 2001, when President Bush authorized the war on terrorism. Army officials believe the badge could go to tens of thousands of soldiers who otherwise would have been ineligible for a combat award.
"The Global War on Terrorism and its associated operations will be the first era of conflict considered for this award," said Lt. Col. Bill Johnson, Human Resources Command chief of military awards.
Soldiers who earn the badge will wear it above the left pocket of their dress uniforms.
The CAB will go into immediate production and should be available late this summer or early fall through unit supply and military clothing sales stores.
Although the Close Combat Badge was once considered an option, Army leadership created the Combat Action Badge instead to recognize all soldiers who are in combat. They said the decision was based on input from leaders and soldiers in the field.
Rules for the awarding of the Combat Infantryman Badge and Combat Medical Badge will remain unchanged, officials said.
