Today our company was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for our participation in the combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is a rather prestigious award that is highly regarded throughout the U.S. armed forces.
This award is especially significant for us since my battalion (1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry) and our sister Indiana National Guard battalion (1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry) are the first two National Guard battalions to receive this award since World War II, when it was created.
It’s hard to describe to anyone not in the military how much of an honor it is to receive this award. We left our wives, families and loved ones for who knows how long; endured living conditions that few will experience in their lives; and put our lives on the line for a little decoration to put on our chest. I would have thought it was pretty silly myself just a few years ago, I’m sure.
August 14th, 2003 at 10:08 am
Dude, that rocks… Congratulations! You’re right in saying I don’t fully appreciate its significance, but the first Nat’l Guard to get it since WWII… I knew you guys were extraordinary but this really drives it home.
October 24th, 2003 at 4:52 pm
Congradulation Toby and welcome to the club. There is no other award in the Armythat command respect like the C.I.B.(The C.I.B. is even located above the M.O.H.!) I have 2 Panama 89-90 5/87 Inf. and Iraq 90-91 5/502Inf. 101st Abn aas Div. Grunts are the toughest soldiers anywhere. We do more than any other Units in any service AND we usually have substandard equipment.We are very proud of you all GOD bless
January 29th, 2004 at 10:00 pm
Just had to mention that Jason’s reference to having two C.I.B.’s is innacurate. Both conflicts fall under the same award era. The second would technically be considered a second award however that would imply that he would then be allowed a star which he isn’t. Furthermore 4/502, 5/502, and 6/502 were all battalions of the Berlin Brigade during Desert Storm. Not 101st. Oh, by the way congrats on the C.I.B.
March 28th, 2004 at 3:20 pm
Much deserving c.i.b. I myself got a c.i.b. from operation just cause Panama. Was with 1/9 manchus out of ft. ord california. The proudest day of my life being awarded that badge.Welcome to the club and great job you guy’s.
October 24th, 2004 at 11:57 pm
I was awarded the C.I.B. with the 293rd Inf BDE while in Iraq. I am now serving in Afghanistan with the 76th BDE as an ETT (special forces type mission, Embedded, Tach., Trainer)and everywhere I’ve been throughout the countrys and prov. I’ve been too I always have to explain my 76th BDE patch and how I received it. Not only is it an honor that we’ve earned a C.I.B. but it’s an honor being apart of the National Guard unit that first earned it since WWII.
September 22nd, 2005 at 1:53 pm
my name is sgt anthony burchard. im now in a signal unit. im getting ready to go to the board for ssg. my erb dose not reflect my cib from iraq. i served in pathfinder company 6/101 aviation. i went to iraq in feb 2003. we were awarded it sometime in 2003 july aug,sept, time frame. if you can tell me how to pull up my orders for my award so that i can put it in my erb. i will die before im told to take off my cib. any help will do me good.
September 22nd, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Hello Sgt. Burchard,
Try this: log in to AKO online (from https://www.us.army.mil), then under "Self Service" on the left, click "My Personnel".
In the new screen, click "Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)" under "My G-1 Personnel" on the right. Click your appropriate branch, and you will be taken to your personnel file.
For me, there is an entry in there called "ORDERS ANNOUNCING THE AWARD OF BADGES, BARS, TABS, ETCETERA". That has my CIB award in it. I don’t know if that’s considered "official" or not.
There’s also a link on the front page of the personnel record on how to correct a mistake in your records; you may want to try that.