CIB

[Atilla83]

Gentleman,

I have a curious question. I have checked around various places and can't get a consolidated answer.

If I as a former Infantry Marine with a Combat Action Ribbon come into the Army do I rate:
1) a CIB instead of my CAR? If so do i have to choose or can i wear both?
2) will i be allowed to wear a 1st MARDIV patch as my combat unit patch?
3) Would all my other awards, ribbons, and medals be allowable on my stack in the Army?

Just a general curiosity series of questions. Any info that you all can provide would be appreciated seeing as the other internet forums I have been to have a bunch of SeaLawyers with different answers.

Best,
Atilla

[RTO]

My guess is that the answers you are looking for are in Army Regulation 670-1,
the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

It's long, but worth the read:
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r670_1.pdf

[Chiron]

I know that my 1SG in 1983 wore a marine combat patch from nam.

[RangerBob275]

AR 670-1
g. In accordance with AR 600–8–22, personnel must obtain authority from HQDA before wearing badges on the
uniform that were awarded by other U.S. Services, or by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. The following rules
apply when wearing badges from other U.S. Services.
(1) Military combat or special skill badges awarded by other U.S. Services that are similar to U.S. Army combat or
special skill badges are worn on the Army uniform in the same manner as U.S. Army combat or special skill badges,
only if no Army badges are authorized for wear in the same group. For example, a soldier who had no group 3 badges
could wear aviation badges awarded by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as group 3 badges (as Army Aviation and Aviator
badges are worn). However, if the individual was authorized to wear an Army badge in group 3, the soldier would not
be authorized to wear the group 3 badge from the USAF.
(2) Skill badges awarded by other U.S. Services that are not similar to Army skill badges are worn as group 4
badges.
(3) Badges from other U.S. Services that indicate career fields are not authorized for wear, such as USAF medical
insignia, or badges used to identify the duty, function, or classification of the wearer. Some examples are USAF fire
protection, air training command instructor, security police, or the Naval aviation warfare specialist.
(4) Personnel will not wear badges awarded by other U.S. Services which, because of size or configuration, cannot
be worn as group 4 badges. Subdued embroidered or metal skill badges authorized for wear by another U.S. Service,
and that are authorized for wear on the Army uniform, may be worn on utility uniforms in the same manner as
prescribed for Army badges


AR 600-8-22
5–2. Service medals and ribbons awarded by other U.S. Services
Service medals and ribbons awarded by other U.S. Services may be worn on the Army uniform except the Air Force
Longevity Service Award Ribbon and Air Force and Navy Marksmanship ribbons. Service and training ribbons
awarded by other U.S. Services will be worn after U.S. Army service and training ribbons and before foreign awards.

Combat Patch Not Authorized
28–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service (SSI–FWTS)
a. General. Authorization to wear a shoulder sleeve insignia indicating former wartime service applies only to
soldiers who are assigned to U.S. Army units that meet all the following criteria. Soldiers who were prior members of
other Services that participated in operations that would otherwise meet the criteria below are not authorized to wear
the SSI–FWTS. Wear is reserved for individuals who were members of U.S. Army units during the operations.

But Soldiers can wear the Marine's
Soldiers who served with
the 1st Marine Division from 19 March 2003 to 21 April 2003 during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom are authorized to wear the 1st Marine Division shoulder sleeve insignia as their SSI-FWTS.

Bob

[Silverback]

I wear the 1st and 2nd MARDIV patch on my right sleeve sometimes. We fell under there direct control while I was over there....I mainly do it to piss off a good friend of mine (former Marine) that is now Army b/c he isn't authorized to wear it.


Definitely read the regs, but I know that the CAR you earned does not transfer over to a CIB in the Army. There is plenty of war to go around so if/when you make it to 18A, you'll get your shot.

I think active Army guys who wear Marine patches are posers!

[Silverback]

I wear the 1st and 2nd MARDIV patch on my right sleeve sometimes. We fell under there direct control while I was over there....I mainly do it to piss off a good friend of mine (former Marine) that is now Army b/c he isn't authorized to wear it.


Definitely read the regs, but I know that the CAR you earned does not transfer over to a CIB in the Army. There is plenty of war to go around so if/when you make it to 18A, you'll get your shot.

I think active Army guys who wear Marine patches are posers!

I agree....I just do it to bust my friends balls occasionally. He earned his CIB and jump wings in the Army, but it still kills him that he can't wear a 1st MARDIV combat patch. I just feel that as a friend, I have a duty to remind him of that....as often as I can!

In my last unit all the soft skill guys would wear their Marine patches...I just thought it was funny. Of course you are free to wear whatever you like.

[Silverback]

I agree....I just do it to bust my friends balls occasionally. He earned his CIB and jump wings in the Army, but it still kills him that he can't wear a 1st MARDIV combat patch. I just feel that as a friend, I have a duty to remind him of that....as often as I can!

In my last unit all the soft skill guys would wear their Marine patches...I just thought it was funny. Of course you are free to wear whatever you like.

I take no offense SB...I pretty much knew what angle you were coming from. I think it's funny when you see all these fuckers wearing 173rd or 82nd (etc. etc. ) patches and aren't even jump qualified.

"Hey, who were you with in 10th Mtn?"

"Oh, I served with 1/87 over in Iraq."

"No shit! That was my old unit, when were you there? How long were you in 1/87?"


"Oh I wasn't ever in 10th Mtn....I just rolled on a convoy to another camp with them so I wear the patch!"


I've seen and heard shit like that way too many times!

There was a kid (name will not be revealed to protect his family) who was buying Valium and steroids from a local vendor. When he got busted he started huffing air, long story short he was a COMPLETE TURD! Anyway he got separated and sent home early. One of the NCOs I sent back with ADVON saw him and noticed he was wearing a National Guard combat patch. The NCO asked him what the deal was (because the kid was assigned to us the entire time) and the kid said "When I was on the national police training team (as a driver) I rolled with them a few times". The whole combat patch collecting deal has always confused me. Not to mention a 1SG wearing a 173d patch who was "attached to the herd during the invasion". He stopped wearing it when I started wearing mine.

[Jim]

In my last unit all the soft skill guys would wear their Marine patches...I just thought it was funny. Of course you are free to wear whatever you like.

I take no offense SB...I pretty much knew what angle you were coming from. I think it's funny when you see all these fuckers wearing 173rd or 82nd (etc. etc. ) patches and aren't even jump qualified.

"Hey, who were you with in 10th Mtn?"

"Oh, I served with 1/87 over in Iraq."

"No shit! That was my old unit, when were you there? How long were you in 1/87?"


"Oh I wasn't ever in 10th Mtn....I just rolled on a convoy to another camp with them so I wear the patch!"


I've seen and heard shit like that way too many times!

There was a kid (name will not be revealed to protect his family) who was buying Valium and steroids from a local vendor. When he got busted he started huffing air, long story short he was a COMPLETE TURD! Anyway he got separated and sent home early. One of the NCOs I sent back with ADVON saw him and noticed he was wearing a National Guard combat patch. The NCO asked him what the deal was (because the kid was assigned to us the entire time) and the kid said "When I was on the national police training team (as a driver) I rolled with them a few times". The whole combat patch collecting deal has always confused me. Not to mention a 1SG wearing a 173d patch who was "attached to the herd during the invasion". He stopped wearing it when I started wearing mine.

Dan, I blame it on whoever thought up the velcro patches on the ACU. I had one of the students show up with an entire pocketfull of patches for his 15 month deployment. I accused him of changing combat patches hourly.

[Silverback]

There was a kid (name will not be revealed to protect his family) who was buying Valium and steroids from a local vendor. When he got busted he started huffing air, long story short he was a COMPLETE TURD! Anyway he got separated and sent home early. One of the NCOs I sent back with ADVON saw him and noticed he was wearing a National Guard combat patch. The NCO asked him what the deal was (because the kid was assigned to us the entire time) and the kid said "When I was on the national police training team (as a driver) I rolled with them a few times". The whole combat patch collecting deal has always confused me. Not to mention a 1SG wearing a 173d patch who was "attached to the herd during the invasion". He stopped wearing it when I started wearing mine.

Dan, I blame it on whoever thought up the velcro patches on the ACU. I had one of the students show up with an entire pocketfull of patches for his 15 month deployment. I accused him of changing combat patches hourly.

I don't think Velcro is to blame for this, I think Soldiers feel a need to be "Different" for some reason. Oh wait it's probably because we treat them like kings for doing their job.

[Jim]

Dan, We hijacked the thread. Here is the answer:

Question 12: Would former Marines coming into the US Army are able to wear the US Army Combat Infantryman Badge? I know they receive a Combat Action Ribbon for such action and it would appear that they would be wearing two awards for the same action.
Answer 12: No, a former Marine or Sailor who received the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) during their service with the Marine Corps/Navy cannot "convert" their CARs into CIBs. The CAR is not equivalent to the CIB. It is similar to the CAB. The CAR, like the CAB, is awarded to any Marines/Sailors "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. Personnel assigned to areas subjected to sustained mortar, missile, and artillery attacks actively participate in retaliatory or offensive actions are eligible." It is given to any MOS/Specialty to include cooks, human resource personnel, military police, etc... The CIB, unlike the CAR, is only authorized to be awarded to Infantry and Special Forces Soldiers who are engaged in active ground combat, to close with and destroy the enemy with direct fires, while assigned to an Army Infantry or Special Forces unit.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/ta ... Qs/CIB.doc

[Atilla83]

Dan, We hijacked the thread. Here is the answer:

Question 12: Would former Marines coming into the US Army are able to wear the US Army Combat Infantryman Badge? I know they receive a Combat Action Ribbon for such action and it would appear that they would be wearing two awards for the same action.
Answer 12: No, a former Marine or Sailor who received the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) during their service with the Marine Corps/Navy cannot "convert" their CARs into CIBs. The CAR is not equivalent to the CIB. It is similar to the CAB. The CAR, like the CAB, is awarded to any Marines/Sailors "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. Personnel assigned to areas subjected to sustained mortar, missile, and artillery attacks actively participate in retaliatory or offensive actions are eligible." It is given to any MOS/Specialty to include cooks, human resource personnel, military police, etc... The CIB, unlike the CAR, is only authorized to be awarded to Infantry and Special Forces Soldiers who are engaged in active ground combat, to close with and destroy the enemy with direct fires, while assigned to an Army Infantry or Special Forces unit.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/ta ... Qs/CIB.doc

Gotcha on the CAR cause they do give them to POG's, i wish the Marine Corps would give us someway to specify that we got our shit for hooking and jabbing and not from being on a base when a scud flew overhead. Oh well.

On the subject of the Combat Patch what if you were a Marine who did a mission under an Army Command could I wear that. The idea of appearing as an unsalted POG is something I could handle but I would rather people be able to see I have put rounds down range. All this is just speculative and interestingly curious seeing as I am not a soldier yet and haven't made up my mind about it. This seems to fall under the gear queer category of inquiry though so I apologize.