US Infantry trades?

[The Monkey God]

Guys,

Can anyone explain to me, how the US infantry trade system works? By that I mean does a `joe`, join as a rifleman, then become a medic, or is there a totally seperate trade for medics within the US army?

:unsure:

[Doc]

Generally, they are totally separate. You join up and get your basic training (which is the same for all branches of the Army-- shoot, move, communicate, first aid, etc.), but then soldiers go on and get advanced individual training to learn their specialised skill sets (infantry, armor, aviation, artillery, medic, etc.). In the US Army, Medics are not infantry first, but medics. It is possible to transfer from Infantry to Medic later in your career in the Army, but it is not required, and is not all that common. Different maybe in different services, and certainly in the Special Forces. The special forces medic (18D) is a breed apart, and I've known several of them who were infantry first. Doc

[The Monkey God]

:cheers: Doc.

Not like the Marines, then were you don`t know what trade you`ll be doing till after you`ve finished your training.

If you did transfer from infantry to medic, and `won` the CIB & then the CMB, could you then wear both, or do you have to choose which one you`d wear? :unsure:

Edited June 15, 2009 by The Monkey God

[Doc]

Unless they have changed the regs in the past 4 years (always possible), if you earned a combat infantry badge and a combat medic badge, you could wear both. Doc

[The Monkey God]

Unless they have changed the regs in the past 4 years (always possible), if you earned a combat infantry badge and a combat medic badge, you could wear both. Doc

Now that is very interesting, will have to surf the net to see if I can find any pics of anyone wearing both. :cheers:

[The Monkey God]

Found this....

A guy with a CMB and 2 stars? Doesn`t look old enough, I thought they only issued them for Vietnam, Iraq I & II or Afghanistan, so how`s he managed to win it three times?

[The Monkey God]

Can`t see any pics of anyone wearing both, but I did find this that I thought was cool!!!

[Doc]

Monkey God--- good question. The guiding regulation is AR 600-8-22, and the latest edition I have is 2006. It specifically notes that

"e. Second and subsequent awards of the CMB are indicated by superimposing 1 and 2 stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath. To date, a separate award of the CMB has been authorized for qualified Soldiers in the following four conflicts:

(1) World War II.

(2) Korean War.

(3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict combined with qualifying service in

Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea;

Panama; Southwest Asia Conflict; and Somalia, regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995.

(4) War on Terrorism (Afghanistan, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM) and (Iraq, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM).

f. Subsequent awards of the CMB is not authorized for the same qualifying period, as outlined above."

Looks to me like it would be VERRRY hard for a young troop to have three awards. That would require Korean War service, Vietnam (or anything else in that period, including Desert Storm), plus the War on Terrorism.

Oh, and effective 2005, Special Forces Medics (18D) are not eligible to win the CMB. I have no idea of the rationale for this decision, but it's in the reg.

Doc

Edited June 16, 2009 by Doc

[The Monkey God]

Hi Doc,

Yes I was under that impression as well. Lets say he did Iraq I & Iraq II, that would give him 2 awards, would that be the badge & 1 star, or the badge & 2 stars? If its the latter then this guy has 3 CMB (not clear in picture, as its too small, but full size pic was too big to post the full hit, but leave it with me, I`ll try and cut and paste). Was a CMB issued for the that whole hawk down business, maybe he got one there to?

Edited June 16, 2009 by The Monkey God

[The Monkey God]

:cheers:

[The Monkey God]

Doc, whats this one for? :unsure:

[Doc]

That pin in the photo is a third award-- I don't know how he could have gotten it according to the regs. Eligibility is by grouped time periods, not events (see my previous posts). See AR 670-1.

The cloth badge is the Expert Field Medical Badge. Doc

[The Monkey God]

That pin in the photo is a third award-- I don't know how he could have gotten it according to the regs. Eligibility is by grouped time periods, not events (see my previous posts). See AR 670-1.

The cloth badge is the Expert Field Medical Badge. Doc

Do you have to have qualified for the EMB, in or to get the CMB?

Who can get these awards? Is it medics only, or could a grunt get one for patching his buddy up?

"The directive was again altered in 1969 to specify that only one award of the Combat Medical Badge is authorized for service in Vietnam, Laos, the Dominican Republic, Korea (subsequent to 4 January 1969), El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, and Somalia regardless of whether an individual has served in one or more of these areas."

I assume South West Asia, would be desert storm? That would have blanked out any other service during that period, so Somalia is out. The next would have been OIF, so theres two.....have no idea where the third award has come from? The Balkans maybe?

[Doc]

Do you have to have qualified for the EMB, in or to get the CMB?

Who can get these awards? Is it medics only, or could a grunt get one for patching his buddy up?

I assume South West Asia, would be desert storm? That would have blanked out any other service during that period, so Somalia is out. The next would have been OIF, so theres two.....have no idea where the third award has come from? The Balkans maybe?

The regs are clear-- medics only. No, EFMB and CMB are two totally separate things-- no relationship, and you do not have to have EFMB to get the CMB.

Yes, SWA includes Desert Storm.

I'm not sure if the Balkans would rate a CMB or not-- would have to really review the regulations, but I suspect not, as technically those are peacekeeping missions, and we are not "directly engaged in ground conflict with an armed enemy". I could be wrong on this, but don't have time to really look at the regs right now.

For details, look at the Regulations I have cited-- they are available on the web. Doc

Edited June 17, 2009 by Doc

[The Monkey God]

Hi Doc, thanks for your reply. Think your right about the Balkans. This 2 star CMB is a mystery!! :unsure:

[ItemCo16527]

Now that is very interesting, will have to surf the net to see if I can find any pics of anyone wearing both.

Check out this link to a memorial page for Major Charles Kelly, the "Original Dustoff". He earned a posthumous DSC, among other decorations, for his bravery in Vietnam. He was authorized the CIB, the CMB, Senior Aviator wings, and basic jump wings.

http://psysim.www7.50megs.com/dustkelly.htm

You'll have to scroll down for a bit, but there are a few pictures of him wearing those badges.

[The Monkey God]

Check out this link to a memorial page for Major Charles Kelly, the "Original Dustoff". He earned a posthumous DSC, among other decorations, for his bravery in Vietnam. He was authorized the CIB, the CMB, Senior Aviator wings, and basic jump wings.

http://psysim.www7.50megs.com/dustkelly.htm

You'll have to scroll down for a bit, but there are a few pictures of him wearing those badges.

Well well well, there we have it!! :cheers: