combat writing badge

Combat Briefing Badge

adapted from a composition by Michael J. Harris (June 2006)


News Update: Army Unveils New Award

Subject: Combat Briefing Badge (CBB)

          The U.S. Army has recognized the need for an award for military personnel assigned to headquarters units during combat operations, and has been approved this date to authorize the issuance of the Combat Briefing Badge (CBB) as a new award to select individuals serving in critical assignments.

          "Most people don't realize that being in a major headquarters can be just as stressful as going on patrols or convoys," said MAJ John Remf. "When you're briefing that many General officers, your career can end in a heartbeat. And it can happen to anyone at any time ... not just to Combat Arms soldiers." Department of Defense (DoD) statistics note that Combat Support (CSS) personnel are more likely to suffer career-ending incidents in rear areas than Combat Arms (CA) soldiers. "This just reflects that reality," said Pentagon spokesman LTC Roger Pogue.

          "I've seen these kids sweat bullets, slog through mountains of paperwork, defend the exposed edge of a data link," said BG Binky Doofus, "so our acknowledgement of their sacrifice is long overdue." "It takes real guts to try to explain the reality of what's happening outside to some super-starched guys locked down inside an air-conditioned bunker," said SPC Irving Goldbrick, "believe you me, 'cause I have to clean the latrine afterwards!" CW3 Wallah Wonk, an intelligence analyst, commented that "With this kind of recognition, the unsung heroes who labor tirelessly in the depths of every staff office from battalion to corps may soon earn a Purple Heart for carpal tunnel syndrome." "This award will restore the prestige of headquarters personnel," said MSG Bean Counter, who is renown for the speed and accuracy of his map pointer. He went on to complain that "We used to be ashamed of coffee stains and grease pencil smudges on our uniforms, but now we will wear them with pride."

          The new CBB award ranks in precedence below the Combat Affairs Badge (CAB) and the Contaminated Messhall Badge (CMB), but above the Expert Interrupter Badge (EIB) and the PowerPoint Ranger tab.

          Criteria for the award is still under discussion, but preliminary guidance authorizes the award for thirty (30) days of continuous briefings of officers at least two grades higher than the briefer without incident while serving in a theater of operations in which the awardee is also eligible for hostile environment and hazardous duty pay.


image of Combat Briefing Badge
Combat Briefing Badge





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