§ 578.70 - Combat Medical Badge.

(a) Eligibility requirements. (1) The Combat Medical Badge (CMB) may be awarded to members of the Army Medical Department (colonels and below), the Naval Medical Department (captains and below), the Air Force Medical Service (colonels and below), assigned or attached by appropriate orders to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size, or to a medical unit of company or smaller size, organic to an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period the infantry unit is engaged in actual ground combat on or after December 6, 1941. Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.

(2) Award of the CMB will not be made to general or flag officers.

(b) The following individuals are also eligible for the CMB:

(1) Effective December 19, 1989, Special Forces personnel possessing military occupational specialty 18D (Special Operations Medical Sergeant) who satisfactorily performed medical duties while assigned or attached to a Special Forces unit during any period the unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire. Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized prior to December 19, 1989.

(2) Effective January 16, 1991, Medical personnel outlined in paragraph (a) of this section, assigned or attached to armor and ground cavalry units of brigade or smaller size, who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire. Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized prior to January 16, 1991.

(3) Effective September 11, 2001, Medical personnel outlined in paragraphs (a) (1) and (b)(2) of this section, assigned or attached to or under operational control of any ground Combat Arms units (not to include members assigned or attached to Aviation units) of brigade or smaller size, who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire. Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized prior to September 11, 2001.

(4) Effective on or after September 18, 2001:

(i) Medical personnel assigned or attached to or under operational control of any ground Combat Arms units (not to include members assigned or attached to Aviation units) of brigade or smaller size, who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in active ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire. Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized for service prior to September 18, 2001.

(ii) Effective June 5, 2005, Soldiers possessing a MOS of 18D are no longer eligible for award of the CMB (see § 578.69 (b)(5)(iii) of this part).

(c) The CMB is authorized for award for the following qualifying periods:

(1) World War II (December 7, 1941 to September 3, 1945).

(2) The Korean War (June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1953).

(3) Republic of Vietnam Conflict (March 2, 1961 to March 28, 1973), combined with qualifying service in Laos (April 19, 1961 to October 6, 1962).

(4) Dominican Republic (April 28, 1965 to September 1, 1966).

(5) Korea on the DMZ (January 4, 1969 to March 31, 1994).

(6) El Salvador (January 1, 1981 to February 1, 1992).

(7) Grenada (October 23 to November 21, 1983).

(8) Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea (November 23, 1984).

(9) Panama (December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990).

(10) Southwest Asia Conflict (January 17 to April 11, 1991).

(11) Somalia (June 5, 1992 to March 31, 1994).

(12) Afghanistan (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, December 5, 2001 to a date to be determined).

(13) Iraq (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, March 19, 2003 to a date to be determined).

(d) The special provisions for the Vietnam Conflict, Laos and Korea on the DMZ are as follows:

(1) For service in Vietnam Conflict:

(i) On or after March 1, 1961, a Soldier must have been assigned to a Vietnamese unit engaged in actual ground combat or as a member of a U.S. Army infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, including Special Forces Detachments, serving with a Republic of Vietnam unit engaged in actual ground combat. The Republic of Vietnam unit must have been of regimental size or smaller and either an infantry, ranger, infantry-type unit of the civil guard, infantry-type unit of the self-defense corps, or the irregular forces. The Soldier must have been personally present and under hostile fire while assigned as specified.

(ii) On or after May 24, 1965, Soldiers serving in U.S. units must meet the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Soldiers who perform liaison duties with the Royal Thai Army or the Army of the Republic of Korea combat units in Vietnam are eligible for award of the badge provided they meet all other requirements.

(2) For service in Laos, from April 19, 1961 to October 6, 1962, the Soldier must have been—

(i) Assigned as member of a White Star Mobile Training Team while the team was attached to or working with a unit of regimental (groupment mobile) or smaller size of Forces Armee du Royaume (FAR), or with irregular-type forces of regimental or smaller size.

(ii) A member of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG), Laos, assigned as an advisor to a region or zone of FAR, or while serving with irregular-type forces of regimental or smaller size.

(iii) Personally under hostile fire while assigned as specified in paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section.

(3) For service in Korea on the DMZ. The special requirements for award of the CMB for service in the Republic of Korea are rescinded. Army veterans and service members who served in Korea on or after July 28, 1953 and meet the criteria for award of the CMB outlined in paragraph (a) of this section, may submit an application (to include supporting documentation) for award of the CMB to the Commander, USA HRC, (see § 578.3(c) for address). Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized for service prior to July 29, 1953.

(e) Subsequent awards. Second and subsequent awards of the CMB are as follows:

(1) Second and third 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 who service in the follow four qualifying periods:

(i) World War II.

(ii) The Korean War.

(iii) Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict combined with qualifying service in Laos; the Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Secruity Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; and Southwest Asia Conflict; and Somalia regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on March 10, 1995.

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

(2) If a Soldier has been awarded the CIB in one of the qualifying periods that Soldier is not eligible to earn the CMB in the same period.

(f) Who may award. The award approval authority for the CMB is the same as the CIB (see § 578.69(g) of this part.

(g) Description. An oxidized silver badge 1 inch in height and 11/2 inches in width, consisting of a stretcher crossed by a caduceus surmounted at top by a Greek cross, all on and over an elliptical oak wreath. Stars are added to indicate subsequent awards; one star at top for the second award, one star at top and one at bottom for the third award, one star at top and one at each side for the fourth award.