[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR578.71]

[Page 444-445]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                    CHAPTER V--DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
 
PART 578_DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  578.71  Combat Action Badge.

    (a) On May 2, 2005, the Chief of Staff, Army, approved the creation 
of the Combat Action Badge (CAB) to provide special recognition to 
Soldiers who personally engage, or are engaged by the enemy.
    (b) Basic eligibility requirements. The requirements for award of 
the CAB are Branch and MOS immaterial. Assignment to a Combat Arms unit 
or a unit organized to conduct close or offensive combat operations, or 
performing offensive combat operations is not required to qualify for 
the CAB. However, it is not intended to award all Soldiers who serve in 
a combat zone or imminent danger area.
    (c) Specific eligibility requirements. (1) May be awarded to any 
Soldier.
    (2) Soldier must be performing assigned duties in an area where 
hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized.
    (3) Soldier must be personally present and actively engaging or 
being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance 
with the prescribed rules of engagement.

[[Page 445]]

    (4) Soldier must be assigned or attached to a unit that would 
qualify the Soldier for the CIB or CMB. For example, an 11B assigned to 
Corps staff is eligible for award of the CAB. However, an 11B assigned 
to an infantry battalion is not eligible for award of the CAB.
    (d) In addition to Army Soldiers, the CAB may be awarded to members 
of other U.S. Armed Forces and foreign military personnel assigned to a 
U.S. Army unit, provided they meet the criteria (for example, Korean 
Augmentation to U.S. Army (KATUSA) personnel in the 2d Infantry Division 
would be eligible).
    (e) Award of the CAB is authorized from September 18, 2001, to a 
date to be determined. Award for qualifying service in any previous 
conflict is not authorized.
    (f) Second and subsequent awards of the CAB are as follows:
    (1) Only one CAB may be awarded during a qualified period.
    (2) Second and subsequent awards of the CAB will be indicated by 
superimposing one and two stars respectively, centered at the top of the 
badge between the points of the oak wreath.
    (g) Retroactive awards of the CAB are not authorized prior to 
September 18, 2001. For service on or after September 18, 2001, 
applications (with supporting documentation) for retroactive awards of 
the CAB will be forwarded through the first 2-star general in the chain 
of command to the Commander, USA HRC, (see Sec.  578.3(c) for address).
    (h) The CAB is categorized as a Group 1 Badge. See Army Regulation 
670-1 for specific wear instructions.
    (i) Soldiers may be awarded the CIB, CMB and CAB for the same 
qualifying period, provided the criteria for each badge are met. 
However, subsequent awards of the same badge within the same qualifying 
period are not authorized.
    (j) The CAB may be awarded by a commander delegated authority by the 
Secretary of the Army during wartime or the Cdr, USA HRC. Effective June 
3, 2005, commanders delegated authority to award the CAB may further 
delegate award authority to commanders in the grade of major general or 
above. The CAB will be announced in permanent orders.
    (k) Description. A silver badge 2 inches (5.08cm) in width overall 
consisting of an oak wreath supporting a rectangle bearing a bayonet 
surmounting a grenade, all silver. Stars are added at the top to 
indicate subsequent awards; one star for the second award, two stars for 
the third award and three stars for the fourth award.