Combat Infantry Badge

From 7th Cavalry Regiment Wiki

The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the 7th Cavalry. It is awarded for participation in ground combat against hostile forces during a clan match or battle. it is also referred to as Combat Infantry Badge.

Creation and History

The EIB was first created in October 1943. During the Second World War (1941–1945), the U.S. Army had difficulty in recruiting Infantry branch volunteers, unlike its other, more glamorous branches (e.g. the Tank Corps, the Army Air Forces). To increase recruitment and raise its esprit de corps, General Lesley J. McNair, the Army Ground Forces commander, conceived of two ideas— a large, recognizable combat service badge, for the infantry ranks, and replacing the title Private with the title Fighter, thereby, raising the soldier’s morale when addressing “Private Jones” as “Fighter Jones”. The badge idea was accepted, the title idea rejected; however, the General insisted upon the Fighter Badge title. On the 7th of October 1943, the War Department formally established the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) awards in Section I, War Department Circular 269 (27 October 1943).

In the 7th Cavalry

Ribbon

There is no ribbon for this award.

Medal

Awarding

The Expert Infantryman Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge are awarded to members of the 7th Cavalry that participate in clan battles, scrims and/or matches.

Description

Additional awards are represented with an enclosed in an oak-leaf wreath and the addition of stars after each subsequent 5 matches the soldiers participate in.