Silver oxide (pewter), Mirror and Black finishes. Approximately 2 3/4″ width. The Combat Action Badge be awarded to any soldier performing assigned duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized; must have engaged the enemy; and must not be assigned/attached to a unit that would qualify the soldier for the CIB/CMB. Award of the CAB is authorized from 18 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Retroactive awards for the CAB are not authorized. Second and third awards of the CAB for subsequent qualifying periods are indicated by superimposing one and two stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath.
The Combat Action Badge (or CAB) is a military badge worn in the U.S. Army. The emblem features both an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade. The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier after the date of September 18, 2001 performing duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized, who is personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. Award is not limited by one’s branch of service or military occupational specialty, but is only authorized for wear on U.S. Army uniforms. A silver badge 2 inches (5.08 cm) 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. In comparison to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the CAB has a silver rectangle backing rather than blue, and the CAB is 1 inch shorter in length than the CIB.
