House Freedom Caucus Rep. Troy Nehls dons combat badge despite being ineligible, Army confirms
House Freedom Caucus Rep. Troy Nehls dons combat badge despite being ineligible, Army confirms
House Freedom Caucus Rep. Troy Nehls has been seen donning a Combat Infantryman Badge on his lapel, touting his service in Afghanistan.
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“A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or SF primary duty in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy,” Army regulations stipulate.
“Personnel with other than an infantry or SF MOS [Special Forces Military Occupational Specialty] are not eligible, regardless of the circumstances.”
During the time of his service, the Lone Star rep was working as a civil affairs officer rather than an infantryman or Special Forces soldier, according to CBS.
So he was working in an office, not in combat, but thinks he 'deserves' to wear the combat badge anyway.
Classic example of selfish stupidity right there.
PX Warrior
This isn’t dick move, even for a remfie
Where did he even get the badge? eBay?
It sounds like he was awarded the badge through the normal process, and it was only after the fact where it was determined he didn't meet the requirements, and they "rescinded" it. So, at least in his case, there is a bit more to it than simply lying about his service
But that only leads to more questions, because shouldn't they be looking more closely at this shit when they give those awards out? Who did he (or his superiors) have to convince to not look at the list too closely?
I'm guessing the whole unit got put in for them, and he was part of the unit, just not in an MOS (military occupational specialty) qualified to earn this particular combat badge. Someone didn't look close enough and just rubber stamped it. Basically, it just slipped through the cracks... but he knows as he knew then he wasn't in an MOS that could receive this award.
The Combat Infantry Badge, as the article mentions, is only awarded to infantry and special forces soldiers that have seen combat as typically these units were the only ones that saw action. With Afghanistan and Iraq, we saw a new form of conflict where there wasn't a specified frontline to the fighting and support rolls (such as the one he was in) often found themselves under fire. There was some push to award all soldiers that saw combat a CIB regardless of what job they held. The Army decided against doing this, but they did eventually create the Combat Action Badge (CAB) in 2005, which is similar to a CIB in that the recipient must be engaged in combat to earn it, but it is awarded to any MOS. He likely would have qualified for the CAB through his service, but I'm guessing it just wasn't a thing when he served.
As someone who has never been in the military, I don't feel qualified to comment negatively on anyone's service. If someone is getting shot at, I don't care if they are in a formal combat role or not, they are still out there protecting my ass and I won't second guess them.
But those that have served understand that distinction, though, and I'll have to defer to them to understand how cringy it all is.
Wearing medals or badges you didn't earn is super cringy, and you're basically just shitting on everyone who actually did earn them. I'm not trying to take away this guys service, but as an actual recipient of a CIB, I feel like his lying is a direct slap in the face.
I’m not sure about this one, specifically, but we rarely got handed badges or medals. *There was an outfit shop where we had to buy it all.
Yeah, but we used to call the guys that just went and bought shit they didn't earn PX Rangers. Anyone could go buy any badge or medal they wanted, but that doesn't mean they earned the right to wear it or that they have the documents proving they were awarded it... and I don't know about you, but I got presented with a certificate and a physical medal for every medal I earned, badges we had to buy but only after they were earned.
Controversy over the Combat Infantryman Badge swirled last month following a CBS News investigation that revealed Nehls’ (R-Texas) Combat Infantryman Badge was rescinded in 2023.
He got the badge, but it was revoked.