We went through the course for it but since that was the early '70s and most everyone E5 or 03 and above had a CIB, with some of the more senior having a CIB with star - our Bn. CSM had a CIB with two stars; WWII*, Korea and Vietnam - it felt a bit silly to wear an EIB in their presence.
* fwiw, he was in the 82nd and jumped into Normandy the night of June 5th. Was shot in the spine on June 8th and got a DSC doing whatever it was that got him wounded. Don't recall his units in Korea and RVN but he stayed in the thick of it for those two.
Ole MSG White in our S3 had 2 stars also back in 84 when I was in 1/12 th at Carson.
He retired in early 85 had breaks in service after
Ww2, Korea, Vietnam.
I didnt look at younger guys wearing their EIB,s as a lower award in my time as I moved forward.
Just that they ain't seen the elephant yet and been to the big show.
I was glad to earn it as a PFC 1st time out.
Didn't have to keep on doing it everytime it went down.
Sometimes yearly held based on training or deployments
Sometimes every 2 to 3 yrs depending on what a unit is doing or Gonna go do.
But then again alot of guys would go out and double no go a station to get out of it on purpose.
But that also was a you just fuuked yourself bud in your immediate leaderships eyes...
Cause when promotions come up.
Dudes same as you who failed honestly trying or earned theirs
Are gonna get the waivers for promotion per their equal TIS TIG versus you on the C10 roster.
And the skill craft pen records all each month per your monthly counseling statement.
And the urban legend about if you don't sign it then it don't matter is laughable.
Cause that is basically a no contest plea like in the civy world.
Even written into the header on the 4857...
That skill craft pen is the instrument of your own destruction or success per what you do or don't do in sooooooo many ways per Excellence, Average, mediocre, or piss poor performance wise.
Ones I really used to see tweeking hard and testing for the EIB hoping to earn it.
The Branch detailed 1lt,s on the 1st or maybe 2nd course try before being sent to their other branch for good.
Good young Officers who wished they never opted for branch detail to get whatever branch they originally " wanted".
And found out well into their 2 to 3 yr commitment to the Infantry combat arms field they didn't wanta leave the Infantry to go to Combat Service Support fields to become Captains.
