Question regarding the CAR

[crasha51pan]

Don't think ribbons or medals show honor. Everyone who stood in the yellow footprints and put on the uniform showed "Honor". Think that ribbons and such just tell a story...IMO

[SGT7477]

Don't think ribbons or medals show honor. Everyone who stood in the yellow footprints and put on the uniform showed "Honor". Think that ribbons and such just tell a story...IMO

Very well put Marine, Semper FI.

[SSgt McCord]

Dont get me wrong I would love to have a CAR, but the most important thing on my Uniform is one thing!! THE EAGLE GLOBE AND ANCHOR!!! Anybody can get shot at or shoot back but only a few can say, "I AM A US MARINE"!! Be proud to know you are Marine and everything else is just simply bull*@*@

"Except for Personal awards, Bronze Star, ect."

[PaidinBlood]

Any one of you can have mine....probably did more to earn it... SF,,, (<~~those are Sparkie dots...)

[Quinbo]

Hang on to it PIB ... later you might be able to claim disabilty. Who knows you might be able to sit at home and play with toys collecting a fat check. The average joe will be at work making sure you get payed.

[ArtyOps]

I assume a CAR is the Combat Action award; I didn’t have one listed on my DD214 either. One of the guys in my platoon told me that the Combat Action award and two Presidential unit citations were awarded to our unit after we left the Marine Corps. He told me he talked to our old unit lieutenant and the lieutenant (now retired Lt. Col) was able to certify his eligibility and they were added to his DD214.

I don’t care much about which awards are on my DD214 but I wish I hadn’t given away the T-67 Iron Man ID Bracelet given to me at Boot Camp graduation, by the MCRD Base Commander. My old girl friend probably throw it away years ago, at least I still have the photo.

The CAR (Combat Action Ribbon) is an individually awarded ribbon, or at least it is now. I know when we put together our list of Marines the met the criterian we had to be very specific.

http://www.marines.mil/news/messages...%20AWARDS.aspx

Go down to paragraph 3 D and you'll see what I mean.

[PaidinBlood]

Hang on to it PIB ... later you might be able to claim disabilty. Who knows you might be able to sit at home and play with toys collecting a fat check. The average joe will be at work making sure you get payed.

I'd hand over every red cent to bring just one of them back...

[Quinbo]

I'd hand over every red cent to bring just one of them back...

Me too bro.

[Wyoming]

I don't know for sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that the U.S. Armed Forces never awarded any medals or ribbons before the U.S. Civil War.

If true, then I suppose being a living Veteran was enough honor in those days.

.

The Best Medal is a Live Man's Smile!!

[crasha51pan]

This is just my opinion, but the Marine Corp dropped the ball on this one !
Weather you are in a artillery unit or a cook or in supply and you spent the night dodging rocket or mortar fire, that's combat by my definition.
If you lost a body part while stuffed in a Ontos or driving a deuce and a half, that's combat by my definition.
To suggest that those people do not rate a Combat Action Ribbon is insane ! You get the feeling that the criteria for the ribbon was written by a person who never stepped foot in a war zone.
I feel that it's time the Marine Corp stepped up and corrected a "big time" injustice here..............IMO !

Semper Fi...

[Sgt Leprechaun]

The CAR is still individually awarded. Crash, what do you mean?

[crasha51pan]

I realize it's individually awarded, it's just the criteria that confuses me. The way it reads is "To be awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the individual must have rendered satisfactory performance under enemy fire while actively participating in a ground or surface engagement". To me "enemy fire" would/should include rocket attack/mortar fire, land mines, hand to hand and I believe that those scenarios are excluded.
If I am wrong, then I stand corrected. Just seems that if the enemy is lobbing mortars at you, that's enemy fire. Land mines (to me) is enemy fire.
Would also wonder about "rendered satisfactory performance". What is that, and who is the judge ?
As I have stated, I have been in firefights/received and returned fire, but it was so long ago (before the CAR) and I am sure that if we were out on a run and ran into a ambush, it wasn't recorded once we got back to our CP. It was a pretty common occurrence. I filled out the paperwork and sent it in, just to see what would happen, guess I got too much time on my hands in my old age but I am curious as to how they handle the request. I feel that a Marine that has been "wounded" by the enemy, weather rocket,mortar,bullet, punji stake, deadfall, whatever, should be able to wear the CAR...
Just my opinion....

Semper Fi !

[Sgt Leprechaun]

You must have been reading the earlier/older criteria. It did, in fact, used to be that way, but it has since changed. It now recognizes all those things. Here is the text of the revised order, dated 6/26/2006 (From an ALMAR message):

http://www.marines.mil/news/messages...%20RIBBON.aspx

CRITERIA: THE PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION IS, REGARDLESS OF
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OR RATING, THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MUST
HAVE RENDERED SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE UNDER ENEMY FIRE WHILE
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN A GROUND OR SURFACE ENGAGEMENT. SERVICE
IN A COMBAT AREA DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY ENTITLE A SERVICE MEMBER TO
THE CAR.
(2) DISCUSSION: ALTHOUGH THIS PARAGRAPH WAS REVISED, THE INTENT OF
THE CAR HAS NOT CHANGED. IT IS INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE
MET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN COMBAT. THE MAIN REQUIREMENTS
ARE: ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A GROUND OR SURFACE ENGAGEMENT,
SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE, AND ACHIEVEMENT OF BOTH WHILE UNDER ENEMY
FIRE. THE PHRASE 'COMBAT FIRE-FIGHT OR ACTION' WAS REPLACED WITH
THE TERM ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS DEFINED BY REF D AS 'A TACTICAL
CONFLICT, USUALLY BETWEEN OPPOSING LOWER ECHELON MANEUVER FORCES.'
THE INTENT OF THIS CHANGE IS TO BROADEN THE CRITERIA TO ALLOW FOR
RECOGNITION OF SITUATIONS ENCOUNTERED IN TODAY'S COMBAT ENVIRONMENT.
C. ITEM: IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
(1) CRITERIA: DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE DETONATION OF AN IMPROVISED
EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED) USED BY AN ENEMY, WITH OR WITHOUT THE
IMMEDIATE PRESENCE OF ENEMY FORCES, CONSTITUTES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
IN A GROUND OR SURFACE ENGAGEMENT. QUALIFICATION UNDER THIS
CRITERION IS RETROACTIVE TO 7 OCTOBER 2001.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS LANGUAGE WAS ADDED TO COINCIDE WITH THE
CLARIFICATION PROVIDED IN REF B. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE IED ISSUE IS THE PRIMARY REASON THAT THE PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY
CRITERION WAS BROADENED.
D. ITEM: UNIQUE SITUATIONS
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL IN RIVERINE AND COASTAL OPERATIONS,
ASSAULTS, PATROLS, SWEEPS, AMBUSHES, CONVOYS, AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS,
AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN FIRE-FIGHTS ARE
ELIGIBLE.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED AS IT IS UNNECESSARY.
REGARDLESS OF THE TACTICAL SITUATION, IF ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL MEET THE
PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION DISCUSSED IN PARAGRAPH 2B(1), THEY
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAR.
E. ITEM: SUSTAINED INDIRECT FIRE
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO AREAS SUBJECTED TO SUSTAINED
MORTAR, MISSILE, AND ARTILLERY ATTACKS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN
RETALIATORY OR OFFENSIVE ACTIONS ARE ELIGIBLE.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED AS IT IS UNNECESSARY.
REGARDLESS OF THE TACTICAL SITUATION, IF ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL MEET THE
PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION DISCUSSED IN PARAGRAPH 2B(1), THEY
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAR.
F. ITEM: SPECIAL OPERATIONS
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL WHO SERVE IN CLANDESTINE OR SPECIAL
OPERATIONS, WHO BY THE NATURE OF THEIR MISSION, ARE RESTRICTED IN
THE ABILITY TO RETURN FIRE AND WHO ARE OPERATING IN CONDITIONS WHERE
THE RISK OF ENEMY FIRE WAS GREAT AND EXPECTED TO BE ENCOUNTERED ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS LANGUAGE WAS REVISED TO MORE ACCURATELY STATE
THE CRITERIA FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS.
G. ITEM: SHIPS
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL ABOARD A SHIP ARE ELIGIBLE WHEN THE SAFETY
OF THE SHIP AND THE CREW WERE ENDANGERED BY ENEMY ATTACK, SUCH AS A
SHIP HIT BY A MINE OR A SHIP ENGAGED BY SHORE, SURFACE, AIR OR
SUB-SURFACE ELEMENTS.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED.
H. ITEM: PURPLE HEART
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART
WOULD NOT NECESSARILY QUALIFY FOR THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS RETAINED AS THERE ARE SITUATIONS
IN WHICH THE PURPLE HEART WOULD BE WARRANTED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT.
I. ITEM: PEACEKEEPING
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL SERVING IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS, IF NOT
ELIGIBLE BY THE CRITERIA CITED ABOVE, ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE
AWARD WHEN THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET: (A) THE MEMBER WAS
SUBJECT TO HOSTILE, DIRECT FIRE, BASED ON THE MISSION AND THE
TACTICAL SITUATION, NOT RETURNING FIRE WAS THE BEST COURSE OF
ACTION, AND (B) THE MEMBER WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT AND HIS/HER ORDERS BY NOT RETURNING FIRE.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED. REGARDLESS OF THE
TACTICAL SITUATION, IF ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL MEET THE PRINCIPAL
ELIGIBILITY CRITERION DISCUSSED IN PARAGRAPH 2B(1), THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAR. AS THIS MODIFIES GUIDANCE PUBLISHED IN REFS E
AND F, THOSE REFS ARE HEREBY CANCELLED.
J. ITEM: AIR MEDAL
(1) CRITERIA: THE CAR WILL NOT BE AWARDED TO PERSONNEL FOR AERIAL
COMBAT SINCE THE STRIKE/FLIGHT AIR MEDAL PROVIDES RECOGNITION FOR
AERIAL COMBAT EXPOSURE; HOWEVER, A PILOT OR CREWMEMBER FORCED TO
ESCAPE OR EVADE AFTER BEING FORCED DOWN COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
AWARD.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS RETAINED.
K. ITEM: PUBLIC LAW
(1) CRITERIA: UNDER PUBLIC LAW 106-65, THE CAR MAY BE AWARDED
RETROACTIVELY TO 7 DEC 41.
(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE CORRECT
PUBLIC LAW.
3. THE REMAINDER OF THE TEXT CONTAINED IN REF A IS RETAINED. OF
NOTE, PARA 230.14.C. THEREIN, WHICH STATES, 'ONLY ONE AWARD PER
OPERATION IS AUTHORIZED,' REMAINS VALID. EXISTING POLICY AND
CURRENT PRACTICE ALLOWS A MARINE TO EARN ONE CAR FOR ELIGIBLE
ACTIONS IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND ONE FOR ELIGIBLE ACTIONS IN
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT DEPLOYMENTS TO
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM WOULD NOT EARN
AN ADDITIONAL AWARD, EVEN IF A MARINE PARTICIPATED IN ELIGIBLE
COMBAT ACTIONS.
4. NONE OF THE PRECEDING CHANGES IMPLY THAT PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CARS
WILL BE REVOKED; ALL PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CARS REMAIN VALID.
5. AWARDS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MARINES
AND SAILORS TO OUR NATION, AND THE PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT OF
COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO MAINTAIN THE
INTEGRITY AND HONOR OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS SYSTEM.
6. KEEP ATTACKING. M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

You must have been reading the earlier/older criteria. It did, in fact, used to be that way, but it has since changed. It now recognizes all those things. Here is the text of the revised order, dated 6/26/2006 (From an ALMAR message):

http://www.marines.mil/news/messages...%20RIBBON.aspx

CRITERIA: THE PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION IS, REGARDLESS OF
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OR RATING, THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MUST
HAVE RENDERED SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE UNDER ENEMY FIRE WHILE
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN A GROUND OR SURFACE ENGAGEMENT. SERVICE
IN A COMBAT AREA DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY ENTITLE A SERVICE MEMBER TO
THE CAR.

(2) DISCUSSION: ALTHOUGH THIS PARAGRAPH WAS REVISED, THE INTENT OF
THE CAR HAS NOT CHANGED. IT IS INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE
MET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN COMBAT. THE MAIN REQUIREMENTS
ARE: ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A GROUND OR SURFACE ENGAGEMENT,
SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE, AND ACHIEVEMENT OF BOTH WHILE UNDER ENEMY
FIRE. THE PHRASE 'COMBAT FIRE-FIGHT OR ACTION' WAS REPLACED WITH
THE TERM ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS DEFINED BY REF D AS 'A TACTICAL
CONFLICT, USUALLY BETWEEN OPPOSING LOWER ECHELON MANEUVER FORCES.'
THE INTENT OF THIS CHANGE IS TO BROADEN THE CRITERIA TO ALLOW FOR
RECOGNITION OF SITUATIONS ENCOUNTERED IN TODAY'S COMBAT ENVIRONMENT.

C. ITEM: IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
(1) CRITERIA: DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE DETONATION OF AN IMPROVISED
EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED) USED BY AN ENEMY, WITH OR WITHOUT THE
IMMEDIATE PRESENCE OF ENEMY FORCES, CONSTITUTES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
IN A GROUND OR SURFACE ENGAGEMENT. QUALIFICATION UNDER THIS
CRITERION IS RETROACTIVE TO 7 OCTOBER 2001.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS LANGUAGE WAS ADDED TO COINCIDE WITH THE
CLARIFICATION PROVIDED IN REF B. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE IED ISSUE IS THE PRIMARY REASON THAT THE PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY
CRITERION WAS BROADENED.

D. ITEM: UNIQUE SITUATIONS

(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL IN RIVERINE AND COASTAL OPERATIONS,
ASSAULTS, PATROLS, SWEEPS, AMBUSHES, CONVOYS, AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS,
AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN FIRE-FIGHTS ARE
ELIGIBLE.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED AS IT IS UNNECESSARY.
REGARDLESS OF THE TACTICAL SITUATION, IF ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL MEET THE
PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION DISCUSSED IN PARAGRAPH 2B(1), THEY
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAR.

E. ITEM: SUSTAINED INDIRECT FIRE
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO AREAS SUBJECTED TO SUSTAINED
MORTAR, MISSILE, AND ARTILLERY ATTACKS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN
RETALIATORY OR OFFENSIVE ACTIONS ARE ELIGIBLE.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED AS IT IS UNNECESSARY.
REGARDLESS OF THE TACTICAL SITUATION, IF ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL MEET THE
PRINCIPAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERION DISCUSSED IN PARAGRAPH 2B(1), THEY
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAR.

F. ITEM: SPECIAL OPERATIONS
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL WHO SERVE IN CLANDESTINE OR SPECIAL
OPERATIONS, WHO BY THE NATURE OF THEIR MISSION, ARE RESTRICTED IN
THE ABILITY TO RETURN FIRE AND WHO ARE OPERATING IN CONDITIONS WHERE
THE RISK OF ENEMY FIRE WAS GREAT AND EXPECTED TO BE ENCOUNTERED ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS LANGUAGE WAS REVISED TO MORE ACCURATELY STATE
THE CRITERIA FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS.

G. ITEM: SHIPS
(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL ABOARD A SHIP ARE ELIGIBLE WHEN THE SAFETY
OF THE SHIP AND THE CREW WERE ENDANGERED BY ENEMY ATTACK, SUCH AS A
SHIP HIT BY A MINE OR A SHIP ENGAGED BY SHORE, SURFACE, AIR OR
SUB-SURFACE ELEMENTS.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED.

H. ITEM: PURPLE HEART

(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART
WOULD NOT NECESSARILY QUALIFY FOR THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS RETAINED AS THERE ARE SITUATIONS
IN WHICH THE PURPLE HEART WOULD BE WARRANTED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT.

I. ITEM: PEACEKEEPING

(1) CRITERIA: PERSONNEL SERVING IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS, IF NOT
ELIGIBLE BY THE CRITERIA CITED ABOVE, ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE
AWARD WHEN THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET: (A) THE MEMBER WAS
SUBJECT TO HOSTILE, DIRECT FIRE, BASED ON THE MISSION AND THE
TACTICAL SITUATION, NOT RETURNING FIRE WAS THE BEST COURSE OF
ACTION, AND (B) THE MEMBER WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT AND HIS/HER ORDERS BY NOT RETURNING FIRE.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS DELETED. REGARDLESS OF THE
TACTICAL SITUATION, IF ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL MEET THE PRINCIPAL
ELIGIBILITY CRITERION DISCUSSED IN PARAGRAPH 2B(1), THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE CAR. AS THIS MODIFIES GUIDANCE PUBLISHED IN REFS E
AND F, THOSE REFS ARE HEREBY CANCELLED.

J. ITEM: AIR MEDAL

(1) CRITERIA: THE CAR WILL NOT BE AWARDED TO PERSONNEL FOR AERIAL
COMBAT SINCE THE STRIKE/FLIGHT AIR MEDAL PROVIDES RECOGNITION FOR
AERIAL COMBAT EXPOSURE; HOWEVER, A PILOT OR CREWMEMBER FORCED TO
ESCAPE OR EVADE AFTER BEING FORCED DOWN COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
AWARD.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS RETAINED.

K. ITEM: PUBLIC LAW

(1) CRITERIA: UNDER PUBLIC LAW 106-65, THE CAR MAY BE AWARDED
RETROACTIVELY TO 7 DEC 41.

(2) DISCUSSION: THIS PARAGRAPH WAS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE CORRECT
PUBLIC LAW.

3. THE REMAINDER OF THE TEXT CONTAINED IN REF A IS RETAINED. OF
NOTE, PARA 230.14.C. THEREIN, WHICH STATES, 'ONLY ONE AWARD PER
OPERATION IS AUTHORIZED,' REMAINS VALID. EXISTING POLICY AND
CURRENT PRACTICE ALLOWS A MARINE TO EARN ONE CAR FOR ELIGIBLE
ACTIONS IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND ONE FOR ELIGIBLE ACTIONS IN
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT DEPLOYMENTS TO
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM WOULD NOT EARN
AN ADDITIONAL AWARD, EVEN IF A MARINE PARTICIPATED IN ELIGIBLE
COMBAT ACTIONS.

4. NONE OF THE PRECEDING CHANGES IMPLY THAT PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CARS
WILL BE REVOKED; ALL PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CARS REMAIN VALID.

5. AWARDS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MARINES
AND SAILORS TO OUR NATION, AND THE PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT OF
COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO MAINTAIN THE
INTEGRITY AND HONOR OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS SYSTEM.

6. KEEP ATTACKING. M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.

[crasha51pan]

Sgt Leprechaun,
You are right, I didn't see that. It's good to know, thanks for the info. Puts it to rest for me !

Semper Fi...............