Combat badges for dress blues now available

[CommunityEditor]

The long-awaited Combat Service Identification Badges for the Army Service Uniform are starting to show up at a store near you.

The Army designed the CSIB — a pin-on metal badge showing the insignia of major combat units — to give soldiers the option of displaying their combat service on the service’s new dress blue uniform.

Senior Army leaders decided to replace the green Class As and Bs with a revised version of the Army dress blue uniform in 2006.

The vast majority of soldiers expressed a desire to display combat credentials on the uniform, since the combat patch is not authorized for wear on the current dress blues. The Institute of Heraldry began developing the new badges last year.

The new CSIBs have become available in some Army and Air Force Exchange Service clothing sales stores as well as commercial military clothing stores and Web sites.

They cost between $11 and $16 and are now offered for all 10 active Army combat divisions and some National Guard combat divisions.

Some corps and brigade CSIBs have also become available.

The ASU’s basic elements — coat, trousers for men, slacks and skirt for women — cost about $140, with about $60 more for accoutrements, according to Army officials.

All soldiers will be required to have the ASU by the fourth quarter of 2014, when the Army green uniform is officially replaced.


Article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/army_combat_badge_111709w/

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh23/aliceamm/Military%20Times/111709at_badges027_800.jpg
Colin Kelly / Staff
The new Combat Service Identification Badges, to be worn with the
dress blue uniform, are now available for purchase.

[justin0495]

1st! Anyway, this is such a ridiculous uniform item. The article states that patches are not allowed on the ASUs. Well, yeah. But why not? Instead, some of us have to wait YEARS for our particular unit to get made and the placement is just moronic, especially on the female coat. Who decided on the hip for our female warriors?!? Who decided that patches shouldn't go on our (now) only dress uniform?

Just file this under the "stupid things the Army does" thread along with digi cam and velcro...

[Creaminess]

I'd like to see a list of all the CSIBs that will eventually be available. The combat patch I wear--2nd Armored Division--deactivated over 10 years ago. There are still those of us authorized to wear that combat patch who would like that CSIB to be an option for us.

[Odegra]

I'd like to see a list of all the CSIBs that will eventually be available. The combat patch I wear--2nd Armored Division--deactivated over 10 years ago. There are still those of us authorized to wear that combat patch who would like that CSIB to be an option for us.

I would not be surprised if units that have long since deactivated will eventually have their little piece of flair made (maybe) in small quantities and require a special order and wait. 20-25 bucks for a button instead of a patch that used to cost maybe 6-8 at most.

[DJFreakshow]

The Institute of Heraldry website has a PDF list of approved, soon-to-be-approved, and future CSIB's through next year. At this rate of manufacture, over 90% of soldiers will be covered by the end of next year. I even suspected, at the beginning of this, that the only one i'm authorized would take forever... but it's already out. Be patient and keep checking the MCSS and manufacturers' websites. Just be sure that it's previously approved by the TIOH before purchasing, or it might be a replica/fake and not authorized for wear.

[Sunfire6]

What else can we come up with to hang on our uniforms?

[Yggdrasil]

1st! Anyway, this is such a ridiculous uniform item. The article states that patches are not allowed on the ASUs. Well, yeah. But why not? Instead, some of us have to wait YEARS for our particular unit to get made and the placement is just moronic, especially on the female coat. Who decided on the hip for our female warriors?!? Who decided that patches shouldn't go on our (now) only dress uniform?



You see, this is the kind of shit I'm talking about right here. At one time, the Army Dress Blue was the only uniform that could stand against the Marine Dress Blue. Now, none can because ya'll want to keep throwing so much SHIT onto Army Dress Blue. Unit crests, unit patches, Airborne/Ranger/Special Forces berets, blousing the Dress Blue trousers over jump boots. Come the fuck on! The greens looking like a boy scout uniform with all the pins and patches is one thing, but you people want to do that to your Dress Blue? The Army is about to hand the monopoly of having a very highly elegant uniform over to the Marine Corps. Don't any of you care?

[DJFreakshow]

You see, this is the kind of shit I'm talking about right here. At one time, the Army Dress Blue was the only uniform that could stand against the Marine Dress Blue. Now, none can because ya'll want to keep throwing so much SHIT onto Army Dress Blue. Unit crests, unit patches, Airborne/Ranger/Special Forces berets, blousing the Dress Blue trousers over jump boots. Come the fuck on! The greens looking like a boy scout uniform with all the pins and patches is one thing, but you people want to do that to your Dress Blue? The Army is about to hand the monopoly of having a very highly elegant uniform over to the Marine Corps. Don't any of you care?

Thank you. I agree totally that the Marine Blues are the best looking uniform in the service. However, as the Marines are keeping their khakis with all the accoutrements and the Army is converting everything to the ASU, we'll need to put our flair on the ASU now. Just as long as they never ask me to wear them in "Class B" style, which is "mall-cop" to a T, i'm not going to complain.

[Yggdrasil]

Thank you. I agree totally that the Marine Blues are the best looking uniform in the service. However, as the Marines are keeping their khakis with all the accoutrements and the Army is converting everything to the ASU, we'll need to put our flair on the ASU now. Just as long as they never ask me to wear them in "Class B" style, which is "mall-cop" to a T, i'm not going to complain.

There are no accoutrements or flair on Marine Alphas OR Dress Blues. There's no unit patches, unit crests, BOS crests/lapel insignia. There's no blousing the trousers over boots, no cord for being in an infantry MOS, no cowboy hat for being a tanker. The Army is bastardizing its Dress Blues.

[justin0495]

Yggdrasil,

You make some valid points. But, I think you missed the point of my post. I was talking specifically on the CSIB itself and not the larger point of all the flair the Army wants us to put on the ASU.

Let me clarify, *IF* we are going to have a former wartime designation, I don't know why the Army insists on making this new badge which is more expensive, may not be available to some of us for YEARS, and has idiotic placement for both male and females, but especially for the females.

In a perfect world, we would have left well enough alone (both Class As and Dress Blues). Again, my talking point was ONLY on the CSIB.

[lofty1380]

Personally I still like patches if we can sew on tabs on the blues why not our patches.
But that not being the case how about we move the CSIB off the pocket where it looks crowded if you have a Drill Sgt badge for instace to next to the branch of service insignia above the unit ribbons its about the same size and it would look more thought out than just looking like we stuck it on where it fit

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/USARMYSERVB-2.jpg

[DAVEBUCK187COM]

http://www.dm1975.com/Spanam%20uniforms/1902dress.jpg
If it was up to me we would bring this uniform back. US Army 1902 Blue uniform. Some General got rid of it so he could streamline the Army uniforms. It was brought back in the 1930's but replace by the current lay down version.


Still not sold on Class B's yet. Here is a better pic than the overweight Airborne NCO in the official ASU photos.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.army.mil/-images/2009/07/31/46731/army.mil-46731-2009-08-03-070851.jpg&imgrefurl=http://search.ahp.us.army.mil/search/images/%3Fper%3D10%26page%3D274&usg=__CwgucRBh30dpNtqZaFNZIuP811o=&h=1326&w=1859&sz=454&hl=en&start=109&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=IQ3Md3Oiz-FQKM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DU.S.%2BArmy%2BField%2BBand.%26ndsp%3D 20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D100%26um%3D1

HERE ARE SOME UNOFFICIAL PICS OF THE ASU:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.army.mil/-images/2009/09/12/50442/size0-army.mil-50442-2009-09-14-060947.jpg&imgrefurl=http://search.ahp.us.army.mil/search/images/%3Fper%3D100%26search%3DKevin%2BDowney&usg=__N54I4BtfT4UjETcwpUwWdfCmpGY=&h=419&w=640&sz=42&hl=en&start=45&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=cJQCQjeTqmPuJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3DU.S.%2BArmy%2BEurope%2BCommander%2BGe n.%2BCarter%2BHam%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%2 6start%3D40%26um%3D1
http://www.warfoto.com/051309with%20Ft%20Stewart%20soldiers2.jpg
http://www.army.mil/-images/2009/08/28/49265/size0-army.mil-49265-2009-08-28-070815.jpg
Here it is with the green beret (no jump boots).
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.army.mil/-images/2009/09/12/50442/size0-army.mil-50442-2009-09-14-060947.jpg&imgrefurl=http://search.ahp.us.army.mil/search/images/%3Fper%3D100%26search%3DKevin%2BDowney&usg=__N54I4BtfT4UjETcwpUwWdfCmpGY=&h=419&w=640&sz=42&hl=en&start=45&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=cJQCQjeTqmPuJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3DU.S.%2BArmy%2BEurope%2BCommander%2BGe n.%2BCarter%2BHam%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%2 6start%3D40%26um%3D1

ASU needs a lot more work in my opinion.

[LOAL-D]

Heeheehee who's the dude in the lederhosen by the flagpole?

Is that summer tropical combo uni?

[MCGYVER]

Question: If you have more than one combat patch can you where multiple CSIB's at the same time?

[cobra6]

1st! Anyway, this is such a ridiculous uniform item. The article states that patches are not allowed on the ASUs. Well, yeah. But why not? Instead, some of us have to wait YEARS for our particular unit to get made and the placement is just moronic, especially on the female coat. Who decided on the hip for our female warriors?!? Who decided that patches shouldn't go on our (now) only dress uniform?

Just file this under the "stupid things the Army does" thread along with digi cam and velcro...

The idiot who decided this is named SMA preston...a pogue who wants to have badges but never will have them. If you can't tell from my CIB, BSM and all the other crap that I have been to war then you need to retire Preston, you clown! Sorry for railing but he is a joke who has killed the NCO Corps and then has the balls enough to ask...why do we have NCOs who don't know how to take care of troops...maybe your misguided ideas.

[KITULU]

I would like to know exactly who was surveyed about thise new uniform when everyone that I have talked to about it hates it. Like DAVEBUCK said, if we are going to bring back a dress blue uniform, why not the 1902 one, or maybe the WWII style dress uniform, rather than this new monstrosity. So far as all the "flair" is concerned, that goes with tradition which is something that the Army clings to.

[justin0495]

Question: If you have more than one combat patch can you where multiple CSIB's at the same time?

I'm assuming no. The ALARACT on all things ASU and the FAQ is here:

http://www.army.mil/asu/alaract.html

[MCGYVER]

I would also "assume" not but as it's not clear I guess we'll have to wait for further guidance. I've seen the posters showing the CSIB with either the recruiting or drill sergeant badge next to it and since the CSIB outranks either of those it would seem that if you had more than one you should be able to wear them both and the d.s. or recruiters badge below them.

[Master Tanker]

Nowadays it isn't unusual to see a USA SP4, Corporal or SGT with 2 or 3 rows of ribbons plus badges. The worst is the USAF. There you get a ribbon for showing up for PT. The men/women look like a Russian General back in the Soviet days. I call this ' US Army medal inflation'. Few, if any of them have been in 'real combat' against a viciuous enemy trying to kill them. Just being in a zone where that could have happened, doesn't count for me. Other NATO Armies are much more sparing with their decorations even though their soldiers are also in Ghan or Irak. This means that most US decorations are 'kiddie stuff', made to help the re-up rate,or make the bearer feel better. I know guys who wear only one medal : Their purple heart. They dump the rest in their top drawer. But watch out! There are a lot of fake purple hearts out there, especially those with PTSD.

[DAVEBUCK187COM]

Their purple heart. They dump the rest in their top drawer. But watch out! There are a lot of fake purple hearts out there, especially those with PTSD.

No disrespect but where do you get you intel?