Infantry Combat Badge

The Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) is awarded to serving members of the Australian Army for service as an Infantryman in warlike operations.

This article is about the Australian Military award. For US Army equivalent, see Combat Infantryman Badge.

Infantry Combat Badge
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded forThe Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) is awarded to serving members of the Australian Army for service as an Infantryman in warlike operations
DescriptionBronze laurel wreath surrounding bayonet
Presented byAustralian Army
StatusCurrently awarded
Precedence
EquivalentArmy Combat Badge

Its equivalent for members operating with an Arms Corps Unit within a warlike area of operations is the Army Combat Badge.

History

The ICB was first established in July 1970 for recognition of infantry service in battle or on operations, following the decision of the Military Board in January 1970. The role of the infantry is to seek out and close with the enemy, to kill or capture him, to seize and to hold ground, to repel attack, by night and day, regardless of season, weather or terrain. The purpose of the ICB is to recognize this unique role and the particular training, skills and hardships attendant upon service as an infantryman. In exceptional circumstances, the ICB may be awarded to members of other corps, where they have qualified for it as infantrymen.[1]

In January 1970, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Daly KBE, DSO, as the Chief of the General Staff and part of the Military Board, laid the original basis for the ICB. He is recorded in the minutes as saying, "whilst he appreciated the views expressed (in the Military Board), it was to be borne in mind that the proposed badge was meant to be a visible distinction for the infantryman and was not a general combat badge. He said the other corps had their responsibilities and neither their worth nor performance, were in question. However he could not accept that an infantry award should be granted to members of other corps unless they qualified for it as infantrymen."[2]

The Army Combat Badge (ACB) was instituted in 2005 to recognise the unique service of a member operating with an Arms Corps Unit within a warlike area of operations.[3]

Specific eligibility

Any member of the Australian Army who:[1]

  • was on continuous full-time service as an infantryman at the time of deployment;
  • has given satisfactory service as an infantryman;
  • has served either a continuous or an aggregate of 90 days satisfactory service on warlike operations for a single deployment or operation; and
  • has not been previously issued the ICB.

Under exceptional circumstances, the Approval Authority may approve the issue of the ICB to members on exchange/attachment duties for service with allied units who meet the criteria, and/or to members who would have met the criteria had they not been killed, wounded, disabled or evacuated.[1]

References
  1. "Infantry Combat Badge" (PDF). DI(A) PERS 97-5 Issue: 9/2008. Department of Defence (Army Headquarters). 25 September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  2. Minute 7/1970 of the Military Board, dated 23 January 1970. Quoted in DI(A) PERS 97-5 Issue: 9/2008.
  3. "Army Combat Badge" (PDF). DI(A) PERS 119-1 Issue: 5/2009. Department of Defence (Army Headquarters). 24 August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
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