What is combat aviation badge?

The Combat Aviation Badge (CAB) is a United States Army military decoration awarded to soldiers who engage in, or support, aerial combat operations. The badge is awarded to pilots, crew chiefs, and other soldiers who serve in combat aviation roles.

To be eligible for the badge, soldiers must have served in a combat unit, flown a minimum number of combat hours, and engaged in actual combat operations where they faced hostile fire or imminent danger.

The CAB was established in 2004 and can be awarded retroactively to soldiers who served in combat operations dating back to the Vietnam War.

The badge features a stylized vertical sword above a helicopter, and is worn above the left breast pocket on the Army Service Uniform.