The Combat Medical Badge is an award of the United States Army which was first created in January 1945. Any member of the Army Medical Department, at the rank of Colonel or below, who is assigned or attached to a medical unit (company or smaller size) which provides medical support to a ground combat arms unit during any period in which the unit was engaged in active ground combat is eligible for the CMB. According to the award criterion, the individual must be performing medical duties while simultaneously being actively engaged by the enemy; strict adherence to this requirement and its intrepretation (e.g., distant mortar rounds vs. direct small arms fire) will vary by unit. As of June 3, 2005, Special Forces medics are no longer eligible for award, but may now receive the Combat Infantr