▁Special ▁Forces ▁primary ▁duty , ▁in ▁a ▁unit ▁engaged ▁in ▁active ▁ground ▁combat , ▁to ▁close ▁with ▁and ▁destroy ▁the ▁enemy ▁with ▁direct ▁fires . ▁Army ▁soldiers ▁possess ing ▁M OS ▁of ▁ 1 8 D ▁( Special ▁Forces ▁Medical ▁Serge ant ) ▁who ▁satisf actor ily ▁perform ▁special ▁forces ▁duties ▁while ▁assigned ▁or ▁attached ▁to ▁a ▁special ▁forces ▁unit ▁of ▁brig ade , ▁regiment al , ▁or ▁smaller ▁size ▁during ▁any ▁period ▁such ▁unit ▁was ▁engaged ▁in ▁active ▁ground ▁combat ▁may ▁be ▁awarded ▁the ▁C IB . ▁ ▁These ▁soldiers ▁must ▁have ▁been ▁personally ▁present ▁and ▁engaged ▁in ▁active ▁ground ▁combat , ▁to ▁close ▁with ▁and ▁destroy ▁the ▁enemy ▁with ▁direct ▁fires . ▁Ret ro active ▁awards ▁under ▁these ▁criteria ▁are ▁not ▁author ized ▁for ▁service ▁prior ▁to ▁ 1 8 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁ ▁Those ▁soldiers ▁possess ing ▁M OS ▁of ▁ 1 8 D ▁who ▁qual ify ▁for ▁award ▁of ▁the ▁C MB ▁from ▁ 1 8 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁to ▁ 3 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁will ▁remain ▁qualified ▁for ▁the ▁bad ge . ▁ ▁Qual ifying ▁conflicts , ▁operations ▁and ▁periods ▁ ▁The ▁C IB ▁is ▁author ized ▁for ▁award ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁qual ifying ▁wars , ▁conflicts , ▁and ▁operations . ▁To ▁date , ▁a ▁separate ▁award ▁of ▁the ▁C IB ▁has ▁been ▁author ized ▁for ▁qualified ▁soldiers ▁in ▁the ▁following ▁qual ifying ▁periods : ▁▁ ▁( 1 ) ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁( 7 ▁December ▁ 1 9