Army says GOP Congressman Nehls not eligible to wear Combat Infantryman Badge

The U.S. Army say Texas GOP Rep. Troy Nehls is not eligible for the Combat Infantryman Badge on his lapel, according to several news reports Tuesday.

Nehls served in the Army as an enlisted infantryman and as an armor and civil affairs officer from July 1988 to December 2008 – in the Wisconsin National Guard for 13 years, then in the Army Reserve for the last seven years. For both of his deployments – Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2008 – Nehls served as an officer in the civil affairs branch, according to the news outlet NOTUS.

The Army said in a statement to The Hill newspaper that it reviewed Nehls’s record in 2023 and issued a correction to a form that certifies a discharge from active duty that does not include the badge.

The NOTUS report states members of Nehls's own party have said he should not wear such a badge if he did not serve in combat.

Nehls has continued to wear the lapel badge since it came into question and reportedly said, “Go ask the Army," when asked about the matter.  

“It matters. As a former commander, it matters what you wear on your uniform,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke, a retired Navy SEAL. “And if you didn’t earn it, you shouldn’t wear it.”

Nehls's office did not respond Tuesday for a request for comment.

The congressman has previously suggested the Army’s Human Resources Command has misinterpreted the policy for the issuance of a badge.

Just the News reached out to Nehls' office for comment but did not receive a response before press time.