Posted on Mar 31, 2016
Why is a recent PT card and Weapons card required for an ETS/PCS Award?
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I have recently (last 2 years) noticed a trend of Unit Leadership requiring PT and Weapons cards for PCS/ETS awards. What ever happened to awarding soldiers for their merit(s), time-in-service, contributions, and accomplishments/achievements? Why has it been relegated to their performance in the last six-months of their service or time in the unit?
Awards
PCS
ETS/EAS
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 23
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PT card is usually asked for to ensure soldier is eligible for an award and not flagged. No real reason to ask for a Weapons card unless command has a local policy that soldier must be qualed on their weapon.
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SFC Randy Purham
Yes Sir that may a way to verify, but should not the unit leadership be tracking the eligibility of the Soldier to receive an award before it arrives to this point? If the Soldier failed an APFT, they should be flagged and ineligible for an award. I don't understand why it would be a discussion after that point. If the soldier is not flagged, and incompliance with all others, then the DA Form 638 write-up should determine the type of award they receive. Just my opinion in this matter. Very frustrating as well.
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MAJ (Join to see)
The S1 can check to see if the Soldier is flagged without receiving anything from the soldier
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The weapons qualification has absolutely zero to do with award eligibility. The unit is responsible for maintaining individual Soldier records, to include the 705. In my opinion, asking the recommender/Soldier to provide a copy is wasteful and presents the impression that the unit PAC clerk and/or BN S-1 is too lazy to do their job.
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1SG (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - The S-3 does maintain training records but has no part in the awards process. The PAC & S-1 Soldiers have systems access to verify eligibility before processing awards recommendations.
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I'd say a probable cause is Soldiers showing up to their next unit in violation of their orders which require them to be in good physical condition. This way, the Soldier has an incentive to do the right thing, which is a societal norm these days. (the need to incentivize doing the right thing)
Have you also noticed that Soldiers are required to conduct a height and weight at in-processing now? Also relatively recent (last 2 years). Coincidence? I think not. Just incentive to do the right thing.
Have you also noticed that Soldiers are required to conduct a height and weight at in-processing now? Also relatively recent (last 2 years). Coincidence? I think not. Just incentive to do the right thing.
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SFC Randy Purham
SFC Bennett, I have indeed noticed that. I also think that is failure of unit leadership to enforce the standards and not penalize the Soldier for failed leadership. If the Soldier is not incompliance with AR 600-9, they don't PCS until they are. We as leaders are failing the Soldier when we don't flag them, place them in rehabilitative programs (special emphasis PT, Nutrition, etc.) but allow them to PCS to other units adding to their problems.
My question to yours is what does recent admin stuff have to do with a Soldier ETSing from the service? I think this is an incognito way of avoiding asking brass to sign paperwork as well as a mechanism to reduce workloads. When you create additional requirements for things, people tend to not want to go through it all and most Soldiers are OK with getting a little plaque and a handshake. That too, I have noticed. So now it begs the question are awards the thing of the past? LOL.
My question to yours is what does recent admin stuff have to do with a Soldier ETSing from the service? I think this is an incognito way of avoiding asking brass to sign paperwork as well as a mechanism to reduce workloads. When you create additional requirements for things, people tend to not want to go through it all and most Soldiers are OK with getting a little plaque and a handshake. That too, I have noticed. So now it begs the question are awards the thing of the past? LOL.
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