Posted on Jan 18, 2015
Should Commanders with award approval authority be authorized to revoke earned awards?
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HRC recently sent a MILPER message out on 5 JAN 2015 reminding Commander's of their authority to revoke awards.
This makes sense for situations where the Soldier was erroneously awarded a medal or falsified documents or details in order to receive the award, but what about for Soldiers who earned the award by meeting the requirements but unfortunately had some type of unfavorable event not related to the award?
For example, a Soldier is awarded a ARCOM with "V" device for actions in combat and while home on R&R receives a domestic violence charge at home. Should a Commander be able to revoke his ARCOM-V?
This makes sense for situations where the Soldier was erroneously awarded a medal or falsified documents or details in order to receive the award, but what about for Soldiers who earned the award by meeting the requirements but unfortunately had some type of unfavorable event not related to the award?
For example, a Soldier is awarded a ARCOM with "V" device for actions in combat and while home on R&R receives a domestic violence charge at home. Should a Commander be able to revoke his ARCOM-V?
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Commanders
Awards Commanders
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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If someones earned something, they've earned it and nothing can take that away... bad conduct is a whole different issue with different procedures to deal with it.
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When I left the Army, I found out that I had been awarded a Purple Heart. My record even had the date of the wounding and date of award. When I questioned it, I was told, "Well, you got it when you earned the Bronze Star!"
Problem was that I wasn't wounded... not even blisters from sand in my boots.
I went to our Brigade Commander with the award docs and my medical record (now THAT was hard to get!!). I explained the situation, he called in the CSM and I repeated it all. They said, "You could just let it slide..." and I adamantly refused - as I hadn't earned the award.
They were relieved - and I had revocation orders in my hand that afternoon. It wasn't difficult at all.
There's a BIG difference between admin errors and subjective opinions on what merits an award. I've seen people get Certificates of Achievement and Commendation Medals for the exact same actions... in the same units... all based on who the command liked and who they didn't.
Problem was that I wasn't wounded... not even blisters from sand in my boots.
I went to our Brigade Commander with the award docs and my medical record (now THAT was hard to get!!). I explained the situation, he called in the CSM and I repeated it all. They said, "You could just let it slide..." and I adamantly refused - as I hadn't earned the award.
They were relieved - and I had revocation orders in my hand that afternoon. It wasn't difficult at all.
There's a BIG difference between admin errors and subjective opinions on what merits an award. I've seen people get Certificates of Achievement and Commendation Medals for the exact same actions... in the same units... all based on who the command liked and who they didn't.
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CSM Charles Hayden
MCPO (Join to see) A true stud at work! Thank you for the honesty. I always hope for truthfulness and forthrightness in everyone I deal with. Chuck
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
I think only a General Officer should be able to revoke...Col and below excluded.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SSG(P) (Join to see), when I first read that, I thought it says only GO's should be revoked LOL
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SFC Michael Hasbun
I suspect awards recommendations routed through HRC to God would have dissapointingly low return rates... Hovering around the 0% rate... For one, does God have an AKO account to check his MyForms with? Not just that, is there an angelic CAC card office to deal with gods card having to get his certificates reupdated?
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