Posted on Jan 23, 2023
How can I determine if I am eligible for the ARCAM?
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I was Army Reserves and National Guard prior to joining active duty in 2020. This month I became eligible for the AGCM. I've had numerous people ask me about the ARCAM it's not on my ERB but I am curious if I'd be eligible for it. I served more than 3 years on both components. I was discharged honorably from both as well. Thank you in advance for any information.
Awards
Career Advice
Career Counselor
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 3
Criteria for both (and all other Army awards) are laid out in AR 600-8-22*
Are you 'eligible'? Yep, looks like you could have gotten the ARCAM with an Oak Leaf Cluster. Three years of consecutive service in the Army's reserve component (which is COMPO 2/ARNG and COMPO 3/USAR) is all that is needed (consecutive is the key item ... no breaks in service .. i.e., 2+2+2 does not meet eligibility requirements).
However, there is a difference between "eligible" and "awarded". A member must be recommended for the award by his or her unit commander whose recommendation is based on personal knowledge of the individual and the individual's official records of periods of service under prior commanders during the period for which the award is made.
If your unit commander never awarded it (even though you were eligible), you don't have it. It's not like a campaign medal or other "I was there" type of medal in which you just need to show your eligibility for it to be awarded.
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* AR 600-8-22 : https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18147_R600_8_22_admin2_FINAL.pdf
Are you 'eligible'? Yep, looks like you could have gotten the ARCAM with an Oak Leaf Cluster. Three years of consecutive service in the Army's reserve component (which is COMPO 2/ARNG and COMPO 3/USAR) is all that is needed (consecutive is the key item ... no breaks in service .. i.e., 2+2+2 does not meet eligibility requirements).
However, there is a difference between "eligible" and "awarded". A member must be recommended for the award by his or her unit commander whose recommendation is based on personal knowledge of the individual and the individual's official records of periods of service under prior commanders during the period for which the award is made.
If your unit commander never awarded it (even though you were eligible), you don't have it. It's not like a campaign medal or other "I was there" type of medal in which you just need to show your eligibility for it to be awarded.
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* AR 600-8-22 : https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18147_R600_8_22_admin2_FINAL.pdf
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you for your response, Sir. Sounds like it's not an automatic award like the AGCM. That's a bummer. I still do have my old commanders' contact information. Would this be something I should look into or just move forward, Sir?
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COL Randall C.
Actually, it's just like the AGCM, because the AGCM isn't automatic either. Your commander has to approve the award as well and issue it on a permanent order (PO). Most of the time it is a 'rubber stamp', but it's a check to ensure that there have been no black marks on the period of service.
Service medals and service ribbons are the only ones that are administratively awarded to individuals who meet the qualifying criteria.
The limitation on an award is that it must be submitted within two years of the qualifying event (in your case, eligibility for the ARCAM). You said you went active in 2020, so that puts you outside the window for either.
However, IF there was some PO that you were issued one on previously, but it wasn't entered into your records, then you can absolutely get it corrected. For example, there might have been some 'blanket order' that was issued for multiple individuals (happens a lot) and getting you a copy was one of those "fell through the cracks" things. You can always reach out to your old commander/unit to see if that was something they regularly did.
Service medals and service ribbons are the only ones that are administratively awarded to individuals who meet the qualifying criteria.
The limitation on an award is that it must be submitted within two years of the qualifying event (in your case, eligibility for the ARCAM). You said you went active in 2020, so that puts you outside the window for either.
However, IF there was some PO that you were issued one on previously, but it wasn't entered into your records, then you can absolutely get it corrected. For example, there might have been some 'blanket order' that was issued for multiple individuals (happens a lot) and getting you a copy was one of those "fell through the cracks" things. You can always reach out to your old commander/unit to see if that was something they regularly did.
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COL Randall C.
blah ... the start of that response should be, "Actually, it's just like the ARCAM..."
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This is for the AGCM is only for Active Component enlisted soldiers. You were never in a qaulifying period for the AGCM. When you were in the Guard or AR.
For the ARCAM
1. Between 3 March 1972 and 28 March 1995, the ARCAM was authorized on completion of 4 years of service with a Reserve Component unit. A qualifying year of service is one in which a Reserve Soldier earns a minimum of 50 retirement points during his/her retirement year. Qualifying service for computation purposes is based only by retirement ending year dates.
2. Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for award of the ARCAM was reduced from 4 years to 3 years. That is, Soldiers completing 3 years of qualified service on or after 28 March 1995 are eligible for ARCAM consideration. This change is not retroactive.
3. Such years of qualifying service must have been consecutive except for the wartime provisions noted in paragraph 4-17. A period of more than 24 hours between reserve enlistments or an officer's service will be considered a break in service. Credit toward earning the ARCAM must begin anew after a break in service. Service while attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) will be considered enlisted service and termination will not occur when the Soldier is commissioned or appointed a warrant officer.
It is only if you did the 3 years consecutive. If you had a 24 break between your Guard and AR time then the clock reset. It sounds like that might have been the case. If not then you could potentially get it. You only need a memo signed by your commander for the award of the ARCAM. I have two ARCAM from my guard time.
For the ARCAM
1. Between 3 March 1972 and 28 March 1995, the ARCAM was authorized on completion of 4 years of service with a Reserve Component unit. A qualifying year of service is one in which a Reserve Soldier earns a minimum of 50 retirement points during his/her retirement year. Qualifying service for computation purposes is based only by retirement ending year dates.
2. Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for award of the ARCAM was reduced from 4 years to 3 years. That is, Soldiers completing 3 years of qualified service on or after 28 March 1995 are eligible for ARCAM consideration. This change is not retroactive.
3. Such years of qualifying service must have been consecutive except for the wartime provisions noted in paragraph 4-17. A period of more than 24 hours between reserve enlistments or an officer's service will be considered a break in service. Credit toward earning the ARCAM must begin anew after a break in service. Service while attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) will be considered enlisted service and termination will not occur when the Soldier is commissioned or appointed a warrant officer.
It is only if you did the 3 years consecutive. If you had a 24 break between your Guard and AR time then the clock reset. It sounds like that might have been the case. If not then you could potentially get it. You only need a memo signed by your commander for the award of the ARCAM. I have two ARCAM from my guard time.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you for the response, Sir. I was in the Reserves from 2011-2014 when my DD368 was approved. At that point I went National Guard until 2020. I did have a break in service from February 2020- June 2020 due to my MEPS station being closed during COVID. I had the AGCM added to my ERB this month. Just wasn't sure about the ARCAM. Sounds like even though I was eligible I won't be able to get this added to my ERB, correct?
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - Technically you could still have it awarded. All it would take is your company commander to sign a memo. Please visit the link below. It will answer most of your questions. All your commander needs to do and to validate that you served three full years. If you served 35 months and 25 days then you wouldn't qualify.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Army%20Reserve%20Component%20Achievement%20Medal%20ARCAM
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Army%20Reserve%20Component%20Achievement%20Medal%20ARCAM
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If there is no bad paper in your file your company can do up a memo documenting qualifying periods with your company commanders signature to award you the ARCAM. A Soldier brought this to my attention when I was a regular army company commander in the 101st ABN DIV. When we figured it out I had admin look at other files of Soldiers who came from the guard or reserve and ended up awarding a few of them to Soldiers.
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