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So I was talking with another NCO this morning that is medically retiring. The topic of deployment awards came up and his case manager (retired CSM) was telling him that the minimum award given for a combat deployment was an ARCOM wit V device or bronze star, curious as to thoughts or any facts on this? I spent 12 months doing route clearance in Afghanistan and I know a lot of our awards was just majorly ARCOM's and AAM's.
Awards
Deployment
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Bad information. You are not promised ANY award at ANY level for deploying. Heck, you can walk out of a deployment zone with nothing more than a COA really. And to add a device like the V device just makes it even worse.
I can tell you that if you wear the ICM or ACM you should at a minimum have 1 bronze star on that award. You can search here in the forums for the discussion that covers the topic of stars on the ICM and ACM.
I can tell you that if you wear the ICM or ACM you should at a minimum have 1 bronze star on that award. You can search here in the forums for the discussion that covers the topic of stars on the ICM and ACM.
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SGT Ben Keen
Not really sure why I didn't see SFC S's comment days ago but SSG S and I are correct, it is a campaign medal not a ribbon. Hence the name "Iraq Campaign Medal". I guess I'm a little baffled as to why this was even brought up because I referred to the both the ICM and the ACM correctly.
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CW3 (Join to see)
I agree with the ARCOM as the minimum award if the soldier is able to stay out of trouble during the deployment, no V device. I've been deployed 6 times to a combat zone and in all of these deployments ARCOM were the standard. If you never been in a combat zone you’ll never know. SGT Ben ICM and ACM are Campaign Medal that you get when you are deploy to that country, if you ever deploy as a junior NCO 99% of the time you will get an ARCOM plus your ICM or ACM.
FYI….. I got an MSM for one of the deployments which is wrong but I’ll take it.
FYI….. I got an MSM for one of the deployments which is wrong but I’ll take it.
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Funny, never read anywhere that there was a minimum award for a combat deployment. I do know that you can be awarded the MSM as well for a combat deployment.
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1SG (Join to see)
I don't know the circumstances behind the awards that you witnessed. I have seen MSMs awarded in a combat theater to Soldiers that were leaving theater to PCS. The three that I personally witnessed were all 1SGs that were leaving theater to go to the Sergeants Major Academy. So while they were awarded in a combat environment, they were not for combat service, rather for the time they had spent in garrison with that unit.
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SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh
The situation was mine and it was definitely for my deployment. I'll leave it at that because beyond this it's speculation.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SFC Gilley,
The link below shows the awards by conflict. If you look into it there were about 40 thousand MSMs issued. These were normally given out as end of tour awards. Many commanders didn't want to give out BSM for end of tour awards but an ARCOM seemed low so the MSM came in. So now, although the wars are almost over now, but taking away the types of awards you can give will only do one of two things. 1) End of with lower awards. 2) End up with higher awards. So a commander that would have given an MSM will now push for BSMs. Just a thought.
The link below shows the awards by conflict. If you look into it there were about 40 thousand MSMs issued. These were normally given out as end of tour awards. Many commanders didn't want to give out BSM for end of tour awards but an ARCOM seemed low so the MSM came in. So now, although the wars are almost over now, but taking away the types of awards you can give will only do one of two things. 1) End of with lower awards. 2) End up with higher awards. So a commander that would have given an MSM will now push for BSMs. Just a thought.
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Absolutley 100% not true in today's deployments. I also doubt that it was the case years ago. An ARCOM with V device is not just given out! That is something that is earned! BSMs and ARCOMs are the two that we see today that are used to recognize ones participation in a combat deployment. Basically, you show up, perform your duties, stay out of trouble, you will get one of those two awards most likely. Occasionally you will see an AAM though it is no longer a combataward per the update AR 600-8-22
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SGT Shon D. Hill
I agree with you SFC Gilley, ARCOM/V is not just given out, my unit was fair but ensured these were earned
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SSG (Join to see)
CPL Fittizzi, I would interject its not today's society. Its one of the differences between the Army and the Marines. It has been standard practice in the Army for Soldier to get awards for PCS moves and for combat tours. "it's just how its done" And its been like that since I joined in 95.
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SGT (Join to see)
1SG Gilley, I can't seem to find where it says it isn't a wartime award. I saw that it says there's an exception to policy, that's about it.
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When our battalion was nearing deployment home, most if not nearly all E6 and above were awarded Bronze Stars with various "reasons" attached. This really left all of us under feeling quite upset as you can imagine. Many of these senior NCO's never left the FOB for missions, even more insulting :(. I just reminded my guys the best award was getting home alive, focus on the POS...
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That may have been the case for the time frame that the CSM(R) served, but I do know that there were plenty of straight ARCOMs and AAMs awarded to individuals from my unit when we were deployed for OIF-III. I know as the S-2 NCOIC I was awarded an ARCOM and there was no heartburn on my part, I was not outside the FOB much due to my duty position and definitely wasn't as "involved" as I was when I was a PSG during OIF.
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It's funny that this discussion has come up.
Back in June, I requested my medical records and awards from HRC st Louis.
I received a letter showing that I had two arcoms, that I never received, as I was awarded AAM's for both deployments to Iraq.
It would make sense, that the Army changed the rules, claiming that AAMs are peacetime awards.
Back in June, I requested my medical records and awards from HRC st Louis.
I received a letter showing that I had two arcoms, that I never received, as I was awarded AAM's for both deployments to Iraq.
It would make sense, that the Army changed the rules, claiming that AAMs are peacetime awards.
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He may have been talking about his experience. My experience was more along the lines of what you're talking about.
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All I got was ARCOMS and Campaign Medals ... I wish I could have got the V device...
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Never cared about Medals on my chest...I don't even remember what my post deployment award was. ARCOM?
I was on a route clearance team in Mosul, there were several occasions where fellow soldiers and military personnel thanked us for what we did.
In fact our Squadron Mike Golf told my roomate and I to come to his CHU one night and gave us coins from the SCO's PSD we asked him what they were for and he said "we really appreciate what you guys do" that was one of the cooler experiences of my deployment.
I was on a route clearance team in Mosul, there were several occasions where fellow soldiers and military personnel thanked us for what we did.
In fact our Squadron Mike Golf told my roomate and I to come to his CHU one night and gave us coins from the SCO's PSD we asked him what they were for and he said "we really appreciate what you guys do" that was one of the cooler experiences of my deployment.
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I was given a JSAM for my deployment. CENTCOM told us up front that that would be the highest awarded unless it was for valor.
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Now you know and knowing is half of the battle. You can also refute myths that we are giving out awards for nothing and they were harder to get in other wars.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20and%20Decorations%20Statistics%20by%20Conflict
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20and%20Decorations%20Statistics%20by%20Conflict
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SFC (Join to see)
Even taking the rest out of the equation, the stats between OEF and OIF are awesome.
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MAJ (Join to see)
True. Although remember I was there from 2005 and then 2006-2007 when we had over 150K Soldiers on the ground. I think Afghanistan maxed out with only around 50K on ground.
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SFC (Join to see)
Perhaps i'm a bit biased Sir, I deployed in support of OEF 3 times as much as OIF.
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Shawn Corter
The Army doesn't hand out anything, and sometimes doesn't even award the most deserving of awards either. I never got my Deployment Award to Iraq, my CAB which I was eligible for, My PCS Award from Carson to Germany, after the Deployment, nor my ETS Award after almost 15 years of Honorably Serving on Active Duty. Some have it better than others, and are in a unit that actually cares for and supports their soldiers.
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