Can a Soldier refuse an award?

Sometimes they can but it's not recommended in most cases. However, I knew of many Special Forces soldiers in Viet Nam who refused even awards for valor and/or the Purple Heart because of feeling that they were doing no more than their duty. I personally refused a PH because of having no more than a fingernail size flesh wound during a mortar attack. No regrets as I was sort of embarrassed. On the other hand, had I been awarded say a bronze star, I would have readilly accepted it. My primary goal was just to survive and return with my mind and body intact. My mantra was "Make commo in camp, eyes and ears open in the field."

Take what they are giving you and be professional . That will work out better for you in the long run.

By all means they can. AAM's are awarded by the first LTC in the chain of command, i.e., the Bn Cdr. If the soldier feels slighted, take it up with the 1SG and Co Cdr. Why SGT Voye didn't have input on the award is beyond me. Not to change the subject, back in 1970, when I entered the arena as a brand new private, there were no impact awards for enlisted soldiers. You had to be in Vietnam to get anything. That pretty much held true through the '70's. After that, awards opened up to the point where squads were getting AAM's or ARCOM's for being tops in the battalion for gunnery qualifications. In the day, if you qualified with your weapon system, you were doing your job, if you stood out in the battalion as someone exceptional, you got a letter of achievement from the LTC. Notice the change. Now a soldier believes that he deserves better for doing his job. Try civilian life with that attitude and see where it gets you!

Doesn't sound like a very good career-building move.

No. Awards cannot be refused just as much as a soldier cannot recommend himself for an award. Tell you soldier that if he stays in the Army long enough, he will probably get an ARCOM when he only deserved an AAM.

No, I don't believe a soldier can. The Army isn't asking if you want it. You can make a scene and not accept it at presentation, and deal with the consequences of that. But whether it's presented or not, it's still in your record. You may have reason to disagree with the award, if for example something in the narrative justifying it is factually incorrect, but until it is officially revoked, it's yours. You can just not wear it which has consequences if it's noticed on your DA Photo (although those may be a thing of the past now).

Also... was it written as an AAM or downgraded by someone up the chain?

I definitely feel that I have been shorted a few times with the award process (like most of us have). Still, I wouldn’t recommend that your soldier turn down an award. I have a sneaky feeling that if they do it may be the last one they get out of that command team.

Yes, but as SFC Hasbun noted, it could make a difference in their career. I retired with six AAMs and seven ARCOMS, many were downgraded from higher awards. I always appreciated that someone took the time to recognize my work.

WWII Navy Chaplain Joseph T. O'Callahan turned down the Navy Cross for what many consider a slight by the Navy against a non combat officer. President Truman intervened and the Chaplain then ended up getting the MoH.

I suspect we are not talking about a situation on par with that scenario.

Everyone has said it already. Take the award. No one cares, and that's why there's SM's out there with 2-3 silver clusters on AAM ribbons. He doesn't have to WEAR it, but that's no reason to turn down promotion points.

My grandfather retired 32 years (CW4 when 4 was the top), WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He had a bronze star with 2 clusters. When he retired he got an MSM and they are giving those out now for Reserve PCS awards.