Posted on Nov 20, 2018
Can a soldier working as a gunner in Iraq convoys, in 2008 earn "ten different distinguishable medals by the US Army"?
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I know I'm an AF guy, but my BS meter went off the charts when I saw this. Even including a CAB, is this possible?
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 6
It's a bit of a stretch... but you can get quite a few. If they were a gunner in 2008 in Iraq, that means that they will probably an e-4. If they were in Iraq in 2008, then they were there during the search and they were there for 15 months. They may have crossed over three separate campaigns, definitely 2 campaigns. So that could be three Awards... Not really but we'll use our imagination... Then they would have gotten an award for the end of tour, which would be an ARCOM. Plus they would have received the gwot service medal, the National Defense service medal, and they would have the Army Service ribbon from when they joined. If they were a reservist, there would be a Reserves metal with mobilization device. Also, if their unit received a unit award then that would also count.
However, I have been in the Army for 15 years and I only have 12 ribbons, so an e-4 with 10 Awards definitely would set off my BS meter
However, I have been in the Army for 15 years and I only have 12 ribbons, so an e-4 with 10 Awards definitely would set off my BS meter
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CPO (Join to see)
I think it is Pay grade based, I was assign to a Army JTF and we went with Joint Awards for most, but some Army for those guys and it was by Pay Grade same with the Joint ones.
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
SFC (Join to see) - Well, because for all of his other heroic achievements, he had already gotten OTHER awards - probably BSM(V), Silver Star, Purple Heart, and LOM. So, when they went to do his tour award, all he had left to talk about was the time he saved the DFAC from disaster by ensuring that all leftover meals were consumed (by himself) and not wasted. AAM all day!
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - In my unit in Afghanistan 2010-2011, the soldiers were given AAM's and the NCO's got ARCOM's. I know it is not the current standard.
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SGT Christopher Hayden
SSG(P) (Join to see) - Back in Iraq in 2005, Squad Leader up got Bronze Stars while everyone else got ARCOMs in my unit.
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Capt Bob Abbott as you have it written, sounds suspect. Where did the quote come from? If this is a hiring activity...DD214 will tell the tale. Real question, ok, which ten? Could you have:
1. CAB? Check. Entirely possible. It is a badge and not a Medal.
2. ICM - Campaign Medal for Iraq? Check. As SFC (Join to see) said, may have been different campaigns, just campaign stars added though. Same Medal.
3. GWOT Expeditionary Medal? Not in 2008, maybe from a previous deployment.
4. GWOT Service Medal? Check.
5. ARCOM? Check, very likely. Depending on what happened and what he did, might have a V device.
6. AAM? Check, entirely possible.
7. BSM or higher? Maybe. Again depends on what happened and what he did. If he has a SS, DSC, or MoH, he will be listed by name on the DoD Valor Website. BSM hard to verify.
8. Counting down he Overseas Service Ribbon OSR? Not a Medal, but certainly could have been a 12+ deployment.
9. Purple Heart. Maybe. Depends on what happened. If he has a PH and no CAB/CIB/CMB, suspect. The reverse is possible however.
10. Is it possible to have been awarded two ARCOMs, for different events, same deployment? Sure.
11. Soldier's Medal? Possible, really depends on what happened. If there were a vehicle rollover into a canal and he went into the water to rescue trapped crew or recover people from a burning vehicle or similar.
12. Air Medal: would not be awarded for ground operations. It is possible for non-aviators to have an AM.
13. Reserve Medals: maybe, not really for Iraq service though. They do distinguish between Mobilization and just service.
1. CAB? Check. Entirely possible. It is a badge and not a Medal.
2. ICM - Campaign Medal for Iraq? Check. As SFC (Join to see) said, may have been different campaigns, just campaign stars added though. Same Medal.
3. GWOT Expeditionary Medal? Not in 2008, maybe from a previous deployment.
4. GWOT Service Medal? Check.
5. ARCOM? Check, very likely. Depending on what happened and what he did, might have a V device.
6. AAM? Check, entirely possible.
7. BSM or higher? Maybe. Again depends on what happened and what he did. If he has a SS, DSC, or MoH, he will be listed by name on the DoD Valor Website. BSM hard to verify.
8. Counting down he Overseas Service Ribbon OSR? Not a Medal, but certainly could have been a 12+ deployment.
9. Purple Heart. Maybe. Depends on what happened. If he has a PH and no CAB/CIB/CMB, suspect. The reverse is possible however.
10. Is it possible to have been awarded two ARCOMs, for different events, same deployment? Sure.
11. Soldier's Medal? Possible, really depends on what happened. If there were a vehicle rollover into a canal and he went into the water to rescue trapped crew or recover people from a burning vehicle or similar.
12. Air Medal: would not be awarded for ground operations. It is possible for non-aviators to have an AM.
13. Reserve Medals: maybe, not really for Iraq service though. They do distinguish between Mobilization and just service.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Add the NATO Medal as well. Maybe a unit award as well. If he deployed with foreign forces, he may have been eligible to receive a foreign award.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SSG(P) (Join to see) NATO medal would be ify for Iraq. I don’t think there was a NATO mission in 2009
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