Posted on Mar 21, 2022
How should I handle someone requesting to edit the deployment award recommendations that I submitted?
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Awards question: I am nearing the end of my deployment and have submitted awards for my people. There is nothing crazy in there, basically all ARCOMs (including myself). I am under a Navy command which has been horrible to say the least. The person directly appointed above me wants me to unlock the awards for "editing". I have never heard this request and don't quite understand how to proceed with this. I always thought it was a concurrence or non-concurrence. I don't feel comfortable having someone else edit the award I wrote, am I wrong on this? She is also Navy so she cannot actually sign the award or in any way act as recommender on an Army award. Any insight into this would be helpful before I offend an O-4 and find myself in administrative troubles right before a head home. Looking for an easy fix on this one, anyone?
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Deployment
Awards Deployment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Since your Navy O-4 is not the approval authority it could be as simple as she saw some things in your recommendations she feels she can make stronger by working with you. Hopefully, her recommended changes will be a result of consultation with you, but even if she does changes unilaterally, you will need to sign the recommendations and will have the opportunity to talk with her about any changes. My feeling is to let it run its course, work with her and then decide if you want to concur in her changes or go back to your originals after explaining any objections you might have to her thoughts. Who knows, you might learn something and you can always fall back on "the Army wants it done this way".
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I have never changed an award recommendation made by a subordinate. Grammar and punctuation errors are the only exception. If she has an issue with one of your recommendations that constitutes a discussion to exchange information which supports your recommendations and her recommendations. When I was in the Air Force I had an award recommendation made for me downgraded simply because the award was determined to be excessive for my performance and but appropriate for a captain .
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I would ask them what they're wanting to edit. If they're looking to make more grammatical and style changes to correct minor errors and to make it more readable, that's actually helpful. You wouldn't want any suboptimal writing to poorly reflect on the potential awardee. If they're wanting to change the actual content (i.e. the evidence justifying the award), I'd want to decide beforehand if they should make those changes. After all, it is your recommendation, so it should reflect your insight on why they should receive that level of award.
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