Posted on Mar 26, 2014
DA Form 638, How come by the time the award is approved it has another persons information under the recommender (usually an officer's)
9.62K
19
32
2
2
0
I am tired of recommending awards and spending my time to write awards for people, when by the time it gets past my hands someone else takes it and deletes my name from the recommenders section and slaps theirs in there. This usually ends up being an officer. If I am doing all of the work on the award and I am the one that is truly recommending it, then I believe that the Soldier getting the award should know when he gets that award that his SQD LDR or peer or whoever actually wrote the award is the one who recommended them for it, not the XO every time. I need some thoughts on this
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Awards
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
3
3
0
If it goes through with the content intact and the proposed acknowledgement of a Soldiers accomplishments relatively unchanged is there truly a problem?
Does the 638 have to have your name on it for you to claim responsibility for the write-up? I'm not excusing the actions of others or trying to give a reason for them, but it would be an easy solution for me to congratulate a Soldier personally and tell them my part in their recognition(yes i realize that might sound arrogant)
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
(1)
(0)
COL Vincent Stoneking
Capt Jeff S. that is my suspicion as well. While I may not LIKE that logic, I don't believe that I would say that it is wrong.
At the end of the day, I would focus on the goal of getting the Soldier recognized. If the XO's name makes it happen.....
At the end of the day, I would focus on the goal of getting the Soldier recognized. If the XO's name makes it happen.....
(2)
(0)
Capt Jeff S.
I'm with you COL Vincent Stoneking. If that's the logic, then why not the CO's name? [Assuming the CO is a higher rank than the XO...] Is he that busy?
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Sometimes the culture of a unit is that in order to be recognized, you have to be recommended by a more senior Soldier. It isn't right, but I've seen it often enough that I don't think that mindset is all that rare.
I think that the point is that the Soldier in question ultimately receives the intended recognition. Don't you SSG (Join to see)?
I think that the point is that the Soldier in question ultimately receives the intended recognition. Don't you SSG (Join to see)?
(1)
(0)
Maj Neal Jackman
How do you feel about a subordinate recommending a superior? Plt Sgt recommending a Plt Commander when the command doesn't seem to be willing to recognize the accomplishment?
(1)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
Maj Neal Jackman I wrote my last commanders award recommendation, and it was approved. Then again, the BC was lazy. Not my preferred way to do things, but i will do it if it means recognizing great service that might go by unrewarded.
(2)
(0)
Maj Neal Jackman
Nothing came from the write up from my PLT SGT. Didn't expect it to, politics in a Guard unit. The true reward was the respect and loyalty from my enlisted soldiers from the PLT SGT on down. That meant more than any piece of cloth they could hang on me.
(1)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
Maj Neal Jackman - When that company chipped in together to frame the guidon from our deployment to Africa and present it to me, it meant more than any medal ever would have.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google