Do medals matter at all to an officer's career?

2020-10-20T01:45:25-04:00

Medals are tied to promotion points for enlisted but does getting "one above" on a deployment (ie MSM instead of a Commendation medal) or receiving an achievement medal for planning an exercise actually have any benefit other than a physical representation of a job well done?

Response by SFC William Farrell made Oct 20 at 2020 1:46 AM

2020-10-20T01:46:40-04:00

I'd say a well done job but I'd let other officers pipe in.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 20 at 2020 4:58 AM

2020-10-20T04:58:17-04:00

Not really!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 6:31 AM

2020-10-20T06:31:39-04:00

They matter to an extent. For example, if you leave command with a commendation medal instead of an MSM people will be quick to review your evaluation to see if you did something wrong or performed poorly. When board members (at least in the Army) review promotion files they assign each file a point value (3, 3+, 4, 4+, 5, 5+, 6, 6+) and this is where your file may receive a higher rating during a promotion board if you have “higher” awards than you peers. No don’t get me wrong, what really matters to an officer’s career is well written Evaluations, tough jobs, and your performance in those jobs.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 20 at 2020 9:30 AM

2020-10-20T09:30:57-04:00

Not officially, but if you have the ribbon rack of a Private, the assumption is that you also share the competence of a Private, and you're going to be judged accordingly.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 2:55 PM

2020-10-20T14:55:29-04:00

Some commands are horrible at processing awards. I submitted for a Soldier's Medal (non combat valor) for an NCO of mine that stopped a knife attack on a neighbor 1) Attended to her injuries, 2) Restrained the assailant for police 3) directed others to aid in the situation 4) at great physical risk to himself for injury.

In the packet I had statements from the 1) prosecuting attorney of his actions that led to the successful conviction. 2) A statement from the apartment manager about his actions, and 3) a statement from a neighbor of his actions and the neighbor was a Active Duty USMC Captain.

That award went nowhere, and I submitted it twice under two different BC's and included direct verbal communication about the situation with my BC's. I certainly just didn't leave it with S1 and forgot about it.

This award would have been on par with a Bronze Star with V. So I anticipated resistance to give it to a USAR soldier not on orders and recommended by a 1LT commander, but all the criteria were met and this is exactly what a Soldier Medal is designed for. I even researched situations where a Soldier Medal was awarded and these actions were very much on par and even more impressive than others where lives where saved (CPR aid for example), but risk to self was minimal.

Further, I didn't get an award for my command, my two 1SG's didn't get awards for their time. Awards where submitted, the CSM even hounded me about submitting awards, and still nothing. I left my command with the company at #2 in the BN, and I was rated on my OER as #1 LT in the BN. So it's not without justification. But the right rank for the right award has to put in their CAC and enter their PIN on the DA638 and send send it back to S1 to process and iPerm.

I'm just glad to be where I'm at now.

What I've learned is there needs to be a command culture of PROCESSING AWARDS. Otherwise you hit a brick wall. I literally had an NCO of mine receive TWO ARCOM's for an exercise. These TWO were for the EXACT SAME THING!!!!! I'm sure what happened was the generals in charge of this major exercise were bent on handing out awards. So it was pushed on me to get them submitted before we left for home. Somewhere in there I guess my paperwork ended up at two different approving authorities. As such, two different COL's signed off on an ARCOM for him. This is a year after the fact, and all I could tell him he was one lucky SOB, because I'm not motivated to try and reverse one of them now they both have been iPerm'd and were awarded outside of our Chain of Command. Two ARCOM's two different Order Numbers. DONE DEAL.

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I guess my point is a ribbon racks only impresses those unaware of the culture, and you never truly know the luck a soldier has had in his career in regard to awards.

Response by CW4 Keith Dolliver made Oct 20 at 2020 3:32 PM

2020-10-20T15:32:55-04:00

I think awards for valor matter more than other awards. Realistically, OERs are what matter the most, but if it comes down to grading similar files performance wise, then someone with a DFC, Silver Star, or Air Medal w/ V will probably get the higher mark (at least in Aviation).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 6:50 PM

2020-10-20T18:50:09-04:00

I was told, early in my career, to not worry about them at all.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 8:36 PM

2020-10-20T20:36:00-04:00

Well, I know for Company Command if you did well you got a MSM versus a ARCOM. Saw this many times over the years. When you hit the FG level, it does not really matter.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 20 at 2020 9:51 PM

2020-10-20T21:51:36-04:00

Look, when I was E6, met my new Bn Cdr. SVN Vet, 4 PH, 1 SS, 2BSM (V). etc. I knew that things were going to be great, because he had been in the fight and went the whole way. Hard to snap judge someone with 3 ribbons. Things like MSM (hard to get) or ARCOM, shows that someone noticed a good job that you did.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2020 4:21 AM

2020-10-21T04:21:46-04:00

Someone once told me that on your board file, if you deployed in a certain position and DIDN’T have a BSM, that was a red flag.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cichelli made Oct 21 at 2020 9:00 AM

2020-10-21T09:00:33-04:00

Sometimes it does depending on the CDR's profile too. Some CDRs will never grant awards because a Soldier is on staff rather than a CDR. I did MSM work, performed well over 1000 Military Funeral Honors in every capacity, and was recommended for the MSM but the CDR downgraded it to an ARCOM. If your OERs show that you are doing outstanding work, this overrides awards.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Oct 21 at 2020 9:50 AM

2020-10-21T09:50:50-04:00

Not to hijack Capt. Smith's string, but when I first read his question I was somewhat taken aback. Then I checked his branch as well as the branch of the responders and recognized differences in the responses depended upon their branch. I suppose the era also makes a difference.
Assuming the Corps has not deviated significantly from its traditional values, you didn't even consider a decoration for a deployment or exercise unless you were part of a task organized headquarters that disbanded after the specific operation, and even end of tour awards were not automatic unless you had distinguished yourself.
I was commissioned through the Enlisted Commissioning Program and had no college degree. As a Captain, I received a letter from HQMC advising me that while my combat record, combined with my overall comparison to my contemporaries, would probably enable my selection to Major, if I intended to progress further, I should complete my degree.
So, my response to Captain Smith would be that anytime your performance sets you apart from your contemporaries in a positive fashion, it's one more "point" in your favor when the Board meets.

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Oct 1 at 2021 9:41 PM

2021-10-01T21:41:27-04:00

I would guess that if a minimally decorated officer also has a bas reputation, there might just be NCOs/SNCOs who may be seemingly over decorated relative to their rank, who might ensure they are seen near him, including being in the same pictures at any event where both are in the “fruit-salad” displaying uniforms, just to silently make a similar point about their reputations. I would add “awards more senior” in as well.