Do we still need a Good Conduct Medal? Shouldn't every soldier's conduct be better than Good?

Sir, interesting perspective. Appreciate that too. Respectfully, let's agree to disagree. I don't see it as a heritage issue any more than many other things that have evolved over time--including diversity, the lack of which some could claim as a heritage issue; or changing a uniform as is frequently done, or even the use of swords and bayonets,, which are somewhat out of fashion, yet we have them. Poor examples, perhaps, but you get the point. No one is supposed to get a GCM if the standard is not met as defined by UCMJ and Commander. So that may indicate a leader's dereliction of duty, (including 1SG), which would also be poor conduct not rating any other award, period. Less the ability to command.

I like your thought process on this one, Sir! I would also hate to see a 'legacy' award go away and your proposal would, indeed, bring more meaning to it. When I first entered service it was not uncommon at all for those senior to me to have a 'miss-match' between their GCM and Service Stripes. By the time I retired, this was no longer the case. Perhaps this is because we just separate, perhaps it's that we don't place emphasis on what 'good conduct' actually IS, or maybe it's a combination of the two.

Speaking as one of those that had the "mis-match" between service stripes and GCM I can say there are several points of view on this. Mine - having a GCM was a bigger and more impressive thing before we became an all-volunteer service. Being drafted meant having a lot of disgruntled individuals in the ranks. Identifying and encouraging individuals for simply meeting minimum standards (don't get caught) can be a motivator. Additionally, people are human - they make mistakes. At this point in time, any minor infraction is pretty well a career killer. In a sense, the GCM is redundant - volunteers should WANT to behave and maintain proper discipline. Yet, enlisted rarely have opportunities to earn many awards in garrison. Officers don't have that issue, at least in the Navy. Go from one job to another and you get a medal - in spite of the fact that you really didn't do anything spectacular in your job other than not get fired. Unless you're a senior enlisted (in the Navy) you can expect to go from job assignment to job assignment and never see a medal or accolade.

PO1 Ken Johnson--there are indeed likely some of those out there, just as there are undetected detectives....

I agree I think by the time someone is an NCO they should know the higher expectations.