Do you believe our politicians should be pushing for upgrades to awards?

2025-07-26T22:59:11-04:00

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a Democratic Senator from New York, is renewing his push in suggesting U.S. Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a Staten Island hero, receive the Medal of Honor.
Do you feel it appropriate for politicians to get involved in military awards? Seems like it puts the awards system into one involving politicians rather than merit... His initial award has already been reviewed and upgraded (in 2019) to the Distinguished Service Cross.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jul 26 at 2025 11:00 PM

2025-07-26T23:00:50-04:00

If his actions merit the award, he should be recognized.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jul 27 at 2025 1:35 AM

2025-07-27T01:35:27-04:00

I don't have a problem with it, but my asking for a review of an award better be held with just as much weight.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jul 27 at 2025 1:47 AM

2025-07-27T01:47:20-04:00

Politicians Have Been Pushing For Awards For Their Constituents, Since The Founding Of The Military.
Some Were Justified Some Not, During The Civil War There Were So Many Medals Of Honor That Were Awarded For Political Reasons , That Year’s Later A lot Of Them Were Down Graded Or Taken Away .
The Subject Of Awards Has Been Beaten To Death On This Forum So Many Times.
Anyone Who Deserves An Award For An Outstanding Achievement Or An Act Of Valor Should Be Awarded The Highest Award Possible
If A Politician Choses To Advocate For A Constituent To Be Awarded Any Medal , They Have To Do An Investigation Into The Actions Of The Individual During The Incident.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jul 28 at 2025 11:02 PM

2025-07-28T23:02:38-04:00

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) as a former New Yorker, Schumer is a Libtard! He ought to stay out of it.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Jul 30 at 2025 3:34 PM

2025-07-30T15:34:42-04:00

I don't mind politicians advocating for their constituents or constituent families, I do have a strong distaste for political involvement in second-guessing the award system on the grounds of diversity. It bothers me when there is an assumption that certain awards need to be upgraded simply due to the ethnicity of the recipient and an assumption that a higher award would have been given if they had been white.

On the other hand, the simple truth is that the military award system has never been objectively fair. It has always been more about who saw the act, who recommended the award, and what rank/service the individual was than about what the individual had done or what their actions accomplished. When you are looking at any of the top tier awards for valor, there isn't any clear distinction among the actions described.

Most awards fall within an unofficial and unwritten quota system. Top tier valor awards are outside that system at the recommending unit level, but the quotas creep back in as the award moves up the chain of command.

Response by LTC Matthew Schlosser made Aug 3 at 2025 10:30 PM

2025-08-03T22:30:09-04:00

To some degree, all awards are political. I got the Joint Meritorious Unit Award from Mattis in 2017 or so because he was impressed with the support he got from DIA when he was the CENTCOM commander years before I was assigned to DIA. Chuck You Schumer is a scumbag, but I see no reason why the politicians putting their thumbs on the scale when it comes to awards should be limited to the executive branch.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 5 at 2025 11:52 AM

2025-08-05T11:52:24-04:00

There has been a lot of award reviews in the last decade. Schumer is not the only Politician doing it. Obama did it, Trump Did, Biden did and plenty of others have as well. As long as it is equal pressure across the board, review/awarding procedures remain the same or improve and isn't following party lines I am all for it. Awards fall through the cracks and sometimes get swept under intentionally. Take for instance the incident with USAF MSgt Chapman and his MOH. Several members of the Seal community tried to bury his MOH and/or his story because of the picture it paints. Instead of owning that fog of war happens they took the low road and it may never truly be settled. The last 11 MOH's awarded were all long after the fact. Four for Vietnam, Five for Korea and Two for the Civil War. All because of the review process being discussed. Politicians drive the bus and can get things done sometimes when pressure is applied correctly.

https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/lists/recent-presentations

Most Recent Presentations of the Medal of Honor of the Medal of Honor | CMOHS

View a list of all the Most Recent Presentations of the Medal of Honor of the Medal of Honor at the official website of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Response by LCpl Michael Cappello made Oct 10 at 2025 7:50 PM

2025-10-10T19:50:14-04:00

They should be pushing for upgrades to equipment, discipline, fitness, and education. What upgrades would you have? Successfully figuring out what head (bathroom) to use? learning how to fold the Rainbow Flag? Perhaps Something like a new Participation Trophy? Like the doggone Beret.So that those who did NOT rate/earn a beret by successfully completing SF training (Rangers, Green Berets, Delta, etc...) do not feel out of place and inadequate? Next thing we know, there will be an award for those who think up new awards. In my honest opinion, the best thing politicians can do for the military is, fund us and leave us the heck alone. God Bless Pete Hegseth for trying to bring the military back to being a force of professional warriors.

Response by SPC John Van Verth made Oct 23 at 2025 1:44 PM

2025-10-23T13:44:47-04:00

Keep the politicians noses out of the awards. They should be based on merit alone.

Response by SPC Luis Hernandez made Oct 27 at 2025 4:28 AM

2025-10-27T04:28:06-04:00

I belive every single soldier who serve overseas deserve a medal of honor.