Do you think people are being put in for enough awards in the Army Reserve?

2015-05-15T00:56:43-04:00

I have been in the service for almost 6 years...all reserve. Awards have been few and far between. I recently recommended a O-4 for the MSM as a Specialist. It seems to me that not many people take the time to write award recommendations anymore. Why? I think it is imperative that we recognize people who are deserving of awards, i.e me recommending an O-4 for an award because he deserves it and nobody wants to take the time to recommend him. Thoughts?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 1:01 AM

2015-05-15T01:01:03-04:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member, if anything I think we've been overdoing it in the Reserve. There is only so much a Reserve Soldier gets an opportunity to contribute, so I see a lot of ARCOMs for a single AT. Please.

One recurring theme that supports your assertion is that some leaders can't be bothered to work on Army stuff at any time other than drill, so they often forget about writing awards. It isn't right, but I have two companies in my battalion that hardly ever recommend, two that recommend everybody for stuff, and then there's my company, where I strive to get it right.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 1:56 AM

2015-05-15T01:56:30-04:00

I am one that seldom puts people in for awards. After my first four years at Bragg I only had 2 ARCOMs. One for going to Iraq and one as an ETS award. I had other service awards. I put in soldiers when I think they earned it. I am fearful of awards being handed out to easily. I have see awards something that is expected. I don't understand giving an award for doing your job.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 2:09 AM

2015-05-15T02:09:53-04:00

We tried to give aams for baking cakes I'm active there's people who get aams for after deployments. Like please, you degrade the award and their accomplishments by trying to give the award for cakes.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Sep 30 at 2019 12:40 AM

2019-09-30T00:40:32-04:00

It’s not only in the Army Reserved. It happens ALL the Army. I served on Active Duty from 12/83-9/87. I entered as an E3/PFC due to the fact I had a BA Degree and was promoted to E4/SPC4 after 4 months on Active Duty. I went before the Promotion Board and scored 198 out of a possible 200 points. I was responsible for Student/Trainee Promotions at Ft McClellan and I was also responsible for the CID MOS orders for the school on Post. When I PCS’d from there, I was awarded a Certificate of Achievement. My Civilian Supervisor told me she recommended me for an AAM and my CO downgraded it. She also informed me if she knew THAT was going to happen, she would have recommended an ARCOM! From there I was assigned to 2nd Armored Division (FED) in Garlstedt Germany. I was NCOIC of Enlisted Promotions for two Infantry Battalions, one Artillery Battalion, one Battalion of Tankers, and a Calvary Unit. Due to my responsibilities, I was made an ‘Acting Jack’. Which meant I was authorized to wear SHT stripes even though I was a SPC4. During the entire tour in Germany, I worked for the troops. I taught BN PAC NCO’s the formula for promotion from E2-E4. I provided information to E4’s and E5’s how to accrue promotion points. I also assisted three soldiers in receiving promotions which should have been done 3-5 years before I arrived in Germany. It took diligent work on my part, but these guys met the cut-off scores and no one would check their PP Worksheets and REComps. I received authorization from DA HQ to publish their orders, back date their date of rank, and submit the paperwork to receive their backpay. I received an AAM from one Infantry LTC and Certificates of Achievement from all the other Battalions and Units, except My own Unit. I got Nothing from them except a hard time and constant harassment because I had a P-3 Permanent Profile and could not run. I swam a mile every morning when they ran. The Profile was the result of an injury in Basic which was Not properly diagnosed until five months later the day before MOS graduation. I was supposed to go from AIT to OCS and then Jump School. This was not possible due to my injury: I broke my anterior and posterior pelvic bone on my right side. Because I was a 75C, I could stay in and do my job with the Profile, so I did. I also worked the E7 Promotion Board at Ft Benjamin Harrison while awaiting my PCS orders. So, I helped the E6/SSG’s set up their E7 packets since I knew what the Board was looking for to be placed on the Promotion List. I did receive my GC Medal, but anyone on Active Duty for three years was awarded That Medal unless they were total screw-ups or had AR 15’s or other disciplinary actions in their 201 Files. I firmly believe Awards and Medals are Extremely hard to earn if you are in an administration (pencil-pusher) MOS! The cut-off score for 75C’s only dropped down from 998 once during my entire Enlistment. I did everything possible to gain Promotion Points, but you are only allowed credit for two Certificates of Achievement (10 points) and I had five! I constantly completed Correspondence Courses and even obtained an additional Skill Identifier: 75C1C. I was qualified in NBC. I couldn’t raise my PFT due to the Profile, so I was stuck. Even when I requested a Medical Discharge and my CO spoke at the Division’s Medical Board and stated I was an ‘Outstanding’ Soldier and had been recommended for Soldier of the Quarter, I Never received ANY other recognition from My Own Unit. That is one of the Main reasons I requested a Medical Discharge! I personally feel Soldiers do not receive Enough Recognition for their Outstanding performance! I would venture to say these same issues exist in the Reserves! I entered the Army as an Enlisted Soldier when I could have gone straight into OCS! I believe the CO’s don’t want to be ‘bothered’ with the paperwork needed to process Medals and That is the reason a lot of ‘pencil-pushers do NOT return-enlist or even finish their original commitments. I sincerely hope this changes and SM’s are recognized for their ‘Outstanding’ performance!
My two cents, Nancy

Response by SGT Keith Boettcher made Oct 23 at 2019 9:01 AM

2019-10-23T09:01:45-04:00

NO! You are write people do not want to up the proper paperwork.. They Act as if it is an eyesore to review, research, and write up the award. And YES! the Reserve and National Guard do not get the awards they deserve nor the promotions.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Oct 23 at 2019 12:51 PM

2019-10-23T12:51:45-04:00

Excellent question!!! Hope you obtained the information you requested!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2019 8:58 PM

2019-12-18T20:58:06-05:00

There are two extremes in my experience. An old unit I was in handed awards out like candy - however it was for the people they liked and not as much people who did competent work. They would also inflate a lot of awards too (like ARCOMs for AT and such). On the other hand, I did have a commander downgrade everyone’s awards while down range because they did not think we did enough work to deserve the recommended awards (rest assured we were very busy and very short staffed).

I will say though that reservists certainly can have significant opportunities to do cool things and get cool awards if they look for opportunities. I tell all my soldiers to take up opportunities when they can get them cuz you never know how it’ll benefit you down the road.