Posted on Apr 10, 2021
Earning a Meritorious Service Medal on retirement, did it reflect your last position, the last 10 years of your career or your whole career?
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I understand some of you may have received a higher award or no award but I'm asking for guidance on writing my own MSM. My G3 wants me to mostly reflect my last position when my last position is mostly been doing online courses due to Covid. The admin to the General in my unit is also a First sergeant. She said to put bullet points on my DD 638 reflecting the last 10 years.
My situation was I was mobilized to Operation Noble Eagle 3 ( 2003-2004) for one year at Dugway Proving Ground as a Platoon Leader of a QRF. I deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005 to OIF 3/4 as a 1LT, to Afghanistan as a CPT. Most of my time as a Major was as an OC/T. I was part of a team evaluating Battalion Staff. I did complete CGSOC in 2016. I did work for 5th army army North for 2 months helping out on Canadian exercise Maple Resolve. In 2018, I was picked up as a double slotted deputy commander of a brigade. I helped the brigade during Maple resolve 2019. My current position as the G9 of a one Star Command also has me as the head of the Force Protection since I am a Lieutenant Colonel in a Major slot. My position has been mostly a figurehead since I have been gone most of the time because I live in Canada and have not been able to do more than a 25 day A.T. last year. I came to my unit 3 weeks ago for a few days to sign my retirement paperwork. I am going to retire on 1 November of this year.
I want your feedback on how you were able to frame your retirement bullets. I already wrote my bullets in this order and my G3 wants me to change them. What do you think?
My situation was I was mobilized to Operation Noble Eagle 3 ( 2003-2004) for one year at Dugway Proving Ground as a Platoon Leader of a QRF. I deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005 to OIF 3/4 as a 1LT, to Afghanistan as a CPT. Most of my time as a Major was as an OC/T. I was part of a team evaluating Battalion Staff. I did complete CGSOC in 2016. I did work for 5th army army North for 2 months helping out on Canadian exercise Maple Resolve. In 2018, I was picked up as a double slotted deputy commander of a brigade. I helped the brigade during Maple resolve 2019. My current position as the G9 of a one Star Command also has me as the head of the Force Protection since I am a Lieutenant Colonel in a Major slot. My position has been mostly a figurehead since I have been gone most of the time because I live in Canada and have not been able to do more than a 25 day A.T. last year. I came to my unit 3 weeks ago for a few days to sign my retirement paperwork. I am going to retire on 1 November of this year.
I want your feedback on how you were able to frame your retirement bullets. I already wrote my bullets in this order and my G3 wants me to change them. What do you think?
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Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 25
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No, specifically to my experience awards have become trivial. I say this from a insightful perspective I watched people get awards in 20 yrs for doing there job. Yet, my Father should have been awarded more. I have 3 MSMs but I feel my my good conduct medals are more important to me.
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LTC (Join to see)
I was never expecting an award for my service in operational Noble Eagle 3, nor did I expect one in operation Iraqi freedom 3/4. I received an army commendation medal as a project officer in Afghanistan. I was actually surprised. I do value the certificates from Iraq and Afghanistan saying that I am entitled to wear the overseas combat patch. I was not enlisted for very long. I did not receive a good conduct medal. Even though I maxed the APFT half of my military career, I only received army achievement medal on that when I was 50 years old. My command is telling me to put in for the MSM. Congratulations on your 3 msm awards.
COL Robert Grierson
COL Robert Grierson
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Don't you as an officer deserve at least a Legion of Merit, for meritorious service for a career? Why are your commanders so lazy? Hell, why should you be writing your own commendation?
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SPC Woody Bullard 1SG Steven Imerman SFC William Farrell Lt Col Charlie Brown Col Carl Whicker SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson LTC (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price PO1 H Gene Lawrence SPC Randy Zimmerman LTC Wayne Brandon PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Douglas Bolton PVT Mark Zehner
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SPC Woody Bullard 1SG Steven Imerman SFC William Farrell Lt Col Charlie Brown Col Carl Whicker SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson LTC (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price PO1 H Gene Lawrence SPC Randy Zimmerman LTC Wayne Brandon PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Douglas Bolton PVT Mark Zehner
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CPT (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - If you don't ask for the LoM they will downgrade your MSM to an ARCOM! Better downgrade to an MSM.
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LTC (Join to see)
I have a retired active duty colonel friend who served over 30 years active duty. He told me that it could be just like the reserve component, Some units don't care, Some units want you to write your own. Some units help you write your own.
COL Robert Grierson LTC (Join to see) LTC John Mohor LTC Stephen F. SGT (Join to see) LTC Trent Klug CPT (Join to see) MSG (Join to see)
COL Robert Grierson LTC (Join to see) LTC John Mohor LTC Stephen F. SGT (Join to see) LTC Trent Klug CPT (Join to see) MSG (Join to see)
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MSG (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see)
In my case, I was in the Reserves. The last 10 years was as the NCOIC of an OC/T team under First Army East. The unit was at least partially MOBed the entire time and I was on MOB for 6 of those years. We traveled throughout the USA, PR, and had individual and group missions to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. My bullets for the award focused on leadership, training, and numbers of units/personnel trained.
I wrote everyone's awards on the team and was expected to write my own which I did. My suggestion to you is based on your rank and experience, write the award for the Legion of Merit. The worst that can happen is they downgrade it to an MSM.
In my case, I was in the Reserves. The last 10 years was as the NCOIC of an OC/T team under First Army East. The unit was at least partially MOBed the entire time and I was on MOB for 6 of those years. We traveled throughout the USA, PR, and had individual and group missions to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. My bullets for the award focused on leadership, training, and numbers of units/personnel trained.
I wrote everyone's awards on the team and was expected to write my own which I did. My suggestion to you is based on your rank and experience, write the award for the Legion of Merit. The worst that can happen is they downgrade it to an MSM.
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Thank you my friend LTC (Join to see) for posting your background and your concerns.
1st I have not received my own retirement award yet - after 13 years since retiring :-)
The MSM is suitable for retirement IMHO. I was awarded the MSM four times.
To me, my national defense service awards are the most significant. I was awarded a Good Conduct medal but that was an automatic award.
1. I recommend complete sentences in bullet form. Try to develop the thought in a complete sentence. If required you could use more than one sentence per bullet.
2. In general previous awards have a bearing so it makes sense to list your awards - especially any for valor or meritorious service - in that order. Hopefully you have at least one ARCOM. From your displayed ribbons you have been awarded the ARCOM.
3. The 10 year rule for award is applicable to retirement awards. Since you are USAR, I would not limit my highlights to the past 10 years.
4. I would mention significant aspects of your deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. ONE should also be mentioned especially if you did something significant in that mobilization.
5. It is okay to use information that was used for a prior award. I would review the award citations for ARCOM, AAM, etc.
Thank you my friend SGT (Join to see) for mentioning me.
1st I have not received my own retirement award yet - after 13 years since retiring :-)
The MSM is suitable for retirement IMHO. I was awarded the MSM four times.
To me, my national defense service awards are the most significant. I was awarded a Good Conduct medal but that was an automatic award.
1. I recommend complete sentences in bullet form. Try to develop the thought in a complete sentence. If required you could use more than one sentence per bullet.
2. In general previous awards have a bearing so it makes sense to list your awards - especially any for valor or meritorious service - in that order. Hopefully you have at least one ARCOM. From your displayed ribbons you have been awarded the ARCOM.
3. The 10 year rule for award is applicable to retirement awards. Since you are USAR, I would not limit my highlights to the past 10 years.
4. I would mention significant aspects of your deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. ONE should also be mentioned especially if you did something significant in that mobilization.
5. It is okay to use information that was used for a prior award. I would review the award citations for ARCOM, AAM, etc.
Thank you my friend SGT (Join to see) for mentioning me.
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LTC (Join to see)
Some suggest I apply for the lowest level Legion of Merit. I have 2 ARCOMs, 1 AAMs. I have the German GMEB in Bronze and Gold. I have 3 overseas training ribbons. I do not have any combat action badges. I did receive acknowledgement from one division and 2 different brigades to wear their patch as a combat patch. I will write my 2nd draft to my G3 this weekend. COL Robert Grierson LTC Stephen F. SGT (Join to see) LTC Trent Klug LTC (Join to see) LTC Vincent Moore SFC Stephen King MSG Gary Eckert CSM Charles Hayden
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