Posted on May 12, 2015
GWTSM do you use yours? Do you even know if you have it?
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I've seen that the Junior Enlisted don't comment that much in discussions posted here so, here one so you can participate.
Last week I saw a lot of E1-E4 walking around in ASU's and I noticed that most of them wasn't using their GWTSM Ribbon. When I got out of AIT I used just 2, the NDSM and the ASR, but when I got to my First Unit, in my first ASU's inspection, every NCO was asking me about my GWTSM and if they didn't give it anymore. Which E1-E3 doesn't want another ribbon in their barely empty ASU?! So I checked my ERB and there was it! I ran to the MCS and got my ribbon, got to admit that even when I didn't know I could use it, I was excited about my new ribbon.
Do you use yours? Do you know if you are authorized to use it? Do you even know what is the GWTSM? If you are a NCO, do your Soldiers use them? If you are tagged, feel free to response.
For reference, a recent post from HRC: https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20expeditionary%20medal%20gwotem%20and%20global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20service%20medal%20gwotsm
Last week I saw a lot of E1-E4 walking around in ASU's and I noticed that most of them wasn't using their GWTSM Ribbon. When I got out of AIT I used just 2, the NDSM and the ASR, but when I got to my First Unit, in my first ASU's inspection, every NCO was asking me about my GWTSM and if they didn't give it anymore. Which E1-E3 doesn't want another ribbon in their barely empty ASU?! So I checked my ERB and there was it! I ran to the MCS and got my ribbon, got to admit that even when I didn't know I could use it, I was excited about my new ribbon.
Do you use yours? Do you know if you are authorized to use it? Do you even know what is the GWTSM? If you are a NCO, do your Soldiers use them? If you are tagged, feel free to response.
For reference, a recent post from HRC: https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20expeditionary%20medal%20gwotem%20and%20global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20service%20medal%20gwotsm
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 14
Bottom line if you are my Soldier and you are authorized a ribbon no matter what it is you will wear it if it is on your ERB. If you dont make Soldiers wear all there ribbons and set there uniforms up correctly they willi never know how to do it when it is time to prepare for a DA photo for a centralized promotion board. And yes I do spot checks of ERBS when I do ASU inspections.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
That's just what my NCO told me, I didn't know about until he let me know. ALso the importance of updating the ERB with S1 in case there is something wrong on it.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
This issue is actually easily explained. He didn't actually earn the award until after he got to the unit (30 days later). Since it is functionally automatic, no one bothered to tell him. It's much like the 3rd or 4th Good Conduct or Sea Service. You just "get it." For a young troop, if you didn't know, you wouldn't know.
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A lot of great advice on here. One more thing I will add, PFC, is to start an "I Love Me" (career book) if you haven't already. It's good keep copies of all your paper work (promotions, orders, SSD certs, training certs, etc) in one place. Get a big 3 ring binder and document protector sheets and organize your paper work. While the majority of your stuff can be found on iPerms, it never hurts to have copies for yourself.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) I already have mine, you can't leave or trust everything to S1. Thanks for the advice SGT!
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SGT Richard Ellis
SGT Kimberly Hall, I couldn't agree more. Especially with Medical Records. The army lost half of mine, too bad I always made copies of all new entries. How could they lose half when they are all in the same file.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SSG (ret) William Martin when I got to know I was authorized to use it, I ran to get it!
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SSG (ret) William Martin
Check you ERB and check your records. Always keep records of your paper work like orders and awards. Make copies.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SFC Joseph James the picture is too large, if you click on it on a pc you'll see the complete ribbon.
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Cpl Arwen Bernard
Also check your records before every inspection to insure you have all you ribbons and/or metals. It is your responsiblely to be up to date on that Intel.
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Good topic. I was very clueless about a lot of things while I was in. So, how do I find out (years later) if I was supposed to have any of these ribbons or medals? Would it matter now as I'm only a veteran? I'm proud of my service and feel kind of forgotten and left out on a lot of stuff.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SPC Jeffrey Bly I think 1LT Scott Doyle as a Veteran could you out with this one.
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AF doesn't give you a choice. You will wear ALL. Our verison of ERB (vMPF) actually lists and displays your ribbon rack for you with all the devices.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
TSgt Joshua Copeland this is the awesome part of RP, learning in a camaraderie ambient. Thanks for the correction!
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SGT(P) (Join to see), always a pleasure interacting with such a MOTIVATED young Solider!
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SSgt Michael Cox
vMPF only lists and shows ribbons and medals that you have "on file" before i got out in 09' i had to go down with print outs of unit awards and orders for deployments i was on for my OIF medal and device as well as my expeditionary with gold boarder.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SSgt Michael Cox, That is true, however most MPS's and AFPC as a whole are getting a lot better with automatically updating awards. I have only had to twice actually go to MPS to get awards updated and that was for unit awards from a deployed unit that were awarded almost a year after the deployment.
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Do they not do service uniforms in AIT/OSUT anymore? We knew everything we were authorized to wear by the time we graduated as it was firmly in place on our greens.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
Crazy. We did uniform drills that required squared away dress uniforms. heh I'm still a little surprised the drills wouldn't cover something like that. Then again, I had awesome drills that did their damned best to make sure we were squared the hell away when we got to our units. I hear that's not everyone's experience.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SGT Jeremiah B. we had them on BCT, even though we had just one ribbon, but AIT they just look over us and that was pretty much it.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
As Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS says above, 30 days post training so you're probably qualified shortly after get to your unit after post-training leave. Also, privates padding their awards when they get home from basic isn't exactly a rare occurrence. haha
Well, that may be it. I entered the Army as a grunt. It was essentially a 15 week BASIC course with some extra weapons and tactics training. The only way you knew you'd transitioned from basic to AIT was they let you call home for 5 minutes.
Well, that may be it. I entered the Army as a grunt. It was essentially a 15 week BASIC course with some extra weapons and tactics training. The only way you knew you'd transitioned from basic to AIT was they let you call home for 5 minutes.
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Pardon my ignorance, but what is that ribbon? and what does the letters stand for?
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SA Harold Hansmann stand for Global War on Terrorism, some use GWOTSM but it appears like GWTSM on the ERB.
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SA Harold Hansmann
When did said ribbon come about? I was active duty at the beginning of this conflict.
Now that I am a civilian, the ribbons I have earned would look great on my Navy Dress Blues which I still have 20 some years later.
Now that I am a civilian, the ribbons I have earned would look great on my Navy Dress Blues which I still have 20 some years later.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SPC Candace Leach when you are a brand new Private, you want to use as many as you have. That was my case, hehehe
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SPC Candace Leach
Oh I agree PFC Ortiz. When I first went in the Marine Corps, all I had was the NDSM and my rifle badge. After the deployment I was happy to have more ribbons. You'll end up getting more awards throughout your career rather you're serving for four years or 20 years.
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Yes, I use it. I found out about it when I did my in processing here and that's when I went and bought it. I check and print off a copy of my erb at least once a month.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) I went on TDY to Ft Campbell on last Oct, for Unit Armorer School, that's a damn big post! We got lost at least 4 times in those 2 weeks! Infantry Soldiers didn't even get the use of MI Soldiers in the Army because we are Non-Deployable.
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PFC Antonio Camacho Ortiz I don't really know what you mean by using it but all service members should wear it proudly if they are authorized it.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SGM Steve Wettstein I mean that as an automatic medal, not every new SM knows about it. I was one of those that didn't know I was authorized to use it until my NCO told me to check my ERB. I've seen a lot of new Soldiers walking around in ASUs without it, because of not knowing I bet.
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There are some differences between the Guard and the rest of the services. In the Guard you earn state awards that are ribbons that you cannot wear on Title 10 orders. My ERB when I was in the army showed everything but was still getting weird looks when I was on active orders for schools and was wearing my state awards.
Along with what everyone else is saying Make sure you are checking your ERB for any discrepancies. When I was a team leader I was checking my soldiers ERBs every battle assembly in case they were awarded a state award and didnt get the memo. In some of the national guard units that I was in all awards were givin at our annual AT instead of when they were awarded so it was always nice to see if someone got something but didnt get told they had it.
Along with what everyone else is saying Make sure you are checking your ERB for any discrepancies. When I was a team leader I was checking my soldiers ERBs every battle assembly in case they were awarded a state award and didnt get the memo. In some of the national guard units that I was in all awards were givin at our annual AT instead of when they were awarded so it was always nice to see if someone got something but didnt get told they had it.
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When I first did ASU Inspections I wasn't informed about the missing ribbon from my previous PLT SGT,I need to check my ERB ,BUT I don't know how lol any help
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
http://www.hrc.army.mil go to Self Service, in the options, My ERB you will be able to download it.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
PFC Mclamb you need to get your TL or SL to show you the way if you do not know. That is what they are there for.
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