Has anyone been recommended for an award and told you were not going to receive it due to an upcoming PCS? Did your next unit approve it?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 12:40:38 -0400

Was recommended for an MOVSM for initiating and managing an anti-DUI program. Qualifications were met, memo and DA 638 were sent up, but somewhere between first and second line there was a "miscommunication" and it wasn't sent. When the error was addressed, was advised "You got f**ked" and told to give it to my gaining unit. Has anyone run into this? What is the likelihood of it getting approved?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 12:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 12:47:51 -0400

I got my PCS award from my last unit six months after I PCSed. I left during block leave that year so no one was hardly around. I don't think I even got my NCOER before I left.

I'm pretty sure crap like this happens more often than not. I know there's a soldier here who his unit didn't do his NCOER when he PCSed and when it came time for his here it sounds like it was a cluster.

This is lesson learned your leadership should have stayed on top of it and lesson for you when you become a NCO to stay on top of things like awards because things get lost in S1 or between each level of leadership. I don't know if your gaining unit will approve it. That's up to them. No one can predict that.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made May 19 at 2017 1:15 PM

SSG Robert Webster — Fri, 19 May 2017 13:15:59 -0400

Two questions:
Was this a military program or a civilian program?
Why wouldn't your current/last unit finish processing the award? It still could be approved and then forwarded to your gaining unit/installation.

If you take it forward with you to the gaining unit, it may be approved or it might not be approved - their standards for the award of this decoration may be different. (The definition of volunteer service is left intentionally vague, allowing for a wide variety of activities and volunteer duties which would qualify a service member for the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.)

Good luck.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made May 19 at 2017 1:20 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 19 May 2017 13:20:42 -0400

Was supposed to get an AAM for an ETS award, and they managed to lose the paperwork. As they were in the field, my chain-of-command had no interest in redoing anything at that time, and thus no award came. Gives me more of a laugh than anything.

Easy come. Easy go.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 3:24 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 15:24:55 -0400

Someone has that 638. See if you can get ahold of it and pass it on to your current chain. I don't see any reason why it the recommendation can't be reviewed by this command

Response by SSG Marlin Dammarell made May 19 at 2017 7:35 PM

SSG Marlin Dammarell — Fri, 19 May 2017 19:35:27 -0400

Good luck with that. PCSed 11 Times and got screwed 4 Times without an award. Its the Army. Final Award, Retirement Award. Lol. Just give me my pension please for serving my 20 years...Been great!!

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 20 at 2017 10:20 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sat, 20 May 2017 10:20:44 -0400

Ok bud, a little known fact about awards that the army doesn't like telling young soldiers, anyone and I mean absolutely anyone can put you in for an award. Of you PCSd but still have all of the paperwork to prove that you did meet the requirements to be awarded your MOVSM and your NCO is either too lazy or just doesn't want the headache, you need to hand that paperwork over to your damn buddy SPC, have him retype the 638 and sign it, walk that sucker to the S1 and have the stupid little clerk sign a 200 for it. If it gets kicked back then you send it through again. The system is broke in many ways and it is going to sometimes fall on you and your buddy's to ensure that it fals the least amount of soldiers possible.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2017 11:03 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 May 2017 23:03:38 -0400

I had a similar situation happen to me. When I pcs'd the next unit could not honor my awards. I was told that it should have been received in previous unit. They had me feeling as if it was my fault that I did not know any better to make my previous command give me my awards before I left

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made May 21 at 2017 12:01 AM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 21 May 2017 00:01:14 -0400

I had an MOVSM approved after departing a unit. I also had a PCS award sent to me after I departed the unit. Hopefully, you can Find an advocate or Senior NCO in the unit that can move it for you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2017 4:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 May 2017 16:45:54 -0400

you didn't volunteer to work for a civilian organization, you didn't do the driving you more than likely just spent your time during the DUTY DAY accounting hours for Soldiers that did spend time driving and saving Soldiers from receiving DUI's. If that is correct you do not deserve an award. I mean be honest with yourself not with me or anybody else DID you VOLUNTEER to SAVE Soldiers Lives.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made May 23 at 2017 6:44 PM

CW2 Ernest Krutzsch — Tue, 23 May 2017 18:44:39 -0400

I was supposed to get an Arcom for being USAEUR Soldier of the Year in 1976, Didn't get it. In 1986, I went to Fort Dix, NJ as a SFC in 1986. Lo and behold my former Brigade Commander and the CSM were now the Post Commander and CSM. I mentioned it to them, and 2 months later I received my award presented in 1986 for something I did in 1976

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2017 7:07 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 May 2017 19:07:31 -0400

PCS is a likely time Air Force people receive awards. It is submitted by the losing unit.

Response by CW4 Scott Hyde made May 23 at 2017 8:08 PM

CW4 Scott Hyde — Tue, 23 May 2017 20:08:05 -0400

If you can document the time to support the MOVSM, your current unit can do the award. Get supporting documents, talk to your supervisor. Many MOVSM cover time in several units/locations/organizations.

I do not understand why this is an issue. Does anyone try to solve problems or is this the hitching post to complain?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2017 7:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 May 2017 07:49:50 -0400

If I understand that volunteer award correctly, your new unit should be able to process it. That is not an excuse of why your previous unit couldn't do it, if they dropped the ball, they should own it and fix it.

As far as other awards that people got passed over because of other peoples laziness, take that with a grain of salt amd move on. Remember it and don't be that kind of leader when you are in that position.

Response by Capt Jim McLaurin made Jul 4 at 2019 1:35 PM

Capt Jim McLaurin — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 13:35:20 -0400

Happens in the AF too. My unit missed a suspense to majcom, so wing/cc downgraded and did a local approval fro afam.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 4 at 2019 4:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 16:17:20 -0400

I was AD working with a large NG unit. I was told by them to write my own reward. I was so offended that I really did not give a shit about my PCS award.

Response by SGT Steven Jones made Jul 4 at 2019 6:00 PM

SGT Steven Jones — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 18:00:42 -0400

When I was deployed, I found out I was nominated for the Soldier’s Medal from something I did while back home visiting prior. My Unit didn’t do anything about it during the deployment and I PCS’d a month and a half after I got back. Never heard about it again.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2019 6:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 18:12:40 -0400

The losing unit can still process the award. Then mail it to you. They are just being lazy. You do not have to be assigned to the unit for them to recommend and process your award.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Sep 26 at 2020 10:12 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 22:12:29 -0400

I was supposed to get an MSM for 2 years of tough work in Korea, (Yep, I voluntarily extended.) The 638 was signed by a Full Colonel as the recommender. Somehow, even though he is not in the approval chain, the Division CSM kicked it back, and killed it. He wrote "Staff-Sergeants don't get MSM's" I still have that 638. The Colonel gave it to me so I could see how he felt about my work. None of the officers wanted to sign off on the downgrade so the Chief of Staff told the Colonel to resubmit it as an ARCOM.
The Army Award system rides that line between squared away and total Bull.