Has anyone ever had a deployment award (for service) upgraded to a BSM by HRC with the help of a member of Congress?

John H Green Jr — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 07:25:01 -0500

I know there are previsions in army regs to get a relook on an award. I am interested to see if anyone has ever done this.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Dec 19 at 2019 9:01 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 09:01:35 -0500

They do not do relooks for awards for service.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 19 at 2019 7:17 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:17:22 -0500

"Regs"....one regulation . AR600-8-22 Military Awards which is undergirded by federal law. See paragraphs 1-14 through 1-16. I have not utilized this provision. It is really reliant on the recommendation and supporting documents, witness statements etc.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2019 2:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 02:54:04 -0500

Response by MAJ Michael Cummings made Dec 20 at 2019 10:44 AM

MAJ Michael Cummings — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 10:44:17 -0500

The awards system is broken and has been for years.

I had a BSM downgraded to an ARCOM because of "insufficient rank" by the DIV CDR. Had the stupidity to write that on it too/ All of this while seeing individuals that never left their CHU getting BSMs.

After my deployment I spent the next 8 years and retired from the USAR. It's funny, they really didn't know what to do with a Cav/Armor guy so I worked in the G3 writing OPORDS and running their AT/FP program. When I was retiring, I had an O6 look at me and tell me I needed to hurry up and write my retirement award up. This really pissed me off and I told him that in combat arms, we always wrote awards up for our soldiers for what they deserved. He asked me how many awards I had received since coming to the USAR to which I told him none. He said the only awards he ever received were the ones he wrote for himself.

When I left AD and while I finished my career in the USAR I watched all too often people getting awards for work they did not perform. I always rewarded those serving under me that deserved it. No matter what, I always did my best not expecting an award because I refused to write it myself.

Just be thankful you made it home to be with family.