Has anyone ever received an ARCOM for achieving Distinguished Honor Grad from a NCOES school?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:04:26 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 6:43 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:43:45 -0400

I've seen the school award an AAM but not an ARCOM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 6:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:46:02 -0400

No, that also seems sort of redundant. You were distinguished honor grad which is a great achievement, however you've already been recognized/lauded for that achievement.

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Jul 11 at 2016 6:48 PM

SGM Billy Herrington — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:48:03 -0400

I've seen an AAM awarded for PLDC, WLC, BLC, whatever the hell its called this week.

If I have an honor grad I give him a certificate and a coin.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jul 11 at 2016 6:49 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:49:29 -0400

No, but I did receive an AAM for earning the EFMB. To this day, I still don't count that AAM.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 7:02 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:02:33 -0400

I've seen AAMs for Honor Grad, back when my old unit was handing those things out like candy. An ARCOM for that particular achievement is redundant as it already recognized and it also seems a little overboard.

But hey, it's no skin off my teeth if he gets an extra hard part on the back.

Response by SFC Thomas Butler made Jul 11 at 2016 9:20 PM

SFC Thomas Butler — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 21:20:47 -0400

Considering the time required for an ARCOM, and the fact that most DHG's are not determined until four or five days before the class graduates, I think it would be difficult, never mind morally wrong, to award an ARCOM.

Response by SFC Daniel McIntire made Jul 12 at 2016 6:39 AM

SFC Daniel McIntire — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 06:39:45 -0400

I have seen and been awarded an AAM for school performance achievement. ARCOMs none.

Response by SGM Joel Cook made Jul 13 at 2016 12:23 AM

SGM Joel Cook — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 00:23:52 -0400

I was honor graduate at both BNCOC and ANCOC. I received a certificate for each and an excellent on my academic evaluation reports. I never saw AAMs or ARCOMs actually given while I was in attendance, but I have heard of AAMs being givens by some Commanders. I would guess it used to be uncommon or rare. In your opinion has it become the new standard to award AAMs for honor grads?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2018 7:32 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 19:32:57 -0500

I am a stickler for awards and feel that they should be earned. The NCOES already awards the SM for their achievement albeit a COA, plaque or some form of recognition to award the SM again for the same achievement seems rather redundant in my opinion.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jul 23 at 2018 7:58 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 19:58:10 -0400

Nope.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 5:28 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 05:28:01 -0500

I got an AAM from the schoolhouse for DHG for Assault Climber and ALC. I was the DHG or HG for several other courses including WLC and SLC, and I got nothing for those. It's hit and miss, and in my experience, the awards have only come from the schoolhouse and not my unit. I've never seen an ARCOM awarded.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2021 7:09 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:09:41 -0400

Yes. I did.

Response by CPT Dion Francis made Dec 31 at 2021 5:02 AM

CPT Dion Francis — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 05:02:46 -0500

The criteria for awards has so much subjective variation from recommender and awarding authority. You will accumulate awards as you continue your career. I dont know how many of those peacetime awards I received. I once got a medal because the Asst Platoon Sergeant was impressed by my motivation on advance party. And Ive seen people get relieved for inspections. So, my advice is to just accept any awards that someone took the time to recommend you for and move on with humility. You can always remember those heroic souls that jumped into Normandy and did not live to see another dawn. In many cases, no one was left to recommend them. If you dont get an award, dont sweat it. You are in good company. Just keep being the best soldier you can be. Hooah! And yes I was the Distinguished Honor Grad. No medal that time, but I did get a neat plaque. I was not thinking about medals along the way.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2022 6:55 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 18:55:36 -0500

I haven't. Although personally, I feel for NCOES, that achieving Commandant's List should be an AAM, and if you're the Distinguished Honor Graduate, an ARCOM. DHG is the best in the entire class, so I don't feel giving AAM like with CL would be appropriate. If the schoolhouse awarded a COA, I'd tell that Soldier to pretend that COA doesn't exist and recommend for an actual award according to what they achieved. Big thing is to be consistant. CL, DLG, and DHG is a huge deal at any school, especially NCOES, so recommend regardless of rank. If you recommend AAM for CL, don't recommend a SSG for an AAM and give a SPC who got CL a COA IMHO.