Have you seen anyone ever reject an award?

2021-06-15T17:16:58-04:00

I personally believe that if a solider did something worth awarding, it should be given to them following that event. These pcs/etc awards where they sit around and try and say nice things about you seems to loose its value. Have you seen anyone ever reject an award?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2021 6:15 PM

2021-06-15T18:15:15-04:00

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/can-a-soldier-refuse-to-receive-an-award

Can a soldier refuse to receive an award? | RallyPoint

If yes, what could be the consequences?I believe the purpose of competition in the Army is to bring out the best in soldier and also to help allocate the manpower within the unit. But working for awards and recognitions can create an unhealthy competitive environment and more if one's investment only benefits self and doesn't add any value to the unit as a whole.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jun 15 at 2021 8:55 PM

2021-06-15T20:55:30-04:00

Awards get approved and rejected everyday. If the events listed in the warrant are able to stand alone submit it but end of your awards happen because they have the ability to combine events over a period of time to ensure the award gets approved.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 15 at 2021 9:40 PM

2021-06-15T21:40:11-04:00

CPL Private RallyPoint Member You can make a scene and refuse to accept it, but once the Issuing HQ issues it via permanent orders, it's going in your Official file at DA, will be on your SRB, and will be required to match in your DA Photo. You've got it whether you wanted it or not. Accept it for all the times you should have been recognized and weren't. Accept it on behalf of your team mates who helped make it happen.

Not telling you you have to go to the PX and get an AAM decal to add To your ARB (automotive record Brief on your back window). Accept it and wear it properly.

The reasoning behind the phenomenon we know as the PCS award is because people weren't getting recognized for anything. Morale was low. I remember when the PCS award came to be standard practice circa 1994. Additionally, the individual atta boy moments sometimes did not hit the AAM, ARCOM or MSM level. But demonstrate over time you can do great things, now you are hitting award criteria. You had Joe's with coins and COAs but it wasn't earning them promotion points. The senior leadership across the Army determined that soldiers, unless otherwise documented, surely would have done something worthy of an award (and yes a COA is an award). How that manefested in the 11th ACR where I was leading my Platoon was:

- if the soldier was a dirt bag, but was not otherwise flagged or barred, you had to counsel them on a DA Form 4856 why they were not being recommended and recognized. (Hardly anyone did this, jerk move. Though there were a handful)
- soldiers who were ineligible for awards in AR600-8-22 were counseled via DA Form 4856. (Flag, bar, negative Chapter)
- Soldiers who were eligible were recommended by their first line leader when they hit the loss roster or were 60-90 days from ETS. It was left to the soldier's chain to determine the appropriateness of the recommended award based on manner of performance and nature or responsibilities. At the time specialists were routinely section sergeants and squad leaders, working with increased responsibility beyond their grade. then there were rank and file specialists. We had a Corporal that was in charge of the 11th ACR Horse Detachment as an example...public facing regiment level function. Usually a SSG or SFC does this. Senior TOW missile repairer on Ft Irwin was a SPC.

Response by PO1 Todd McMillin made Jun 15 at 2021 11:46 PM

2021-06-15T23:46:01-04:00

Yes, when given out by an XO or other Officer that has a history of bad treatment towards their enlisted personnel. The fact that many times I've seen the Navy Sailors would rather just have the award without ceremony because of their hatred or loathing of the presenting official as such. This has happened over the course.

Even the President Bush Sr when he did it towards fellow WW2 Veterans as disgust towards him (and his family) being Nazi Sympathizers and Business Partners/War Profiteers. Some of the Pearl Harbor survivors had refused to accept their awards from him. Many said they'd rather have former President Jimmy Carter give them their awards instead as a sign of integrity and value...

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 16 at 2021 8:13 AM

2021-06-16T08:13:29-04:00

I mean... I suppose you don't HAVE to keep or wear anything you were awarded.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2021 9:14 AM

2021-06-16T09:14:42-04:00

I just don't want to be a part of this unit thinking they are doing their job simply because they hand out some half-effort award as I'm headed out the door. I find it equivalent to spitting in my face.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2021 1:00 PM

2021-06-16T13:00:09-04:00

I knew an soldier that tried to turn down a CAB. A mortar had shredded a nearby office (luckily the staff was out) and one piece of shrapnel went through the door of the TOC at low velocity. When presented with his CAB he said something along the lines of: "I don't want it. I didn't even get up from my desk."

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2021 5:37 PM

2021-06-16T17:37:01-04:00

Yes. George C Scott refused his Academy Award for Patton. Otherwise, no.

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Jun 16 at 2021 6:00 PM

2021-06-16T18:00:20-04:00

Yes...I have a buddy who deserves a Purple Heart, and he has turned it down, because he lost too many friends in Nam.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 16 at 2021 10:03 PM

2021-06-16T22:03:53-04:00

Thank you my friend CPL Private RallyPoint Member for posting an interesting question.
Thank you my friend SGT Private RallyPoint Member for mentioning me.

Musical folks have been known to reject awards including John Lennon in 1969 and David Bowie rejected two
1. John Lennon returned his MBE to the Queen in 1969,
2. David Bowie turned down not one but two awards from Her Maj? First Bowie was offered the CBE in 2000, the year of his triumphant headline set at Glastonbury; he politely declined. In 2003 David Bowie also rejected a Knighthood: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that,” he said. “I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”
3. Axl Rose refused to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of his former Guns ‘n’ Roses bandmates last year.

4. Additionally Kanye West, Jay Z rejected awards.
Background from {[https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/10-artists-who-turned-down-awards-with-style-764420]}

FYI Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SMSgt David A Asbury PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO2 Private RallyPoint Member SGT James Murphy SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Michael Oles SR SPC Michael Terrell SPC Nancy Greene Sgt Private RallyPoint Member Maj Marty Hogan LTC Greg Henning GySgt Thomas Vick PVT Mark Zehner

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 17 at 2021 8:37 PM

2021-06-17T20:37:06-04:00

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2021 8:39 PM

2021-06-17T20:39:39-04:00

I had an award that was downgraded, the admin after it was pinned the G1 NCO asked me if I wanted her to Perm it or shred it.

Response by MSG Michael Graham made Jun 22 at 2021 11:04 PM

2021-06-22T23:04:29-04:00

After a year in Iraq the Unit was holding an award ceremony back in the good old USA. I did not attend. All the E-7s the 1SG, the CSM and all officers were receiving Bronze Star Medals - except one - me. Now, I did not refuse to attend due to being the only Senior NCO to NOT get a BSM, I refused because my award was downgraded, because, and I quote, "You just did your job." No one I deployed with did anything over and above their normal duties. That deployment was was as normal as a year in garrison back in the states.

Response by PO1 John Crafton made Jun 22 at 2022 8:57 AM

2022-06-22T08:57:49-04:00

Various commands do devalue awards, and that irritates to no end. Even so, did you deserve the award for something you did at some point? If so, then grin and bear it. Just like getting a speeding ticket: You may not deserve it right then and there, but you likely deserve it for something you did at some earlier point. Making a big fuss about it is exactly the wrong thing to do.

Chances are that you may have had an award delayed or rejected by someone in the CoC previously, with the assumption that you'd receive an EoT/PCS award eventually. In other words, you were supposed to get that award, but it just came later.

This is similar to when someone receives an award, but the writeup is for some made-up BS or for some vague garbage undeserving of recognition. Chances are the person deserved an award for something earlier, but they missed out on it for one reason or another. Or they deserved the award for something they did, but the writeup can't reflect it for "reasons". It seems like BS, and it might seem to have lower value for that, but that's how it is.

Most of those awards mean something else, besides whatever they were written for. It's become common practice to just accept that whomever received the award deserved that award - even if it's technically for something stupid like "doing your job". Besides, it potentially helps on advancement, which isn't a bad thing.

As for the chest candy, how much of that really matters?