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The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (ARCAM) also known as the Reserve Good Conduct Medal is awarded to the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves.
A lot of Soldiers in my formation are missing theirs including the multiples they should have and it seems like S1 is slow to fix the issue.
Does anyone have a good template or advice on how to process this award and backdate it for the many who never received theirs over the years? Additionally how do you work around deployments that interrupt the time period for the award?
A lot of Soldiers in my formation are missing theirs including the multiples they should have and it seems like S1 is slow to fix the issue.
Does anyone have a good template or advice on how to process this award and backdate it for the many who never received theirs over the years? Additionally how do you work around deployments that interrupt the time period for the award?
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Awards Clerk
Awards Awards Clerk
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
Here is the thing about the ARCAM that not everyone is aware of. Yes, it's for 3 yrs of good service....the caveat is that IOT qualify for it, the Soldier has to have 3 GOOD years. As in, they met all the points required for the year. They attended every BTA or at least made it up with RST. If they don't have a GOOD YEAR of points, they don't rate the ARCAM.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Dennis Mendoza if you have documentation showing you have 3 GOOD years from both Reserve and Guard, take it to your Commander and see if you can get them retroactively awarded.
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SSG Dennis Mendoza
MSG (Join to see) I know I should but I'm currently in active duty component and knowing my current unit they probably won't do it or believe me even with the documentation.
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SPC (Join to see)
SSG Dennis Mendoza - We tried to get some of the federally recognized reserve component awards approved through S1 while we were deployed. We were pretty much told that because it has the word reserve in it, not our problem. So I fully believe that Active S1 would tell you to kick rocks.
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It is something that the unit should track but a lot of time they don't really notice it. This is where your leaders come in. When I was overseas I submitted my own memos and 4187s for squad. We were taken care of. It is hard to say that the Readiness NCO is responsible for everyone in the unit.
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LTC Stephen C.
I have heard of the ARCAM, unfortunately, CPT (Join to see). There’s a Guard version and a Reserve version.
They’re essentially worthless IMO.
They’re essentially worthless IMO.
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CPT (Join to see)
LTC Stephen C. - Agreed as your valuation assessment; but, was referring more to the term *good conduct* and that no one I knew in 12th would qualify (sic). Friends from the Q, 11th, 19th and 20th notwithstanding.
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LTC Stephen C.
You’re right, CPT (Join to see), I missed the good conduct bit! Hilarious! Makes them even more worthless!
Personally, I think the Army wants everyone to wear a chest full of junk. It’s ridiculous! Why should anyone get an award for completing BCT?! Nuts!
Personally, I think the Army wants everyone to wear a chest full of junk. It’s ridiculous! Why should anyone get an award for completing BCT?! Nuts!
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC Stephen C. - That is fair, I did wonder why I got the ASR when I graduated BCT. I kind of thought the uniform proved that. Then I knew a guy that dropped out of BCT and his only authorized award was the NDSM. So I guess that makes some kind of weird sense somehow to someone.
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Example Template in section 2.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Processing%20Guides%20and%20Templates
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Processing%20Guides%20and%20Templates
The security accreditation level of this site is UNCLASSIFIED and below. Do not process, store, or transmit any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO or CLASSIFIED information on this system.
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These can easily be backdated as the award is processed via a signed memo indicating the dates used for qualification of the award and the number of the award given (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.) Ultimately though it is an S-1 issue that has to be addressed by your Adjutant and have pressure applied by the command team.
In regards to working around the deployments, HRC has an excellent guide interpreting the reg and assisting with processing the award/indicating when the break in time is too great and requires starting over. There is also a link to a template for the award memo.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Army%20Reserve%20Component%20Achievement%20Medal%20ARCAM
In regards to working around the deployments, HRC has an excellent guide interpreting the reg and assisting with processing the award/indicating when the break in time is too great and requires starting over. There is also a link to a template for the award memo.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Army%20Reserve%20Component%20Achievement%20Medal%20ARCAM
The security accreditation level of this site is UNCLASSIFIED and below. Do not process, store, or transmit any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO or CLASSIFIED information on this system.
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AR 600-8-22.
You will find the blurbs that explain how a deployed reservist is entitled to the ARCAM if they have served 2 years of GOOD service prior to being on deployment orders.
Once the active duty orders turn on that time will count towards the AGCM. 1 year of AFS is required for the 1st award of the AGCM.
After the SM redeploys and is back in a TPU status, their clock starts over for the next ARCAM.
If the SM had less than 2 years of GOOD reserve service prior to deployment, upon redeployment the 3 year clock continues.
These two awards are very tensions to track but as a reservist, it can be difficult to get the AGCM and a lot of times COC doesn’t want to process the awards.
You will find the blurbs that explain how a deployed reservist is entitled to the ARCAM if they have served 2 years of GOOD service prior to being on deployment orders.
Once the active duty orders turn on that time will count towards the AGCM. 1 year of AFS is required for the 1st award of the AGCM.
After the SM redeploys and is back in a TPU status, their clock starts over for the next ARCAM.
If the SM had less than 2 years of GOOD reserve service prior to deployment, upon redeployment the 3 year clock continues.
These two awards are very tensions to track but as a reservist, it can be difficult to get the AGCM and a lot of times COC doesn’t want to process the awards.
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Addressing the last issue first, why would a deployment interrupt the time period?
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SPC (Join to see)
1SG Charles Hunter The deployment would place the Soldiers on Title 10 (Active) orders rather than Title 32 and on T10 they are eligible to accrue time for the regular Good Conduct Medal.
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SPC (Join to see)
There actually is an exception for 2 years if you have completed that time prior to a deployment.
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