I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment. Am I wrong in my way of deciding awards?

2015-02-16T06:46:42-05:00

I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment. I live by the NCO creed, and I have always highly valued my ability to adhere to this sentence in the creed. As our Africa deployment comes to a close, the awards have been written and processed. The highest award allowed for our deployment is an ARCOM.
I am the Platoon Sergeant, and I am now getting arguments from my Sergeants complaining about not getting an ARCOM when one NCO out of six got one, and five Soldiers out of twenty received an ARCOM. I was told by the Sergeants that I am not being fair and impartial. Here is how I figure out awards: I look at all of the Sergeants and gauge their accomplishments. What have they done to stand out above the rest, how do they measure up against the Total Soldier Concept, and are their leadership abilities sound. Once measured up against each other, I make my recommendations and run them by the 1SG. Once approved, I write up the awards.
For the Soldiers, the Sergeants make their recommendations and run them by me for my blessing, and then they write up the awards. I measure the Soldiers against each other (E-4 and below) and not against the Sergeants. It would not be fair to measure someone with little to no leadership responsibility against someone with a lot of leadership responsibility. I measure the Soldiers against what they have done to stand out above the rest, accomplishments, and Total Soldier Concept.
I will not go into detail with all the issues I had throughout the deployment with the NCO's who received several counseling statements who in the end did NOT receive an ARCOM, but I will say some were lucky to get AAM. These problem NCO's enraged with getting a lower award are now taking the issue up to our 1SG.
My question is am I wrong in my way of deciding awards, and what advice do you all have for dealing with this situation. I am at the mercy of the masses on Rally Point.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 7:07 AM

2015-02-16T07:07:15-05:00

I think you handled it extremely well and I applaud you for your diligence. The Army award system is in a mess and there have been plenty of discussions here on RP about it.

I am assuming you received an ARCOM if that was the highest award authorized? If that is true ask your Sergeants if they had as much responsibility as you did during the deployment.

I would definitely suggest a NCOPD on awards. I would make the Sergeants give it to the Soldiers and I would facilitate. Seems like it's "all about me" these days.

Good luck!

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 16 at 2015 7:15 AM

2015-02-16T07:15:08-05:00

I must echo CSM Private RallyPoint Member comments. The criteria for awards as you explained is carefully thought out and executed. IF everyone in the unit including officers received the highest award of an ARCOM then the sergeants that are whining need to shut up and drive on with the mission. However, if there was another standard for officers and senior enlisted they have a small beef.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 8:33 AM

2015-02-16T08:33:56-05:00

Absolutely not. You're an NCO I'd be proud work with. You got the right idea.

Response by SGT Nia Chiaraluce made Feb 16 at 2015 8:35 AM

2015-02-16T08:35:19-05:00

I was groomed with a very similar mentality, it is refreshing to see. The only other technique I have seen bode well in this type of situation was having soldiers and NCOs submit their own award to me for review. What this allowed was the ability to guage who cared enough and weed out who wasn't tangibally deserving. Just because you deploy doesn't automatically equate to an award.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 8:58 AM

2015-02-16T08:58:46-05:00

Excellent post SSG Boucher.

The regulation (AR 600-8-22) says that awards are NOT to be rank-based. However, in reality, we all know that there is an "unwritten rule" about that too. Congrats on putting the extra effort into making the process more personalized and realistic.

Response by Cpl James Destino made Feb 16 at 2015 9:15 AM

2015-02-16T09:15:39-05:00

I think that is absolutely fair. I can't believe a soldier would whine, or feel an explanation is needed, about losing out to another soldier for an award?? That is reason enough for them to have not been given it.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 16 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-02-16T09:39:08-05:00

"Fair" is always Subjective, as opposed to Objective. Recognition can be either Subjective or Objective, depending on how it is done.

As an example, giving everyone a Letter of Appreciation (the same "award") is an Objective means of Recognition, as you all "collectively" completed the same mission. Subjectively, however each person's contribution to that mission is going to be different, and therefore you have to come up with a way to weigh that that contribution against each other.

It sounds like you attempted to do a "weighted analysis" specifically among "peer groups." NCOs against NCOs, and Soldiers against Soldiers (within squads?). Subjectively, a "best of the best" system. I don't see anything wrong with that, as "we" should always be judged against our peers. It's a good way to measure people, and to highlight "top performers."

As for your NCOs who think they deserve a higher award, I would treat this as a leadership & counselling opportunity.

First & foremost, you don't have to recommend anyone for an award, "just for doing their job" or for "completing mission." Recognition is something you should want to do, not dread doing.

Second, anyone who wants to take it up with the 1SG, offer to set up the appointment yourself, and bring whatever counselling statements, documentation, etc you have, and "discuss their concerns, in a closed door meeting, to determine if they are indeed valid." It's amazing how quickly people will back down, when they realize that you are just as willing to talk to your Senior man as they are. The 1SG having both sides of the story at the same time is not going to make them look good.

Third, touch base with the 1SG, and relay your concerns. Tell him your thought process on the awards recommendations, and see if it "jives" with what he would have done. He may provide additional guidance, and he might just "nip it in the bud" before hand, by confirming your logic was good.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 10:27 AM

2015-02-16T10:27:33-05:00

I'm in the same place as you and I got a ARCOM along with some of my Soldiers who were deserving. I told my commander I didn't want to be put in for anything higher than a ARCOM for a 4 month deployment just because I am a 1SG. I know some are getting MSM's because of rank and it's whatever, I don't want to be a part of the problem and I think I have opened some eyes in my organization. Continue to do what you are doing, it sounds like you have handled everything well so far.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 10:42 AM

2015-02-16T10:42:34-05:00

I have written hundreds of awards and my advice is the mission that you guys recieved did you surpass the previous unit; and if your unit is the first then what were your goals? The only possible issue i see is you shouldn't seperate awards by rank that's an easy way to get an EO complaint

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-02-16T11:21:11-05:00

SSG Boucher,

The title struck a cord with me today. Recently I had to deal with something unfortunate for a Soldier and used the phrase "I know my Soldiers, and I will always place their needs above my own." The Soldier is in a better state of mind at this moment and now truly appreciates the creed in which it is derived from.
The NCO's that complained need to really look at the Creed and be thankful that they are receiving more than a paycheck for the deployment. Complaints should always be taken with a grain of salt, granted there are valid ones that should be taken very seriously but is this the case? I am not in your "boots" but if you have documentation to back your decision up then present it to your leadership.
I agree with CSM Oldsen, have your NCO's give a NCOPD on awards and thier significance. Personally I didn't expect more than paid while deployed, I was thankful for the coffee and the recommendation that my leadership did put me in for. Good luck and safe travels.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Feb 16 at 2015 12:32 PM

2015-02-16T12:32:23-05:00

My tenure as a leader in the Marine Corps is limited compared to my supervisory and managerial experience I had with the Federal Aviation Administration and Lockheed Martin. It appears that you had a fair process to me and you evaluated the NCO's performance against the same standard. I would recommend two things in the future if you did not incorporate them this time.

1) Ask you NCO's for input into their performance. See what they are thinking on how they are performing.

2) Have supporting documentation for each NCO under your command. Document good and bad, counseling sessions. How they lead their subordinates and manage their resources. DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. If it's not on paper it didn't happen. You will find you need this documentation to justify your evaluations. Because unless everyone gets an OUTSTANDING, you will have discourse amongst those that did not.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 3:22 PM

2015-02-16T15:22:14-05:00

As a First Sergeant, I would relish the discussion.
"Entitled" Sergeants could use a little reality check.
I have personally always graded on a curve. Usually they sort themselves out without a whole lot of thought necessary. If they still don't get it, it is an excellent opportunity for some growth through direct mentoring.

Response by SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. made Feb 16 at 2015 3:45 PM

2015-02-16T15:45:21-05:00

Unless the officer, warrant, NCO, or Junior Enlisted, do something thats absolutely outstanding above whats normal i.e. improves morale, Operations etc. No award necessary. Operations both in theater and at home, with exceptions should be no different. On it deployed then slack at home is unacceptable. Shouldn't be awarded at any level for doing what you were trained and/promoted to do.
The Army over the last several years has gotten similar to the AirForce. Awards for everything with the exception of a different ribbon for each individual type of act. Fair and impartial for awards should be did any one go above the call then decide if the did does it really require an ARCOM.
Deploying doesnt rate an award.
My two bits.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-02-16T17:09:44-05:00

I assumed that everybody in your section is the same MOS and CMF, if that is the case, your criteria to write an award is on point. But is kind of difficult to apply the same criteria, when you have Soldiers and NCO'S with different CMF.

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Feb 16 at 2015 5:42 PM

2015-02-16T17:42:39-05:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member well done and spot on. On return from Iraq in 04 I was faced with a number of "entitled" NCOs... That were upset because of AAMs and COAs... They were getting. When they said they'd go the the CO... I raised my voice and asked the CO to come in... They were shocked. He reaffirmed what I said and left. I then asked them to repeat the first line of the NCOs Creed.... They did... I waited a long minute.... Looking at them.... And then asked "Really?" Waited 15 seconds... "Dismissed"

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 1:23 AM

2015-02-17T01:23:10-05:00

I believe that you are running into a situation of the "Entitled Generation"

Everyone wants something for doing what they are asked to do.

Not everyone gets the trophy.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 4:05 PM

2015-06-06T16:05:11-04:00

In some aspects I think you are wrong.

1. the whole thing of setting the highest award that is going to be given as an ARCOM is wrong but that's above your head.

2. You should not judge the merits of an award against other people. An award should stand on the strength of the write up and nothing else. Comparing people against each other implies that someone told you that they are only giving out a certain number of ARCOMS, which is wrong.

3. If a sergeant is writing an award for their soldier they should not need your blessing on what award they are writing up for their soldier. You are not the approving authority and really its not your call. Now you do have a responsibility to review it and tell that Sergeant if something needs to be fixed, or give them pointers on writing styles to make the narrative stronger or more coherent. They may have left out something that the soldier did that should have been captured in the award.

Response by SSG Thomas Brousseau made Jun 12 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-06-12T13:23:23-04:00

First of all, every time I hear an NCO recite the NCO Creed it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over. You make me proud to be an American. Just keep in mind that meaningful recognition goes a long ways towards maintaining a high level of motivation.