Posted on Jul 25, 2017
Is the awarding of the Meritorious Service Medal being watered down due to lack of standardization across the services?
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I recently attended an Air Force Boot Camp Graduation and I saw an Air Force SSgt (E-5) and an Army SSgt (E-6) each wearing an Meritorious Service Medal (Both with less than 12 years service). Now I know there are some difference between branches of service, but this was very surprising considering in the Marine Corps there is a very high standard required to receive the award. Opinions please.
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Leadership
Awards Leadership
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 372
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Yes, the examples you saw were very likely examples of the MSM being watered down. Given the breadth and scope of responsibility given to E-5s and E-6s in garrison or on staff, it would be a very rare set of events which would enable them to have such a broad and lasting impact that SHOULD be required to earn an MSM. Many O-4s/O-5s/O-6s have also been given un-earned MSMs as a PCS/PCA medal, and all of them are due to commanding officers who want to be nice rather than uphold standards.
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SSG (Join to see)
The MSM is a show up award given to a lot of officers and senior enlisted at least in the Army. I received one after my deployment to Kosovo because I ran a bilateral (American and Romanian) HUMINT team. I didn't expect it, but my officer felt that as an E5 running a 40 man team, I deserved it. I humbly accepted it and was told by my BN CDR that this was huge and she had never seen an E5 earn that award.
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Maj (Join to see)
"Yes, the examples you saw were very likely examples of the MSM being watered down."
Why? Because of their ranks?
Why? Because of their ranks?
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GySgt John O'Donnell
SSG (Join to see) - An E-5 running a man team would 40 definitely warrant the award in my opinion, which is my point. The MSM should be for "outstanding meritorious achievement or service" not just good work or even exemplary work. at you rank level. Your higher responsibility and outcome achieved for your rank held in the billet meets the MSM standard in spades.
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During JTF-160 in Gitmo during Haitian and Cuban migrant crisis, I went in the water after 4 drowning migrants, and 3 great Americans followed me, jus happened to be E-3 to E-5 in USMC, USA, and USAF. I carefully researched awards manual, and determined they all merited individual Commendation medals. The Army amd Air Force wanted to upgrade, the USMC Chain of command wanted to know why I was writing a Cpl up for NC. I showed them the refs and they approved it. Difference in intrusive leadership I guess.
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Honestly, I think the assumption in your question is one of the biggest problem with the military awards. Awards are intended to be based off merit and not rank. When those with higher ranks stop getting BS awards for doing jack shit, then maybe their subordinates will start giving them "earned" respect. Until then, subordinates will continue to respect the rank and not the individual. I would like to believe most service members would prefer to earn their respect.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
The question was not whether the individuals earned the awards. I said previously, they may have esteemed themselves with exceptional merit. The point was to open a conversation about cross service awards (MSM and higher) and their regulated requirements across all branches
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The MSM from my experience is very tough for an enlisted Soldier to earn. However CDR's seem to get this automatically regardless of their standing when they leave the unit.
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I just snicker. Submariners get very few awards because everything we did was super secret. Our command all rec'd expeditionary medals. The written part basically said "Award given. Reason TOP SECRET. Date TOP SECRET". So we tended to care about 1 thing and 1 thing only. The dolphins. Your rack of ribbons/medals means nothing really. Those represent what you HAVE done. I want to see what you ARE doing. Don't get me wrong, some of those medals are impressive but for the most part they are just fancy "attaboys". Where I am now, military get a medal when they transfer out just for having been here.
The award I rec'd that meant the most to me (not even a medal) was a letter of commendation from outside my command. An outside element put me in for it and it pissed my CO off really bad but it meant that my hard work was recognized by people outside the command.
Oh, and back to the original question. Don't sweat it (others getting the medal that is) unless you know for a fact they aren't supposed to be wearing it. A lot of medals, probably this one too are a matter of butt kissing.
The award I rec'd that meant the most to me (not even a medal) was a letter of commendation from outside my command. An outside element put me in for it and it pissed my CO off really bad but it meant that my hard work was recognized by people outside the command.
Oh, and back to the original question. Don't sweat it (others getting the medal that is) unless you know for a fact they aren't supposed to be wearing it. A lot of medals, probably this one too are a matter of butt kissing.
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Maj (Join to see)
Unfortunately you are correct in some cases. I had a TSgt under me who was retiring. I received the package to fill out for a medal upon his retirement. Based on the NCO's poor performance I declined to submit him for any award upon his retirement. There was no way I could justify it. I turned in the package with my note on it. I got it kicked back to me stating anyone who had served 20 years deserved at least a commendation medal. So I had to submit him for the commendation medal.
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SGT John Graham
So many flights, an Air Medal...filling a command assigned to a combat unit, a Bronze Star...O5 or 06 flying over a unit in action, a Silver Star. When awards are treated like a preschool participation ribbon it only serves to inflate egos and diminishes the valor aspect. It seems so many fruit salads on the chest are huge compared to WW-II and before.
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This is not isolated to this decoration, it is decorations in general. Over time awards became more and more common. It will continue on this path as society becomes more and more about personnel recognition. When they started making a big deal about "end of tour" decorations it was bound to happen.
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An AF E-5 with an MSM is a very rare sight! Probably a life support dude, they're like the pilots enlisted pets.
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CMSgt Truman Pittman
I take exception to that statement that Life Support Specialist are the Pilots' pet. They attend Technical School just like most of everyone else...Also there awards are base on the same criteria as everyone else...In fact during my time in service the MSM were limited to E-7 or above unless the person had perform some very heavy stuff. Judging from your statement you must have worked in maintenance....We all were just an instrument of out National Security team emphasis on team... Having retired before the the E-9 stripe were mandatory, i could be wrong on all of this but I doubt it!!!!!!!
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What are the standards for the award? We're the standards met? Napolean once said: "...give me a mile of ribbon and I can win any battle...". Commanders need to award soldiers for their service and action, be it the Medal of Honor to a Court Martial. Make believe traditions are not the regulations or law. If the soldier did it let them flaunt it.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
Awards are important for all services. My point is the MSM and higher should have cross service standards because they are cross service awards, unlike Achievement and Commendations which are branch sentric.
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