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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I think there has been some, as you say, "Watering down" across the board, with the exception of the MOH and the other top 3 or so. I think the all volunteer force has a lot to do with this. Who wants eye candy upon the chest. Seems like Hearldy is hard a work.
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Each service has their own guidelines and in some cases their own medals. The Marines don't issue a new private a ribbon for completing boot camp. Yet all of the other services do, it devalues the importance of the ribbon. I would say that it isn't the quantity of the awards but rather the quality. I have run into a few "medal collectors" who turned out not to be worth a darn!
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You think that’s bad you should see how easy it is in the Air Force to receive a bronze/silver star. They literally have a checklist for supervision to follow to receive one.
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it is not a time in service medal the marines some times over do there awards
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SSgt Dale Maddox
oh by the way I spent 15months in packistan with no marines or army any where close that peshawa where all the fuss is now right next to afganistan
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Yes it has. The criteria for awarding the MSM has been watered down to improve an individuals chance for retention and promotion.
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I was refused a LOM nomination from an O-8 because 18th Airborne Corps policy was, as a retiring O5, I had to have 28 years. My 24.5 was not enough. Why hang around if that O6 promo was not going to happen and my O8 didn't have the weight to get it done. Throw away the LOM and Distinguished Service awards.
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I received mine after 31 years and completing a 2 year project for a 3 star. Medals need to be protected and passed out when earned. MCPO Retired
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How far up the Chain does the MSM in either branch need to go. If it is a Unit or Wing type Commander it is likely it is watered down a bit. If the award was selected by a board that's away from the unit or wing commander then I venture to guess, at least on the paper version of the award it read very well, and possibly deservingly so.
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No opinion without seeing the citation. In the Corps, I saw some highly questionable NAM's given to officers while others got meritorious masts for actually doing the work and taking initiative beyond the requirements. This particular officer was a dweeb at best and a royal screw-up in the field. The NAM was given because his platoon did well on an inspection (peace time).
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