Is the awarding of the Meritorious Service Medal being watered down due to lack of standardization across the services?

In my 26 years of active duty I never received one. I guess it all depends on how the award was written up. I have noticed that there is a big difference in awards given for each service.

Servicemen that bitch about who has medals and who doesn't have a problem. The reason some people get them and others don't is a matter ignorance. You just can't look at a person and determine why he/she has a MSM. It takes a general officer to approve a medal recommendation. I got mine an an impact award that was mission related. I also got 2 higher awards for other missions. I was assigned to a Tier 1 unit. People that want lots of ribons should have joined the Air Force. Life is not fair and some of the times that applies to medals. All depends on where you serve, what you did and who commands you.

I have been retired for 24 years but I know from personal experience that, even though it’s not specifically documented, there was an unwritten rule that the MSM was for field grade officers and Senior NCO’s. I had an E-6 retiring at a command level assignment and submitted the citation for an MSM. In no certain terms, I was called into the commander’s office and told that the proper retirement award was the commendation medal. It doesn’t surprise me that the requirements are being watered down. I see constantly where DFC’s seem to be handed out like hot cakes.

My unit tried to fuck me. They wanted to give me the lowest award possible. U dont even get a medal, just a certificate for my deployment. Everyone else e4 and below were getting arcoms. I did everything that the others did. They tried to give me a lower award only cuz they were in iraq 3 months longer than i was. It was bullshit. And after i plead my case to my platoon sergeant he agreed and he saw to it that i got an arcom.

Point is awards are based on your actions your valour and courage, bravery. Not Time in Service and not your rank. So buy what yer saying we should strip all dead or alive medal of honor recipients because of thier time in service wasnt to your liking or thier rank. And lastly it you never said if u actually served. If you didnt then i would shut my mouth and move along as its none of your business.

Took me 26 years and a retirement as a 1SG ti get one

Awards should be given based on merit.. not rank or time in service

Perhaps it was awarded due to performance while deployed.

When I was in the Navy Achievement Medal (NAM) became known as the Normal Achievement Medal. Some people received the award for merely doing their job in a mediocre fashion while other did earn it. It depended on who you knew as to whether or not you got the mexal.

This decoration was established by Executive Order 11448 on Jan. 16, 1969. This award was established as the counterpart of the Bronze Star Medal for the recognition of meritorious noncombatant service.

Source: afpc.af.mil

At the end of my tour the Army CG made it known that he would only consider E-7s and above for MSMs. All 5 guys on my team were awarded - one O-5, two O-4s, one O-3 (me), and one E-7.