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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The Army and Air Force hand out ribbons like candy on Halloween. My brother and girlfriend were both AF, both E-5, and they both had enough chest candy to make a salty ol' Master Chief shake his head in disbelief. I am not saying that some werr not truly earned, but most awards have entered the realm of participation trophies. I have my Seabee Combat Warfare pin, which took a hell of a long time to earn, so they can keep all their "shinies".
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yes, when i got mine it was a big deal biw its like the AAM everyone seems to have one.
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Gunny, I agree with some of the comments, it's the people pushing these awards more so than the branch itself. Even within the Marine Corps we have our own flaws; a buddy of mine is currently being forced to write up an Navy Com for a retiring MSgt that most would argue deserves an LOA and a high five, yet my LCpl who busted his butt in his own initiative for 3 weeks in the field got his NAM I wrote up reduced down to Meritorious Mast. I don't want to start pointing fingers at another branch saying they're just handing them out (I don't know what they did to receive MSMs), especially if we have flaws within our own branch's award mentality (not system).
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GySgt John O'Donnell
We definitely have flaws, but I believe we error on the side of awards are based on level of responsibility. Meritorious service is more than a signal act, that what Commendation and Achievement Medals are for. So the said, the MSgt and the LCpl are both warranted equal consideration, one for time and one for effort.
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I don’t think time is service is the determinant of what is worthy of an award as much as the acts that garner the recommendation.
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SSgt Max Gonzales
Sorry, I still feel the same way. Myself, I served with all my heart,as a small part of the military sometimes I feel that those who answered the call,we should be able to get more if not better recognition.
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I see a lot of differences in medals awarded between all the branches! Can all branches just have ONE STANDARD INSTRUCTION for all awards! Why should some receive awards over others? What's the difference between an say, an E-6 in the Air Force and an E-6 in the Marine Corps? None, they get paid the same! They must be treated the same! Enough said!
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The lack of standardization across the services is very demotivational. Look at the requirements for a CAR compared to a CIB. Army handling out ARCOMs for end of tour awards and Navy/Marines hand out a handshake. It's really disparate.
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How about we stop tying awards to rank/TIS and instead tie it to actions. I you’re so petty to think troops in a junior rank don’t deserve an award that you don’t have because you’ve been in longer, please re-evaluate what it means to be a leader.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
I am am very confident in my leadership after 22 years of service, and have been awarded the MSM for superior meritorious achievement. Enough said!!!
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Sgt Paul Baughman
GySgt John O'Donnell
Then ask yourself why you’re so intent on saying that troops junior to you having the same award is cheapening said award.
You can have 22 years in and still need to re-evaluate some things.
Then ask yourself why you’re so intent on saying that troops junior to you having the same award is cheapening said award.
You can have 22 years in and still need to re-evaluate some things.
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