Medical retirement award, yes or no?

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 22:21:29 -0400

Of the Chapter 61 retirees, how many of you received a retirement award?

Also, if you received an award, did you have a retirement ceremony?

If you would assist me by including branch and Active duty or Reserve component I would appreciate it.

Thank you,

SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 28 at 2014 11:50 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 23:50:26 -0400

Active Duty Army 18.5 years. For 18 month I kept asking the B Co WTB at JBLM what the status was and was told every 2 months that it was on someones table and would take a while..........................At the 18-24 month mark that story changed to "they lost it".....they took an excellent award that culmination the last 10 years of my military service and rewrote a new one that was a couple sentences long and submitted it like an impact award. It felt like the final BOHICA. I was Aviation (last unit was E Co 4/6 ACS) but then I was transferred to B Co WTB JBLM (Fort Lewis, WA). They submitted what I wrote up for myself......they lost it.....they resubmitted garbage that took 5 minutes to prepare and submitted by some staff weenie. They mailed it to me 2+ years later. Are you preparing some research paper? Please keep me in the loop. Tango Mike. Mark

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2014 7:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 07:00:16 -0400

I was medically retired from the Active-Duty Army in May of 2004. I recieved a ARCOM but no ceremony. Of course at the time I was a instructor for 13A canidates and my 1SG was a Ranger School drop out. So we didn't see eye to eye. He tried to medical chapter me out, but I was offered a retirement instead. Oh, how he hated that. My Battalion Commander put me in for the ARCOM when I retired or if left to my 1SG or Battery Commander I would of just walked out the door.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2014 7:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 07:02:54 -0400

I was medically retired from the Army in may of 2004. I recieved a ARCOM but no ceremony. Of course at the time I was a instructor for 13A canidates and my 1SG was a Ranger School drop out. So we didn't see eye to eye. He tried to medical chapter me out, but I was offered a retirement instead. Oh, how he hated that. My Battalion Commander put me in for the ARCOM when I retired or if left to my 1SG or Battery Commander I would of just walked out the door.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 29 at 2014 9:17 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 09:17:07 -0400

I am not medically retired (was returned to duty), but have seen a few folks medically retired.

Of the 4 that I know personally, it is 50/50 with getting a "retirement" award. Now grant it, one of those was denied reenlistment and got put on med hold for a MEB which is why they didnt get a medal.

All AD Air Force.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Sep 29 at 2014 10:47 AM

SPC David Shaffer — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 10:47:07 -0400

I received no award or ceremony from the army. I'm medically retired rated 100% service connected.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Sep 8 at 2015 8:09 PM

CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 20:09:19 -0400

It immensely disappoints me to read the stories I’ve read here. In my opinion, most anyone who is medically retired should receive a retirement award commensurate with their service and pay grade. If you received a valor or service award connected to the medical retirement and a deployment, those awards should not be “counted” as a retirement award – two different animals. I also believe a retirement ceremony of some sort is appropriate. In some cases, I believe an award should be given to those who are medically chaptered out, provided it wasn’t for stupid reasons. Based on what I’ve read here, leadership has failed miserably.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 9 at 2015 11:25 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 11:25:50 -0400

They gave me a flag in the box and I was content with that.

Response by SFC Takumi Abe made Sep 23 at 2015 2:21 AM

SFC Takumi Abe — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 02:21:17 -0400

I medically retired in 2013 from WTB. served with no incidents throughout my entire career. Not a single award was given to me. Im almost at my 2 year mark post retirement and still trying to find that answer as well. Should we go congressional is always the thought running through my head although dont have the time and energy for this mess.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 25 at 2015 12:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 12:17:58 -0400

What is a chapter 61? It

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2016 1:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:24:18 -0400

I am currently Active Duty with 20 years and pending my medical retirement. I have held several leadership positions since 1999 and done outstanding for the Army. Served a 15 month tour in Iraq and ver received any UCMJ actions. I have been inquiring about a retirement award and doesn't look promising. It will be very disappointing if I leave the Army's after 20 years of personal and family sacrifice. I think Soldiers who are medically retiring be given the proper award and recognition, especially after 20 years. It's also sad that the Army can physically and mentally drive you in the ground and just simply send you out the door empty handed.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2017 12:08 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 May 2017 12:08:02 -0400

I am going through the MEB process now as a LTC with 23 years in service with 2 deployments to Iraq totaling 27 months down range. I've commanded 3 units but was told I was not getting a retirement award because I can't pass the APFT. Mind you I am being medically boarded for a lung condition that causes my lungs to spasm with exercise. I signed up on the burn pit registry although no one will say that is the cause. When I do exercise I end up in the ER for 8 hrs on oxygen. This just reinforces my frustration with the Army and why I am ready to just go.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 9:13 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 21:13:09 -0400

I'm a TSgt in the USAF and have a SSgt with 8 yrs TIS who is being medically retired. He was an good NCO but was unable to progress within the career field due to medical limitations. He still did a great job doing additional duties and kept up a positive attitude even while having medical issues. I'm putting him in for an AFCOM which will serve as his decoration for this 2 yrs TIS at this station as well as his retirement decoration. I was debating putting him in for an AFAM as well as an AFCOM, but I just don't think I have the bullets.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 9:26 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 May 2017 21:26:49 -0400

I have a SSgt who is being medically retired at 8 yrs and I will be putting him in for an AFCOM. He's been at our unit for 2 years and while doing a great job, he also has been faced with limitation due to medical issues that have prevented him from doing more. This will be his retirement/end of tour decoration. I was thinking of doing an end of tour AFAM and a retirement AFCOM, but just don't think I have the bullets to justify both. While not standard, he will get a retirement ceremony, with presentation of flag and accompanying certificates. This is at his request. He wanted to stay in, but it wasn't feasible.

Response by PV2 M B made Sep 6 at 2018 4:09 PM

PV2 M B — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 16:09:26 -0400

I was medically retired and received an award it was my 5th MSM. 2014 no ceremony it arrived in the mail. Also medical I was handed a flag and some certificate and told later i would get another certificate I never followed up on it.

WTB Ft Riley processed the award the SSG I was assigned was very proactive.

I was ARNG injured on tour 16 and a half years total service and 15 years active.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2018 11:30 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 11:30:19 -0500

not I of 27 years and two months

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2018 11:33 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 11:33:54 -0500

I retire May 21 2018 from fort lewis, Washington no hand shake from battalion or brigade, they didn't even know I had retire until my commander ask them about award.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2018 11:36 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 11:36:02 -0500

I received us flag from retirement ceremony and certification thinking me and my wife for our services to the nation

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Mar 27 at 2020 12:31 AM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:31:59 -0400

I medically retired after 24 years and received an MSM as a retirement award. I had a great retirement ceremony as well.

Response by PO1 Darren Martin made May 6 at 2021 4:17 PM

PO1 Darren Martin — Thu, 06 May 2021 16:17:09 -0400

I did not get anything, essentially went and checked out and said goodbye. I asked about a retirement award and I got told no. I was injured in Afghanistan in 2008 by an IED and when I returned back to my command and I knew I was going to get a MEB my command was not the best.