No retirement award?

Sometimes it happens. Perhaps lost or never submitted due to laziness. I have run across it a few times and fixed it when I found it. It would be a rare thing for a soldier to not justify retirement recognition. Just my opinion.

More then likely you have gotten everything you will from your old unit. Our local process is for the command to submit the award for retiring soldiers at least six months out from their end of service date. Doing all the paperwork that early allows for the award to be presented during the SM last BA. But, I have seen it take two years for an award to get processed. I would suggest you reach out to your old unit's 1SG or SGM and see what you come up with.

Very common. In active and reserve components a PCS or retirement award can get hung up at any level from recommender to approver.
All of these problems start from the recommender not submitting six months out for presentation prior to departure:
Your recommender might have never finished it or never submitted it.
It might have been returned for corrections and forgotten.
It might have been lost at BDE level pending review.
It might have been approved and never sent back.
It might have been approved and sent back to someone at the unit who got there after you left and they don't have your contact information.
Contact your last unit, AND contact the BDE S1 for that unit.

SSG Spear I am in the same boat with you. I retired officially on October 1st 2018, and although I did receive my retirement certificate, flag and Presidential Certificate of Appreciation, I have yet to receive a retirement award. Hell, if I hadn't written it and submitted it to my 1SG for review and forwarding I highly doubt the process would have ever started. I've followed up and received no word on mine, but if you are more than two years out from the service to be awarded you can attempt the Title 10 USC 1130 process. That enables you to submit the award request through your Member of Congress (typically your state's district House Representative). HRC has the information for initiating the process if you're interested.

SSG Robert Spear, if you contact a retirement counselor at the nearest active duty installation, they will obtain the appropriate retirement recognition, flag, certificate, certificate for spouse, etc.

Pertaining to the Retirement Award, sadly, my experience with the USAR is this is a common occurence. Professionalism, honor, duty, selfless service, integrity are but a few of the qualities you demonstrated throughout your 20 year career.

Many other posts have related you should contact your former units Unit Administrator. This would be a good start. Manage your career even in retirement. Don't shy away from reminding someone of your dedicated service to our Republic.

Good luck and thank you for your service,

Joe

Thank you all for the great responses. I feel awkward asking my old unit about it, but I think I'll reach out to them.

SSG Robert Spear follow up. Call and ask what the status is

I feel you. Did 20 years active and didn't get crap. I was suppose to have awards follow me to my last unit then receive them upon retiring.

SSG Spear, Sadly what you have experienced happens regularly throughout all three components. SGM Jeff Mccloud has already listed most of the main reasons. I am glad to see that you are going to reach out to your unit. A word of advice; as you compose the letter be mindful that it might have been an oversight, so be professional. Also, most retirement awards traditionally cover the last 10 years of your career. I would not expect your unit to know what you did over the last 10-years so I would attached a couple of NCOERs or a summary in bullet form of your accomplishments over the last 10 years.

I came back from Afghanistan, my unit was deploying, was put in another unit in the same building, I opted to retire after 23 years, all I got was my retirement orders on weekend, and the address at Knox to turn my gear in.