PCS, Impact, Deployment, and other awards: Should they be determined by rank?
SGT,
I think this is something that any SM that's served more than a day in the Army has experienced. Even though this reason is not stated for why an award is down graded we all know it is. Even when well deserved, it'll still get down graded because of rank.
My answer is NO!
This obviously is not a written rule, even the DoD isn't that stupid, however every Officer knows that even a false E/O charge can ruin his/her career. It's just makes life easier to divvy out awards across the demographic board. Everyone in the Military is supposed to be equal therefore why is anyone tracking demographics in the first place? If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are very good that it is a duck
I want to be perfectly clear that I do not support unjust discrimination based upon race or gender. If a Soldier demonstrates exemplary conduct He/She deserves to be rewarded. The "Good Ol' Boy" syndrome is in the past. We are not living in 1948 when the Army first introduced integration, nor is it the 1960's when minorities had to fight for their Civil Rights. A soldier should be judged solely upon his/her merit irrespective of their race or sex, Affirmative Action is telling NCO's and Commanders that they had better incorporate it. That said, when Race or Gender is put into consideration when awards and promotions are issued, is that not another form of discrimination?
Today's military leadership is fully committed to equal opportunity.
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This commitment has produced considerable progress, although more
remains to be done, particularly for women. Historically, ...
It should not be based on rank at all. Most of us have first hand experience of this time and time again. I hope this will change in the future and the ones who deserve the higher award gets it and for the ones who just doing the minimum to get by should get what they deserve that AAm or COA that the PV2s, SPCs and SGTs are getting after doing all the hard work and going above their duties and doing extra.
The awards system is broken, no doubt. But as mentioned already, those who benefit from it's current usage are the same ones who have the power to change it, and they likely won't. Like many things, senior leadership will recognize a problem or even pat a junior leader on the back for bringing a problem to light, and then do nothing about it as they don't want to jeopardize their own good standing. Things will not change until the people who despise change are retired or separated.
I think this is a good thread for those we are trying to get to join can see the substance of some things we discuss between us as current and former military, soft spoken as well as informational and mentoring types of postings.
We also have fun at times while remaining professional.