Pentagon Angered At Speed Of French Military Awards System, are they threatened by their efficiency?

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:06:15 -0400

http://www.duffelblog.com/2015/08/pentagon-french-train-awards/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Duffel%20Blog&utm_content=Pentagon%20Angered%20At%20Speed%20Of%20French%20Military%20Awards%20System

I'm actually not sure this is Satire.

Pentagon Angered At Speed Of French Military Awards System

WASHINGTON,D.C. — American military officials are reportedly shocked at the speed at which France was able to approve of their nation’s highest award which was presented to American Airman Spencer Stone, Spc.Alek Skarlatos, and some random civilians who participated in the righteous beating of a terrorist last week in Paris. “This was easy when we …

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Aug 27 at 2015 4:08 PM

SGT Christopher Churilla — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:08:07 -0400

If it's on Duffel Blog, it is.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 27 at 2015 4:09 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:09:33 -0400

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS this is ridiculous, why would the Pentagon be angered . Its the right thing to do in a timely manner..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 4:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:15:13 -0400

Loved this article. Pretty humorous.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 27 at 2015 4:22 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:22:03 -0400

I love this one..... Arbitrarily downgraded awards due to rank have been a thorn in my side for years... That so many people have experienced it enough for a Duffelblog round to be fired made me feel better about being a not so proud member of the "many downgraded awards" club...

Response by SN Greg Wright made Aug 27 at 2015 4:28 PM

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:28:03 -0400

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Well it's Duffle blog, so...

But if they're not ashamed of how long it takes us, they should be.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 4:36 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:36:59 -0400

Awards for fighting a terrorist delayed due to not completing online AT Level one training...
Is entirely too close to the truth.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Aug 27 at 2015 4:44 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:44:44 -0400

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS satire is like fiction. There is some element of truth in what is said. In this case, I wonder how many are playing up their being offended so that it covers the level of offense they actually feel. As many jokes as I make about the French, I have to say that their handling of the situation was pretty awesome. See heroics, understand scope of heroics, decorate the heroes. They did all of that, and had it done in time for lunch. The US military was talking about awards, the French was presenting awards. makes me wonder if they move as quickly when it is a French soldier receiving a military honor.

Response by SPC Michelle Nelson - Thompson made Aug 27 at 2015 5:11 PM

SPC Michelle Nelson - Thompson — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:11:49 -0400

It could be considered satire just for the plain fact it's France. It definitely hits close to home on the foot dragging of awards though.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Aug 27 at 2015 5:12 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:12:48 -0400

its duffleblog so its satire.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Aug 27 at 2015 5:17 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:17:28 -0400

I knew this was going to happen. The Guys deserve better that an achievement medal! I knew that their was going to be grief over this and that someone was going to get BUTT HURT over a lower enlisted having a higher award than them! So basically like I said on another thread here. A COA with a V device. Oh wait it isn't terror related so no V device. Here is your COA! WOW

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 27 at 2015 5:20 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:20:37 -0400

Sounds more like jealousy that two Enlisted Men kicked ASS, simply by making a decision based on mutual cooperation and taking educated chances based on team work.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Aug 27 at 2015 5:21 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:21:47 -0400

Ohhh... Can't tell you the level of frustration when the S-1 shop would return my write-ups with a yellow sticky note: "Please re-submit. Recommended for down-/up-grade to (fill in the blank)." Duffleblog just validated my angst.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 27 at 2015 6:22 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:22:28 -0400

If it were only true and not the duffle blog. I can of laughed when the CAB came out and the criteria was higher then the MOH.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Aug 27 at 2015 6:30 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:30:11 -0400

We know this for sure, the French do at least two things pretty quickly with little hesitation, giving out awards and surrendering.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 6:43 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:43:03 -0400

As they say, behind every good joke is a kernel of truth, and that is exactly the case here, IMHO. When I first read your title, Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, I thought it was a true story. It is true, really. We have to have our awards in months ahead of time, and the French bested us on this one ... in a big way.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 6:58 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:58:54 -0400

Haha I find this kind of funny. To a certain extent a higher level award should have more scrutiny, but at the same time if an action is high enough for it to be merited it also should be pretty straight forward. We have way too much red tape.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 7:12 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 19:12:35 -0400

This is awesome. What a joke medals have become. Inflated in some units and stingy with them in other units. I saw a bronze star downgraded to a joint comm. The bronze star was for action after an enemy attack.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 7:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 19:31:45 -0400

We have a president who likes to monopolize attention and never say that something is terrorism and more importantly whatever you hear is a sanitized version of what the Sec'ys of each branch thinks. Those civilians were selected to advance social agendas. Note that when Carter came on board that his first briefing was not about stopping ISIS but the number of transvestites or something. Same with the Secretary of the Air Force. They go after our Missilers and such while our former secretary was involved in treason and espionage.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Aug 27 at 2015 7:44 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 19:44:12 -0400

While this is satire and most definitely funny, there is another side to the story. Sort of.
Last year the Finance Officer in my American Legion post received the same award from France. For 140 days of continuous combat in France. in 1945, 70 years ago.....France is getting better.....

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 27 at 2015 10:03 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 22:03:09 -0400

LOL!

Response by Cpl Mark McMiller made Aug 28 at 2015 3:09 AM

Cpl Mark McMiller — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:09:32 -0400

Umm, this is satire. It's made up.

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 28 at 2015 10:31 AM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 10:31:35 -0400

These guys are Jr enlisted. They should not qualify for anything over an ARCOM or whatever bullshit medal that AF calls it. I mean it is not like they are an E-7 running a computer in the middle of BIOP or an O-4 making sure the Power Point is up to date at Camp Phoenix. All these guys did was take down a armed terrorist with their bare hands.

Since I just got voted down. I am not sure that people got that this was pure sarcasm. The rank = what medal you deserve is total bullshit. There are plenty of Jr enlisted that deserved a BSM while in a combat role that did not get them because some unwritten rule that only E-7 or above deserve them.

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Sep 3 at 2015 9:49 PM

MAJ David Wallace — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 21:49:44 -0400

It is pretty pathetic that Soldiers doing a great job are not recognized for their achievement and service based on rank. When a Soldier does work above and beyond that of their peers, they should be recognized for their service and achievement.