Reserve Components Achievement Medal

2014-03-22T11:23:32-04:00

Hello all,<div>I had some questions regarding the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal.  I'm promotable in June and I'm looking for points anywhere I can get them.  The way I understand the ARCAM is it is awarded upon completion of 3 years of service with no disciplinary action being taken.  Is that 3 years of service or 3 years with my current unit?  I enlisted in November of 2010 but won't have served 3 years with my unit until January.  Also, if I meet the eligibility requirements, is it still up to the commander's discretion to award it?  Thanks for your help.</div>

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Mar 22 at 2014 11:28 AM

2014-03-22T11:28:57-04:00

1.  Between 3 March 1972 and 28 March 1995, the ARCAM was authorized on completion of 4 years of service with a Reserve Component unit.  A qualifying year of service is one in which a Reserve Soldier earns a minimum of 50 retirement points during his/her retirement year.  Qualifying service for computation purposes is based only by retirement ending year dates.
2.  Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for award of the ARCAM was reduced from 4 years to 3 years.  That is, Soldiers completing 3 years of qualified service on or after 28 March 1995 are eligible for ARCAM consideration.  This change is not retroactive
 
Your profile on HRC or your 2-1 will give you your eligibility date

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 9 at 2014 3:05 AM

2014-08-09T03:05:13-04:00

When I was at Fort Wainwright, the Reservists came for 2 weeks and all got RC Achievement Medals for just answering phones. Then, they got credit for the reserve overseas medal. I swear, in 2 months they would have all been maxed out.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2014 10:03 AM

2014-09-06T10:03:08-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, the ARCAM for your service would be awarded at the three-year anniversary (minus one day) as CSM Michael Poll points out. Your unit of assignment does not matter, so long as you maintain continuous service as a TPU/M-DAY (no IRR).
It is at the commander's discretion to award it, but nearly all do so routinely unless you are a disciplinary problem.
I suggest you talk to your Unit Administrator and get it squared away. Most UAs need prompting to complete this action.
Follow the link below to find out more detail, or go to AR 600-8-22 para 4-2.
Good luck, SPC.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Army%20Reserve%20Component%20Achievement%20Medal%20ARCAM

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2014 2:04 AM

2014-09-12T02:04:45-04:00

I've been in the National Guard for 6 years and I've never seen this awarded. Is this just for Army Reserve?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2014 5:47 AM

2014-09-12T05:47:58-04:00

I believe the time starts as soon as your contract started i received mine as soon as i hit 3 years in the NG.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 12 at 2014 12:46 PM

2014-09-12T12:46:59-04:00

You must be recommended by your unit commander...but this should be automatic. Just make sure your UA is doing his/her job and submitted the paperwork.

Response by SSG Raymond Tobin made Jan 6 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-01-06T13:50:09-05:00

SPC Miller,

It is awarded for 3 years of service, non-unit specific. use AR 600-8-22 for further info.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 11:52 PM

2015-02-02T23:52:32-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member it is always up to the Commander. It is 3 years of being in the Reserves. It is broken up if you deployed during that period and was given the Good Conduct Medal and is restarted. Same if you have a break in service.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2015 6:56 AM

2015-02-06T06:56:40-05:00

SPC Jason Miller,

Please, whatever you do, don't just put the medal or the number of attachments you believe you should have based on your service time onto your uniform. You must have a "Memorandum of Record" stating the award of the medal is authorized and how many awards of the medal you have along with the time frame for the most recent award of that ARCAM.

Example, look at my picture. I have 1 ARCAM in my DA Photo. Should I have more? Yes, after 26 years of total service (3 active and 2-1/2 activated), I should have 6 ARCAM's, but I am wearing only one. The reason why is that I have not received the Memorandum of Record from my commander for the others.

It is always up to your Commander to award the ARCAM. Your best bet is to get with your S1 and go through your service file and through iPERMS to make sure you have what you are supposed to have for your photo (if you are going to have one taken for the E5 board). Make sure your 2-1 is accurate and complete, and the rest of your packet supports your 2-1 (including copies of all awards, education, LOR's and each Memorandum of Record) and is laid out exactly how the Board Memo states it should be laid out.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2015 10:48 AM

2015-06-28T10:48:42-04:00

I've been awarded one of these myself but never pinned. We had an ASU inspection and I was given a list of my authorized awards for wear and had no idea what it was or what I got it for.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2016 12:34 AM

2016-06-12T00:34:14-04:00

While at drill I was updating my file and realized that I'm eligible for my second ARCAM. I talked to my PSG and he told me that the time requirement for the ARCAM doesn't stop for deployments that you get the AGCM. I can't find anything to prove that. The only thing I found was that my time stops for activation and starts again when I come off orders

Response by SFC Jon Vandeyacht made Jul 7 at 2017 8:59 PM

2017-07-07T20:59:18-04:00

The commander has to sign the orders. So......

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2017 10:47 AM

2017-11-30T10:47:29-05:00

Looking for confirmation to my belief regarding the ARCAM vs. AGCM. If a Soldier receives the AGCM from his time served in the Active Army and subsequently switches over to the National Guard, each deployment they go on there after will not entitle him to the AGCM as they've already been awarded one. With that being said does the Title 10 deployment time exclude them from continuing to receive valid time towards the ARCAM? My interpretation is the Soldier will continue to receive time towards the ARCAM because they aren't eligible for the AGCM having already received one.

AR 600-8-22
Par 4-2. a. Active component enlisted Soldiers. Enlisted AGR personnel serving on extended periods of active duty (other than for training) 10 USC and 32 USC, are eligible for award of the AGCM for qualifying service beginning on or after 1 September 1982, provided no period of the service has been duplicated by the same period of service for which the Soldier has been awarded the ARCAM. The AGCM qualification period may commence anytime during the 3 years immediately preceding the 1 September 1982 effective date provided no portion of service for the AGCM is included in a period of service for which the ARCAM was awarded.

Par 4-18 (3) Enlisted Soldiers (except AGR) whose periods of active duty do not meet the criteria outlined in paragraphs 4–2, 4–5, and 4–6 (AGCM), will continue to receive credit of qualified time toward the award of the ARCAM.

Appreciate anyone's thoughts/advice on this matter.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 20 at 2018 6:52 AM

2018-03-20T06:52:15-04:00

That's years of service.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 6:46 AM

2018-12-27T06:46:09-05:00

First, I can tell you are squared away by your name.

Second, all reserve time counts unless there is something in your records to show you dont have it.

As a commander in the 101st I had admin look at the file of everyone who had been a reservist and I got to give out several ARCAMs because there were no derogatory documents in their file.

Good luck

Response by LTC Gene Moser made Apr 9 at 2019 11:17 PM

2019-04-09T23:17:45-04:00

You need to have the qualifying years of service. I assume your service is post 1995, so you need three years of service. In my own service I went from NG to NG on AD for school (OAC) to NG to AGR to USAR earning the ARCAM with four OLC. In that period I had a break in service twice which caused the time to start over. It does not have to be in the same unit - just make sure your good time is noted by your receiving unit.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2019 9:42 AM

2019-05-05T09:42:26-04:00

I've not seen the ARCAM awarded on a regular basis in a Reserve or National Guard unit. Usually I've just seen them done following a deployment on all DD214s. If a Soldier is on-top of things, they might request the ARCAM annually if they do they Personnel Records Review.

But the Company level Commander must still approve/sign off on the ARCAM award/MFR for it to be processed. It is similar to the Army Good Conduct Medal, but on the Reserve side- and may be awarded to Officers as well as Enlisted Soldiers.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Aug 9 at 2019 12:43 PM

2019-08-09T12:43:23-04:00

My NG unit used to award them in December at the Christmas party. Families were there so it was a nice photo op. I had no idea the award existed or that I had “earned” it. They called my name handed me the ribbon and I went back to my seat. I later looked it up and figured out what it was for...

Response by SSG Kenneth Ponder made Mar 7 at 2020 3:15 PM

2020-03-07T15:15:02-05:00

How about Bull Shit Medal w/ barb wire cluster!

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Oct 24 at 2020 9:12 PM

2020-10-24T21:12:48-04:00

Three years of service