8
8
0
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>
Posted in these groups: 
Army National Guard
Awards
Army National Guard Awards
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 20
2
2
0
2
2
0
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
(2)
(0)
2LT (Join to see)
The AGCM is the Active Duty 3 year service award, just as the ARCAM is the Reserve 3 year service award. If you are eligible for the AGCM that time cannot be counted towards the ARCAM.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
(2)
(0)
2LT (Join to see)
Many units fail to keep up with these awards and though it's not the right answer, it often falls on the Soldier to highlight when it's time.
Check your DA 5016, if you have three consecutive goods years, you qualify.
Check your DA 5016, if you have three consecutive goods years, you qualify.
(1)
(0)
SPC(P) (Join to see)
2LT (Join to see) - I work full time at a CSMS and occasionally I see things pop up in my IPERMS and my ERB and that's where I ask about it. As far as the ARCAM goes though I was told initially to just put it on, and the time came up for round two and I just went to supply and got an oak leaf cluster. Round three is coming up so I'll more than likely end up doing the same thing again.
(0)
(0)
2LT (Join to see)
Rgr, I've only been in one company that held a formation to present the ARCAM/AFRAM.
For the unit I UA for, I provide the memos of those qualified that month. I'm not sure if they do the presentation or not but the Soldier definitely gets handed their memo.
For the unit I UA for, I provide the memos of those qualified that month. I'm not sure if they do the presentation or not but the Soldier definitely gets handed their memo.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
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.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
I believe the time starts as soon as your contract started i received mine as soon as i hit 3 years in the NG.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I've been in the National Guard for 6 years and I've never seen this awarded. Is this just for Army Reserve?
(2)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
No its not I am NG and i have one there is also one for 4 years i believe and one for 5 years. I believe i they are considered state ribbons and deploying interrupts the time needed i also believe and time starts back after you are back. Check with your Admin NCO he should know more about it
(2)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Thanks for your input I am trying to find where it says every three years of service? From what I read it just says eligible after 3 years and subsequent awards you wear and oak leaf over the ribbon. If you can spell this out that would be greatly appreciated.
(1)
(0)
COL Vincent Stoneking
It requires that a memo be typed, your CDR sign it, and upload to IPERMS to make it all legal.
(1)
(0)
CW2 (Join to see)
Not to worry, I think a lot of units miss this (though they shouldn't). I was at 10 years TIS, 3 deployments done, before I found out I was supposed to get this... I was cleaning up my ERB/2-1 when I was getting ready to apply for WO and found a ton of awards I was missing! Note to all, keep up with your records at least once a year, don't let those missed awards wait longer than they need to.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
SGT (Join to see), 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
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
(2)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Thanks for your input I am trying to find where it says every three years of service? From what I read it just says eligible after 3 years and subsequent awards you wear and oak leaf over the ribbon. If you can spell this out that would be greatly appreciated.
Edit
Edit
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
(2)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
The RC Achievement Medal is the equivalent of the GCM, but for the Reserve and National Guard. It cannot be used as the same type of award as an AAM, ARCOM or higher level awards. What you saw was the awarding of the RC equivalent of the GCM.
Ft. Wainwright, and all tours in Alaska, are no longer authorized the Reserve Component Overseas Training Medal as of , as Alaska a part of the North American Continent. It used to be considered an Overseas Tour, but it is not any longer.
However, if a member of the Reserve or National Guard did their two weeks of training in, say, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawai'i or any of the U.S. Territories, or in any other country, they would be authorized that award.
Ft. Wainwright, and all tours in Alaska, are no longer authorized the Reserve Component Overseas Training Medal as of , as Alaska a part of the North American Continent. It used to be considered an Overseas Tour, but it is not any longer.
However, if a member of the Reserve or National Guard did their two weeks of training in, say, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawai'i or any of the U.S. Territories, or in any other country, they would be authorized that award.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google