Should a Company Commander recommending an award sign the award twice?

2015-05-15T05:41:15-04:00

This is for all the S1 clerks and 42A's out there. When it comes to awards, they have to go through "intermediate authorities", or middlemen, depending on the type of award. Let's say a Company Commander recommends an AAM. They sign as the recommender. Should they also have to sign as their own intermediate authority, thus signing the award twice?

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 15 at 2015 5:48 AM

2015-05-15T05:48:45-04:00

Check the regulations
read below

Eligibility for awards authorized by AR 672–20, ..... official must be at a level higher than the individual who recommended the award

In my research I do not believe it is authorized.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 6:45 AM

2015-05-15T06:45:47-04:00

In my previous life as a 42A I was an awards clerk and yes, the CO would sign twice in that case, since you had to put the to part from that commander to the next higher authority.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 15 at 2015 7:30 AM

2015-05-15T07:30:51-04:00

I know on the AF side I have had my commander sign stuff twice all the time. Once as the rater or additional rater and then again as the commander.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 10:34 AM

2015-05-15T10:34:09-04:00

In my experience where a Company Commander would sign in blocks 23.h and 24.h is when the Company Cdr assumes command of the Bn for example by way of assumption of command memo. Our BN had no XO duty position so it fell to the next senior Cdr at company level.

Response by SGT Justin Lamb made May 15 at 2015 11:19 AM

2015-05-15T11:19:27-04:00

SSG,

600-8-22 section 3-4 states "It is the responsibility of any individual having personal knowledge of an act, achievement, or service believed to warrant the award of a decoration, to submit a formal recommendation into military command channels for consideration."

In the case of an AAM it will work since the Company Commander is the recommender and has the ability to sign in the intermediate authority and the BN Commander is the approving authority. Yes the Company Commander will sign in both spots but his signatures alone will not approve the award. The award should still hit the S1 for tracking and proof reading and all that fun stuff. So in processing terms at least it should be quicker to pass through the channels for the Soldier to be awarded for his/her actions.

Response by MSG Brian Berger made Jun 13 at 2015 8:27 AM

2015-06-13T08:27:18-04:00

The BC is the approval for this award. Since the Company Commander recommended it, in reality intermediate authority is not needed.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 11:16 AM

2015-08-18T11:16:27-04:00

If the commander is the recommended it is unnecessary for them to sign twice. The BC should be the intermediate authority

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 8:43 PM

2015-08-18T20:43:55-04:00

I've come across this situation a couple of times. I don't have the CO sign it twice, because it's not like they are going to downgrade or not approve it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2017 5:17 PM

2017-11-19T17:17:28-05:00

This question was just raised after creating an AAM and the Company Commander was also the recommender but it is not stated in the regulation so it was determined not to be redundant and have the Commander sign twice.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2017 2:22 AM

2017-12-12T02:22:13-05:00

Yes if they are recommending the Soldier

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2018 10:03 AM

2018-01-29T10:03:57-05:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member I never signed it twice. If I was recommending the award I signed the front had my administrator sign the block on the back saying the Soldier was not flagged and the next signature was for the Battalion Commander, which for an AAM was approver.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2018 7:34 PM

2018-02-04T19:34:15-05:00

I separate the fact that it is the Commander who is recommending the award and focus on the channels needed to get an award approved to realize yes they should have to sign twice. At least that's how I think about it.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 4 at 2018 7:44 PM

2018-02-04T19:44:17-05:00

Honestly I would just have my 1SG sign off as the recommender to avoid the headache...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 5:08 PM

2020-07-29T17:08:07-04:00

YES. AR 600-8-22 APR2019 p63,(m)3-21 states they must "complete, sign and date the recommender data in Part II as well as block 23." They also could be the signature in block 22a as well, the certifier.