Should I follow up on an ARCOM that was submitted for me months ago or just give up on it?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 19:43:02 -0500

So here is the situation. I was put in for an ARCOM back before I became a Warrant. I heard nothing for months and followed up in February 2019 with the Unit Admin and was told "I will re-submit it today, we had to make some corrections". I have since followed up with him again in July and in October and received no response. Should I give up or should I look for the Battalion S1 and shoot him an email? I don't wanna be that guy but at least respond back to me.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 5 at 2020 7:51 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 19:51:26 -0500

I recommend reaching out to the S-1 to see if he has processed it through his office (and if so, get an update on its status). You've already given the unit plenty of time to get it out of their hands. If the S-1 hasn't received it, I'd contact your old unit Commander to see if it's even on his/her radar screen as not having been processed. Don't give up yet.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2020 7:52 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 19:52:26 -0500

You need to follow up, especially if you know for sure it was submitted and have a paper trail. Most units are using GEARS now, so ask your OPS and S1 how they submitted it. If it was in GEARS, S1 can go back to check on the status and the last action taken. If all fails, simply ask your unit to resubmit it, they may have to adjust the dates on it and resign it. Usually if it makes it to the 06’s desk, it will get signed. Good luck!

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2020 7:59 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 19:59:56 -0500

So no shit, left my last unit July 2018 and finally received my pcs award June 2019.

Put in for an ARCOM, but was only with the unit for 6 months and received an impact aam a month prior, so the group commander down graded it.

So I get it was "a hassle" but it got lost the 1st time, the knees of down grading took 4 months to reach back to to BN and more.

All that being said, absolutely reach out ha. I was lucky and had a good relationship with my prior OIC and 1SG so I just kept bugging them and they kept questioning it til I finally received it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2020 8:04 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 20:04:26 -0500

Follow up, get with the S1.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2020 9:10 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 21:10:51 -0500

I'd follow up, I'm still waiting on 4 AAMs for my guys from a year ago. I still bug my S1 everytime I see her.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2020 10:22 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:22:13 -0500

When it comes to bureaucracy the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Grats on Warrant.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jan 5 at 2020 11:01 PM

SSG Robert Webster — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 23:01:38 -0500

Follow up.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jan 5 at 2020 11:36 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 23:36:18 -0500

I was a battalion S-1 once. Sometimes things get stuck in the wrong box. Sometimes the box is not in your battalion. Go and ask the S-1 what the status of your ARCOM recommendation is.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jan 6 at 2020 1:01 AM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 01:01:12 -0500

What does it matter to you and can it impact your career? I absolutely hate PCS awards and awards based on rank and position; probably one of the only awards I am proud of is my MOSVM because I ran over 400 calls as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic. As a private pilot (fixed) and a critical care nurse, I know our peers look more on us in how we can do our jobs than what is on our uniforms. I would not give up on it however as a new pilot, you probably have a to do list of things you need to do to be that pilot you want to be. I have a friend that started on Kiowas, transitioned to Blackhawks, is a skydiving instructor, and flies fixed wing for fun. Where is your time best spent is probably the best way to answer your question.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2020 2:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 02:45:58 -0500

Definetly follow up on it. If S1 starts to give you grief about it just show up there everyday like I did. S1 will hate you but they will get sick of you and make sure it gets pushed through. Kinda messed up but if it works it works

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2020 8:04 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 08:04:51 -0500

Stay on it. I have four awards that I was submitted for over the years but they disappeared into the great green abyss. When I was a young man, I didn't care. Now getting close to retirement, I wish I had pursued it better.

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Jan 6 at 2020 8:07 AM

SGT Robert Wager — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 08:07:10 -0500

Talk to the Adjutant/S1 directly. Don’t bother with the PAC office. Putting a little more pressure through the officer side of the house may produce a better result than the awards clerk shuffling around his desk looking for it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2020 11:47 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 11:47:43 -0500

I would find someone with expertise at your current duty station and listen, but not necessarily do, what they recommend. I would never give up. The ARCOM is a high award for E-6 and below. Even as a 1/LT & CPT, I was always pleased when awarded one.
Did they complete the paperwork once? Were you advised of your award verbally or in writing. If they get pissy acting, that's the time for the IG. I guarantee that the IG will get them straight especially since they would appear to be shirking their duty. Do everything possible before involving the IG, but if you have run into a wall of inaction don't hesitate. DO NOT THREATEN TO GO TO THE IG !!! Never telegraph your punches. The IG's arrival on scene (they may just call) will be a much greater shock if they think you gave up.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 ... 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”
- The Gospel According to St. Luke Chapter 18 : 2 (ESVUK)

NEVER give up.

Response by 1LT Vance Titus made Jan 6 at 2020 3:21 PM

1LT Vance Titus — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:21:42 -0500

Good luck, Mr. Serendensky. I was awarded an ARCOM-V by my Brigade Commander in Vietnam in the field and told by him that he had put me in for a BS-V. I separated two months later without receiving the BS-V. I tried to follow-up a couple of times but got no where. Fifty years later and most of the commanders above me at the time being deceased there is little chance. I didn't make the Army my career. The medal per se didn't mean a lot to me as an individual but it means a lot to me as the unit commander and the recognition that it extended to the unit and the men who faced a very bloody engagement with a company sized unit of NVA regulars.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 6 at 2020 3:54 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:54:33 -0500

Follow up on it. I had to dog my last unit for my retirement award. A lot of false promises until I got a hold of a contact I had of an Admin Warrant who got it kick started. Beat that dog till it hunts ( I heard that in the South once by an old CSM).

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2020 7:55 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:55:30 -0500

You have a dot now.

No awards can outshine that.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2020 9:04 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:04:57 -0500

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member I am sorry that you are in this situation. I have had issues with different level S1 from company all the way up. I recommend going to the BN S1 to see if it was even submitted. If so what that status is, if not have them contact the unit to follow-up for you. The sad thing is unless you are in the face of some people they will not remember or process anything for someone not in the unit anymore. Also, your award may actually be sitting in the office collecting dust like my first PCS award did until I just stopped by to say hi to the staff as I was in the area and they said "Hey grab your award up there on the shelf."

Response by SFC Terry Wilcox made Jan 6 at 2020 9:16 PM

SFC Terry Wilcox — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:16:38 -0500

If you don't keep on them, forget the ARCOM. Holidays are over for a while, send an email, be congenial, you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar. Ask the S1 if they could explain the problem with the wording - there might be something you could assist with.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2020 12:26 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:26:55 -0500

WO1 Serendensky,
Great question as this discussion can assist several others who are and will face this problem. Like the others have mentioned I would follow up. I was in a similar situation a few years ago and reached out to my previous 1SG bi-weekly until it was fixed and scanned over to me. From the sound of it, you most likely earned that award. Additionally, it is important that Soldiers hold those involved in the process accountable. If not it can create habits of similar effects within the organization. Good luck!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2020 1:00 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 01:00:31 -0500

If at all possible, I’d suggest showing up to your old battalion in person. If the 638 was submitted, you deserve a formal response.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Jan 7 at 2020 5:39 PM

SPC Stewart Smith — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:39:10 -0500

Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
You may be the only person that knows you haven't received an ARCOM that was submitted for you.