Should the DoD redesign its medals and ribbons policy and precedence to give more importance to valor than "good work"?

Change awards process, to ensure correct medal is given, and folks deserving of higher awards get them in timely fashion. Giving someone a Medal of Honor decades after dying while serving, or decades later after seperation from service in disgraceful. It shows a clear lack of understanding by those in chain of command. It also shows in many cases,a clear bias exists,or existed when time for recommendation came.

I have felt like this for a long time. The way some of these have gone out it devalues the heroism that was put out of those who earned it by valor. A bronze star or even a silver star because of the work when some of our countries hero’s had done something that could had given them a MOH but were taken down to a Silver or bronze star is pitiful and a slap in the face to them.

Even when I was in, the saying was "ribbons are there to tell a military man where you were and what you did, and impress civilians." But I always thought it could get to the point of being ridiculous very quickly. And I know some Brits who think we are a joke with all our ribbons, badges, etc. I think the awards for achievements would better be handled as a document given the person and an entry in his service record. Also, medals for participation in an operation should have participation requirements. My nephew is in the Coast Guard (and I have nothing but respect for them and the jobs they do); but he was on board ship, working in the galley and they interdicted another vessel. He had no idea the action had occurred until later, but he was awarded a medal for the ships action. If it was that tame, why a medal in the first place? That's like a supply clerk in Okinawa or Japan during Nam getting the VSM because his unit was there, but he never set foot in country. I think we could stand to revamp the whole system. As to giving priority to awards for valor, those already have a higher place on the rack. Just get rid of all the clutter that makes them look ambiguous.

Personally, I love all racks.

Either way they should mandate that awards denied based on rank as a legitimate* reportable offense. One too many of my/others soldiers were denied ARCOMs because they weren't at least an E-6. Not because their action wasn't in line with the requisite for the award but just because they didn't have the rank..... that's disgusting. FYSA: The unit in question has not nor will it ever be listed as a unit I was a part of (before someone clicks on my page).