Should the military award system be standardized at the Department of Defense level rather that at the individual service branch level?

I think they should Keep it centralized its all to much to just do Job and Get a Award like Oh you
washed the 2/1/2 ton truck here a Award but it's to easy theses day.
SSG MARK FRANZEN

I have 4 from the Air Force and 6 from the Army. I'm proud of my time in both branches even though the Army is my home now. My PMS in ROTC loves for the prior enlisted (just 3 of us) to wear their ribbons and combat patches. If you've earned it, wear it, and be proud.

That being said, all the uniform stuff can get expensive, and I'm a poor grad student so the less I have to buy, the better. :)

I believe the military has too many awards and if we continue to flood the awards system with new and meaningless ribbons then they start to lose their importance. We should reset to the World War II award system that consisted of mostly campaign and valor awards. I don't need a ribbon for just being in the Army, going to an NCO school, or simply just not screwing up at my job and getting an end of tour award.

NO

What bothers me is the creation of a dubplicate award for service, not heroism. I will take my Meritorious Service Medal awards as an example. I have two of them. Both certificates say that the "United States of America" was awarded to me by the "President of the United States." But then there is the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. So who awards that and by whom? The same is true for the Legion of Merit and DSM. Why? Well, maybe when each service awarded its Achievement Medal or Commendation Medal, some member of a joint command was due an atta boy but the JC commander was a different service. So the Joint Service Commendation Medal. But both the MSM and the LoM are awarded to all services. That said, who has seen a Joint Service Medal of Honor??

John,
It will definitely save money on the contract perspective. For us Marines, "Great Job!" would be enough then press on the plan of the day.

Rob

Reading each other’s ribbons is somewhat interesting and makes for small talk over a beer, but for those of us who served in two different branches. I never checked to see if I picked up any awards during my 2 year stint in the Navy Reserve.

I don't think so. Every branch has its own heritage, history and mission. To standardize at that high a level would effectively erase over 200 years of tradition

No! Army (Active and NG) here. Regardless of branch, some MOS's are doing things far more dangerous than the rest of us. The Navy can bombard a target from miles away. Army has Mortars and shorter range artillery. As a Medic, I can be at an Aid Station, hospital, or front lines. I'm not sure where, but each medal has conditions that must be met in order to receive it. Many denote one's participation in certain events or events happening to them. Most awards, like the Purple Heart of MoH are very unique. One can look at a soldier's/airman's/Marine's/etc. board and know a good amount about their service.
If this was standardized then you'd have to ask. Many military and veterans don't like talking to every other person who is curious.

I would say it is kind of annoying for people like me who have served in different branches.