Should the military recognize spouses with an award?

I concur with 1SG Gilley in his comment. I know of many wives who have done many public services. One of the things they put in the movie "We Were Soldiers" was the part the spouses played back home. When I went to Iraq, the Camp Chaplin and the military women of the training base worked to provide us with "goody bags" as we left for our flight overseas. For military members who have spouses, they understand just how hard they work to keep things as normal as possible back home. There are always exceptions, so I don't want to hear that part of it. Tens of thousands of military spouses have had to work harder when the member deployed. Offering a certificate of appreciation would be a great gesture. My wife kept things going when I went to Vietnam and Iraq plus she also had to endure the long separations of non-accompanied tours and many other shorter training deployments.

So let me answer this as both a former soldier and an Army wife. I think any family member who renders service to the Military through volunteering with the unit itself or the post in various capacities is certainly deserving of any award they choose to present. As an Army wife I spent many hours volunteering with my husbands unit and working with the families. I also spent many hours serving 2 different duty stations as Mayor of our community in Military housing. I didn't do either for any award, but because I was a bit older and wanted to be in a position to help and serve any way I could. It was certainly nice to be recognized and told that the service I provided was found to be valuable. Nothing is worse than volunteering time and effort and never being told that what you are doing is actually serving a purpose.

No. Spouses do not deserve awards. They receive free housing, medical care and I know I'm in the minority, but I don't think that waiting on us during deployments is tougher than what a police officer, paramedic or fireman's spouse goes through every single time they walk out the door to work.

Wow, your an idiot. They may not need a damn medal but they deal with alot of shit the military throws down hill. They dont get shot at but hold down the fort for when we get home. Ive had my experience of entitlement of spouses but that doesnt justify you asinine comment. There are some very good, supportive and dedicated spouses that deserve a COA at least. A little recognition goes a long way

Kind of funny because I believe the same thing but on the service member side. If you give everyone an award (end of tour, if you don’t get one you question your command and leadership) that it takes away from those that actually go above and beyond their duties. By the looks of most units in the military, they have a crap load of superior performing individuals. But I digress, no, spouses do not get military awards. They can continue to get letters of appreciation from the Commanding Officer on nice paper if they have done anything commendatory to benefit the unit.

And THIS from a Marine!?

Civilians do not get military awards, but there are a number of things that can be done. If they actually perform duties that reach the highest level, nominate them for one of the civilian awards. The least a command could do is give them a letter of appreciation. Many spouses have done things that deserve recognition. When I went to Vietnam, I was transferred from one command to another. I left my wife with her family. No support whatsoever. When I went to Iraq, there was a family support organization. Wives in different areas sent letters/emailed other spouses. They developed a system which included contacts for getting information about pay problems, contacting the service member in case of emergencies, etc. The women who headed these support services most definitely should be recognized and invited to an awards program.

lol this kinda happened when I was dating my husband. He was in another unit but helped us so much my unit gave him an award.

I received a certificate of appreciation in the green Army folder each time my ex-husbands reenlisted, thanking me for supporting my Soldier in his career and his decision to reenlist and the sacrifices I made as a military spouse. It was nice to be recognized for my influence in my Soldiers' lives and that I DO make a sacrifice as a spouse. I actually felt sort of bad for the ones I got with my first husband though... and I wound up using those folders for the AAMs, ARCOMs, LoMs and such when we ran out of them at my last couple of units. Yep, my first husband and I were dual military.