Posted on Nov 24, 2015
What awards are appropiate to give for retirement?
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Awards: What awards are appropiate to give for retirement and what would a reason for and why an award and a retirement cermony or both be denied a SM when they have a clean record of service. I ask because this happened to my friend then they were also denied a flag. the only things that were received were the retirement certificates in the mail from the department of the Army and their Brigade.
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Awards
Retirement Awards
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 58
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I think it depends. Individual case by case. Depends on record accomplishments. You can have a good career or just make it. Does the fact that you made it to retirement entitles you to the same award as a great career soldier? No
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SSG Audwin Scott
That's a good point, I can admit my last few years in the Army were on a downward spiral and I started getting into trouble which resulted to a letter of reprimand. I was a good leader overall and still came out with a MSM.
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You get a flag? ...... 27 years and no flag at retirement. Dig get the MSM.
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SSG Byron Hewett
Nope I didn't, same major from the adjundent general's office said I didn't qualify for it
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I retired after 30 years with only a retirement order. When it comes to the issue of military recognition, I am comforted by something a D-Day Survivor once told me, "A lot of people have given a hell of a lot more, for a hell of a lot less".
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Good Morning,
The Soldier is entitled to a retirement ceremony. If the unit does not conduct one, he may be recognized at the post ceremony. Most of the time the Soldier can stand in the ceremony if he has been nominated for a retirement award. AR 600-8-22, dated 25 June 2015, paragraph 1-23 states the following
a. Period of service. Each individual approaching retirement may be considered for an appropriate decoration based on his or her grade, years of service, degree of responsibility, and manner of performance.
b. Service recognition awards. The following awards may be awarded upon retirement:
(1) Meritorious service awards will be awarded, upon retirement (to include medical retirements), which may include periods of service longer than that served in the recommending command. An extended period will only be considered in those cases where the length or nature of the individual’s terminal assignment would not qualify him or her for an appropriate award. It is neither necessary nor desirable to consider an extended period of service when the length and character of service of retirees in their terminal assignments would qualify them for an appropriate award. This is not to imply that an extended period of service should be considered for every individual who retires, such periods will be limited to the last 10 years of service. When writing the citation, it is not necessary to indicate the time
period again; it is only pertinent to mention the total number of years of service, for example, over 22 years or 30 years of service.
(2) Only one retirement award may be awarded to any retiring Soldier. Soldiers serving under the Retiree Recall Program are not authorized a second retirement award or an upgrade of a previously approved retirement award. Service awards for Retiree Recall Servicemembers are at the discretion of the commander.
The regulation also states that the period of service must be favorable meaning that he was not flagged with the exception of retirement para 1-17 (c). A waiver of the overweight or Army
Physical Fitness Test flag must be processed for length of service retirement awards to the first general officer in the Soldier’s chain of command with award approval or disapproval authority. All waivers will be processed as separate and distinct actions from the award recommendation, and should be submitted and adjudicated prior to submission of the award recommendation. The approved waiver will accompany the award recommendation once submitted.
If the Soldier does not feel that he/she was properly recognized it is highly recommended that he file a complaint with his/her congressman of record. This normally resolves the problem.
The Soldier is entitled to a retirement ceremony. If the unit does not conduct one, he may be recognized at the post ceremony. Most of the time the Soldier can stand in the ceremony if he has been nominated for a retirement award. AR 600-8-22, dated 25 June 2015, paragraph 1-23 states the following
a. Period of service. Each individual approaching retirement may be considered for an appropriate decoration based on his or her grade, years of service, degree of responsibility, and manner of performance.
b. Service recognition awards. The following awards may be awarded upon retirement:
(1) Meritorious service awards will be awarded, upon retirement (to include medical retirements), which may include periods of service longer than that served in the recommending command. An extended period will only be considered in those cases where the length or nature of the individual’s terminal assignment would not qualify him or her for an appropriate award. It is neither necessary nor desirable to consider an extended period of service when the length and character of service of retirees in their terminal assignments would qualify them for an appropriate award. This is not to imply that an extended period of service should be considered for every individual who retires, such periods will be limited to the last 10 years of service. When writing the citation, it is not necessary to indicate the time
period again; it is only pertinent to mention the total number of years of service, for example, over 22 years or 30 years of service.
(2) Only one retirement award may be awarded to any retiring Soldier. Soldiers serving under the Retiree Recall Program are not authorized a second retirement award or an upgrade of a previously approved retirement award. Service awards for Retiree Recall Servicemembers are at the discretion of the commander.
The regulation also states that the period of service must be favorable meaning that he was not flagged with the exception of retirement para 1-17 (c). A waiver of the overweight or Army
Physical Fitness Test flag must be processed for length of service retirement awards to the first general officer in the Soldier’s chain of command with award approval or disapproval authority. All waivers will be processed as separate and distinct actions from the award recommendation, and should be submitted and adjudicated prior to submission of the award recommendation. The approved waiver will accompany the award recommendation once submitted.
If the Soldier does not feel that he/she was properly recognized it is highly recommended that he file a complaint with his/her congressman of record. This normally resolves the problem.
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I think yes you should be given the flag ,and I believe they should be given free health care for life !
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SSG Stephen Keown
I might add soldiers that have deployed to a combat zone for free healthcare for life on retirement of 20 years + or disability retirement !
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I was medically retired with 20 honorable yrs as an E-7 Plt SGT in 2007 and received nothing but a handshake from the Cdr & Top and asked if I would like to address the Company formation ( which I did). My Cdr later told me that he was planning on putting me in for an MSM but never did. I felt let down at this lack of caring from my higher up. At least my Plt sent me off with some fan fare.
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Col Lyman Faith
Your former commander should receive a beating or be required to forego his next decoration.
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SGT Scott Henderson
Did they dupe you into med boarding like some others I've heard about? If I had 20 and they told me to board instead of putting a retirement packet in I would have told them to eat a bag of dicks.
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SFC Robert Guinther
I failed 2 bds and was headed to a 3d when I took the medical retirement option that was offered to me
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SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT
All awards should be based on the soldier's job performance, scope of responsibility and leadership. Not given as a rubber stamp based on rank.
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Because I didn't want a retirement ceremony they denied my retirement award which was a Legion of Merit and also not given my retirement flag which was the only thing that I really did care about.
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I agree with the majority that had commented on this. If that service member did 20+ yrs with no Article 15, MSM or in Joint duty, a Joint Award such as Defense Meritorious Medal. However, if that service member decided to lay back and take it easy in his/her last unit, then it would be hard for the person who is recommending that person for an 20yr + retirement. That person most likely did not know him/her for 20yrs and saw what he/she did. I know how that service member feels with the award issue. It happened to me. It gave me a bad taste in my mouth for a while. As for the flag, no excuse.
When I retired back in 2006, I had to buy my own shadow box and the extra ribbons/medals for it. For my award, I was put in for the Defense Meritorious Medal, however it was down graded to Joint Commendation Medal. The reason that I was 1 pound over the weight limit, but I weighed in one week later and was under by 5 pounds. I was never counseled, seen a medical technician, so I was not "officially" flagged. However, the powers to be (me being an Army guy, an AF CPT felt different) recommended to the J2 (Navy CPT) to downgrade the award. To me that was a slap in the face for a person did 20yrs and kept his "nose clean" and received a PCS award.
It sounds that I have bad feeling now, but I do not. I know what I did and proud of it too. I would do it all over again.
When I retired back in 2006, I had to buy my own shadow box and the extra ribbons/medals for it. For my award, I was put in for the Defense Meritorious Medal, however it was down graded to Joint Commendation Medal. The reason that I was 1 pound over the weight limit, but I weighed in one week later and was under by 5 pounds. I was never counseled, seen a medical technician, so I was not "officially" flagged. However, the powers to be (me being an Army guy, an AF CPT felt different) recommended to the J2 (Navy CPT) to downgrade the award. To me that was a slap in the face for a person did 20yrs and kept his "nose clean" and received a PCS award.
It sounds that I have bad feeling now, but I do not. I know what I did and proud of it too. I would do it all over again.
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SSG John Caples
Veterans that have been in a combat theatre and the award is coming out for that theatre, but does not receive it, what can I do ? It is THE Cab badge
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