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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What you are describing is an egregious failure of leadership, pure and simple.
There is no excuse for not properly recognizing a Soldier's service to the nation upon retirement, even if he or she retired under some kind of cloud. The ceremony honors the totality of service. The flag is presented on behalf of the nation, and it is not the chain of command's prerogative to determine whether the retiree deserves it or not. If the character of service was sufficient for the Soldier to make it to retirement, he or she deserves proper recognition.
In terms of an appropriate award, there is no requirement to give an award at all if the chain of command feels it is not warranted, however, that's pretty cold. As others have said, it is really based on the accomplishments of the individual going as far back as the last ten years of the Soldier's career. Except for flag officers, I have seen retirement awards range from ARCOMs to LoMs.
There is no excuse for not properly recognizing a Soldier's service to the nation upon retirement, even if he or she retired under some kind of cloud. The ceremony honors the totality of service. The flag is presented on behalf of the nation, and it is not the chain of command's prerogative to determine whether the retiree deserves it or not. If the character of service was sufficient for the Soldier to make it to retirement, he or she deserves proper recognition.
In terms of an appropriate award, there is no requirement to give an award at all if the chain of command feels it is not warranted, however, that's pretty cold. As others have said, it is really based on the accomplishments of the individual going as far back as the last ten years of the Soldier's career. Except for flag officers, I have seen retirement awards range from ARCOMs to LoMs.
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SSG Gail Miller
Sir,
I respectfully disagree. The regulation is pretty clear that all Soldiers will be recognized upon exiting the service based on the most recent revision of the regulation. 1-23(1) states that meritorious service awards will be awarded upon retirement........
I respectfully disagree. The regulation is pretty clear that all Soldiers will be recognized upon exiting the service based on the most recent revision of the regulation. 1-23(1) states that meritorious service awards will be awarded upon retirement........
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LTC Ian Murdoch
True, but AR 600–8–22 1-23 b. states "...awards MAY awarded upon retirement (emphasis added)." The approval authority must determine that the Soldier's accomplishments were of sufficient merit to deserve an award.
I do stand corrected, however, in that the most recent update of AR 600-8-22 makes it clear that a retirement award is intended to in most cases cover only the most recent assignment and should only go back 10 years when necessary.
Also, good point that the Soldier could have gone (and maybe could still go) to a post ceremony. However, the chain of command is duty bound to make sure that the Soldier is properly recognized, either in a post ceremony or locally. Receiving mailed certificates is a no-go..
I do stand corrected, however, in that the most recent update of AR 600-8-22 makes it clear that a retirement award is intended to in most cases cover only the most recent assignment and should only go back 10 years when necessary.
Also, good point that the Soldier could have gone (and maybe could still go) to a post ceremony. However, the chain of command is duty bound to make sure that the Soldier is properly recognized, either in a post ceremony or locally. Receiving mailed certificates is a no-go..
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I retired from the Navy and I received an award with many letters and a flag. After 20 years that was the proudest moment of my career. My retirement ceremony.
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A slightly used 2016 Corvette ZO6 would be a highly appropriate gift to me on or about 31 July 2019. Just sayin
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The following links describe what is authorized for retirement. There doesn't seem to be an existing authority to deny a retiring service member a flag. Regarding awards....well, that's completely up to the chain of command and the designated award approval authority.
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_7.pdf
http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Home/Benefit_Library/Federal_Benefits_Page/Army_Retirement_Services_Program.html?serv=147
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_7.pdf
http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Home/Benefit_Library/Federal_Benefits_Page/Army_Retirement_Services_Program.html?serv=147
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SSG Gail Miller
Sir,
I respectfully disagree. The regulation is pretty clear that all Soldiers will be recognized upon exiting the service based on the most recent revision of the regulation. AR 600-8-22, 1-23(1) states that meritorious service awards will be awarded upon retirement........
I respectfully disagree. The regulation is pretty clear that all Soldiers will be recognized upon exiting the service based on the most recent revision of the regulation. AR 600-8-22, 1-23(1) states that meritorious service awards will be awarded upon retirement........
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MAJ (Join to see)
SSG Gail Miller Not so much. The operative words in AR 600-8-22, 1-23(1) are "may be considered".......this is much different than "will be recognized."
1–23. Recognition upon retirement
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.
c. Submissions.
Award recommendations submitted for meritorious service based upon retirement will be submitted
so that they may be processed and completed prior to the requested presentation date. In determining the presentation
date, the recommender must consider the Soldier’s requested retirement date, number of days of any transition leave,
and authorized travel and/or transition processing time. Recommendations for awards submitted to Commander, U.S.
Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch (AHRC–PDP–A), 1600 Spearhead Division
Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122–5408, for final action should arrive no less than 90 days before the desired presentation
date.
1–23. Recognition upon retirement
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.
c. Submissions.
Award recommendations submitted for meritorious service based upon retirement will be submitted
so that they may be processed and completed prior to the requested presentation date. In determining the presentation
date, the recommender must consider the Soldier’s requested retirement date, number of days of any transition leave,
and authorized travel and/or transition processing time. Recommendations for awards submitted to Commander, U.S.
Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch (AHRC–PDP–A), 1600 Spearhead Division
Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122–5408, for final action should arrive no less than 90 days before the desired presentation
date.
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Sadly, both the Army and the Army Reserve have no standards for how to honor a SM upon their retirement. It is unit and installation centric. But sadly this is often the case in the civilian world as well as I have experienced this twice. After 30 years in the Army Reserve as a Colonel I was told to write my own award, and then when it was written I was told that it can only include the last ten years. When I was a Battalion S-1 on Active duty I took it upon myself to ensure that I wrote the award recommendation for the Commander and then walk the award through the 'system'. As a Lieutenant assigned to Fort Bliss, my Battalion participated in a monthly post-wide retirement parade every other month. I would stand in formation and listen to the speeches and wonder if I would ever see my day. On my last drill weekend I stood in a retirement ceremony, but because my unit forgot about me, I stood as the G-4, and not as a retiree. I received my retirement certificate and one for my wife 6 months later in the mail, and then my award followed a few months after that. I also received a flag flown over the Capitol, but that was because I submitted a request with payment to my Congressman. When I retired from the Federal Government my employees had a video conference with me, and gave me a very nice memento, but the Department sent me an incorrect retirement plaque.
This is definitely one area that employers could really do a better job at, recognizing their employees for all their contributions. An employee should never be directed to write their own award. Whatever the current processes are, are broken, and applied haphazard.
This is definitely one area that employers could really do a better job at, recognizing their employees for all their contributions. An employee should never be directed to write their own award. Whatever the current processes are, are broken, and applied haphazard.
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SSG Gail Miller
Sir,
I respectfully disagree. The regulation is pretty clear that all Soldiers will be recognized upon exiting the service based on the most recent revision of the regulation. AR 600-8-22, 1-23(1) states that meritorious service awards will be awarded upon retirement........It is also important to note that the regulation 1-12(b) states b. Implementation of the provisions of this regulation is a command responsibility. Administrative procedures will
ensure the prompt recognition of deserving Soldiers.
The disconnect comes when performance recognition is not held at the same priority level as operations. The military is still working on the evolution of people as a strategic priority that requires the same attention as mission accomplishment and equipment readiness.
I respectfully disagree. The regulation is pretty clear that all Soldiers will be recognized upon exiting the service based on the most recent revision of the regulation. AR 600-8-22, 1-23(1) states that meritorious service awards will be awarded upon retirement........It is also important to note that the regulation 1-12(b) states b. Implementation of the provisions of this regulation is a command responsibility. Administrative procedures will
ensure the prompt recognition of deserving Soldiers.
The disconnect comes when performance recognition is not held at the same priority level as operations. The military is still working on the evolution of people as a strategic priority that requires the same attention as mission accomplishment and equipment readiness.
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As a SFC with 30 years of service, I was put in for an MSM but the BDE S1 downgraded it to a ARCOM. NO ceremony or flag. I was a good SM and that was all I got. A slap in the face if you ask me!
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SSG Gail Miller
Recommend speaking with the recomender about submitting a request for reconsideration.
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SFC Michael Barnett
My son is in and I am wondering if he could put me in for the award that I should have gotten. I have 3 other ARCOMs so this one was just a slap in my face.
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An award is for an accomplishment, each award has its requisets. If the soldier has distingished himself to that degree, then the person noting that accomplishment should write the recommendation, the chain of command should investigate and approve it if it is true. A certificate of thanks and service from the unit should always be made if the mission allows. Any thing less is an insult to the soldier and a disgrace to the Unit on taking care of their soldiers.
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When a service member retires, they *should* get the Ensign (flag), a letter from the President, and (if they're a dues-paying member of their rank's "club" or affiliation) perhaps a shadow box with their awards (ribbons / medals) and rank. As far as awards, typically a Commendation Medal is given to enlisted and a Bronze Star (or something similar) to officers.
That being said - when I retired, I told our Command Master Chief that I didn't want a ceremony - because, as a (Navy) Boatswain's Mate, I had participated in well over 500 official ceremonies over my 20 year career. I didn't want to do another one, even if it was for me.
That upset him (you could say it pissed him off), so the only thing I got was my DD-214. So, I would speculate that regardless of what awards, letters, or "extras" are deemed "appropriate" - the only thing that's guaranteed is the DD-214.
That being said - when I retired, I told our Command Master Chief that I didn't want a ceremony - because, as a (Navy) Boatswain's Mate, I had participated in well over 500 official ceremonies over my 20 year career. I didn't want to do another one, even if it was for me.
That upset him (you could say it pissed him off), so the only thing I got was my DD-214. So, I would speculate that regardless of what awards, letters, or "extras" are deemed "appropriate" - the only thing that's guaranteed is the DD-214.
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