What awards are appropiate to give for retirement?

Ideally, a retirement is the culmination of a career and would rate an award one higher than the SM has already earned. Local units have different SOP's, though.

I was in for 20 plus years in the Vermont National Guard did a Nobel Eagle deployment and a deployment to Iraq. Came home Mustang over from enlisted to Officer. Medically retired as a Capt. all i got an was an ARCOM. no retirement ceremony reason I was not in the good ol boys club or AGR.

I'm somewhat bitter over not getting a retirement award. I had even provided my last 10 years worth of NCOER's and other documents for reference. I served 36 "good" years with just over 15 years AFS. I even served in a GO command, and not 6 months before my retirement listened to the GO tell BDE/BN commanders/staff on a conference call, that absolutely no one who serves long enough for retirement should ever walk away without an award. Go figure.

I'm a SSG and have been denied for promotion based solely on my age (62 at retirement and 61 now toward SFC). No award is better than a ARCOM. 20 years of service, 3 deployments and combat awards. A friend of mine retired as a MSG with 7th SFG, 22 years of service. They wrote him an ARCOM...no shxt as his retirment award! I was friends with the CSM that wrote it, and the MSG is my best life long friend (since childhood). Very sad and pissed me off, he hung the award and screwed it to the wall in the latrine, on smoke bomb hill with a note. "Here's what you get in exchange for 22 years of your life, and risking it daily" He did many deployments, combat awards and was an ODA team sergeant as well was shot! A phucking ARCOM.... ARMY

I medically retired and got a letter or appreciation which was BS I was an e-5 in an e-6 billet. My commands logic was “you received so much from your two deployments. Hell I don’t have a comm and I’m an e-7.” I skipped my award ceremony and checked out.

What are folks thoughts here? The subject in this case is an Army E8 1SG with 32 total years. In his last year, the individual was relieved for cause as a Company 1stSGT. His response was to request a transfer to a new organization, and consecutively request retirement. Both actions were approved. Said E8, now a MSG spends 4 months in his final unit. During that time, the individual sexually harasses 2 junior soldiers (No formal SHARP complaint), and disrespects and belittles an E5 Female Admin NCO. The soldier is retired and off the Battalion's books before any of their actions needed to be dealt with.... Fast forward a year later. The Now Retired MSG has filed an IG complaint for not being awarded a Retirement Award. The individual has gone as far as to draft their own Legion of Merit, and is expecting it to be retroactively processed.
There is no way that this individual deserves an LOM, it is extremely hard to justify an MSM. Weighing options at this point.
A. Do Nothing and don't submit an Award. (Although Higher Headquarters has Directed to action this)
B. Submit an MSM and be done with it (Not deserving of, but they already have 2 prior MSMs for service)
C. Downgrade to an ARCOM (A bit of a slap in the face, but still more than the individual deserves based on their last year of service, but trying to account for a generally OK, not stellar, prior 30 years)

DD-214, BEST RETIREMENT AWARD EVER!!

I think it depends. Sometimes no awards are appropriate. Sometimes a legion of merit. I would hope for at least a MSM but I will be happy with knowing I did my best that I knew to do.

Nothing less than a MSM for those who serve 18+ years. For less time in service, circumstances should dictate. Example would be key roles, exemplary service, or any situation that involved successful mission accomplishment. These actions are typically recorded in job performance or evaluation reports.

This topic has become more and more alarming. It shouldn't even be a question. A SM that has served over a quarter of their life and has sworn to serve and protect their country disserves the due process of putting them in for what by definition is Meritorious Service. A SM that dedicates their entire life to serving their country, sacrifices made by them and their families, and faithfulness they have for their leaders, an award that is received by someone that PCS or ETS after four years is a disgracefully leadership. If that last statement struck deep with anyone, perhaps some self reflection is in order. These are our Brothers and Sisters in arms that paved the way for others to follow and well deserve to be recognized regardless. Anything over 20 years is a feet few accomplish in it's self.