What do you think of Navy's Honor Graduate Ribbon?

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 08:12:06 -0500

When I went through Boot camp, this ribbon was not a thing. I do not know why they created it, but IMHO, i think it is silly. Honor graduates occur in ever school and none award for it. What do you think about this "participation" ribbon?

Response by MSgt Wayne Morris made Dec 13 at 2017 8:31 AM

MSgt Wayne Morris — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 08:31:55 -0500

Just as silly as the Air Force ribbon for completing BMTS; perhaps worse.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 9:12 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 09:12:04 -0500

I have to disagree. We absolutely award honor graduates at most schools within the military. When I graduated the Chaplains Basic Leadership Course our honor grad was awarded a trophy. When I was the Chaplain at an "A" school training command every class had an honor grad that was granted the opportunity for accelerated advancement. Other schools award a plaque or a trophy or some other incentive to give the students something to strive for. This isn't a participation ribbon as you put it, because to get it you have to go above and beyond what the other graduates do.

Do we give out too many ribbons these days? Probably. But if I see this ribbon on someone's chest it doesn't just tell me that they graduated boot camp, but that they excelled. And that says something about the person. Hopefully that attitude that drove them to excel at boot camp will continue to drive them throughout their career.

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Dec 13 at 2017 9:58 AM

CW4 Angel C. — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 09:58:47 -0500

Silly for sure. Can’t they print you a certificate?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 10:27 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:27:24 -0500

I think it is valuable to recognize a Sailor that goes above and beyond and distinguishes him/herself.
However, I am adamant in my continued opposition to ribbon proliferation.
There ought to be an embargo on all new "good idea" ribbons until we find ourselves in a new conflict.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 10:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:42:02 -0500

The Army gives out three after you finish basic. Maybe it's basic and AIT...I can't remember. I got the GWOT, Army Service Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal. I came in 2004.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 13 at 2017 10:55 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:55:25 -0500

Good question, it does make a recruit feel good when given such an item, some are proud to show that they made it thru basic.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Dec 13 at 2017 11:59 AM

SP5 Peter Keane — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 11:59:50 -0500

I am of the opinion that the way it was handled in 1968 was good. I scored perfect on the G3, (probably obsolete) and was promoted to E2. I was an Honor graduate at MTC(Medic AIT) and was promoted to E3. This in turn allowed me to work and earn E5 in less than 2 yrs

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2017 2:12 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:12:29 -0500

Prob'ly ranks right up there with "participation trophies" foe every member of a little league basketball or baseball team.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 13 at 2017 4:19 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 16:19:24 -0500

What's the point of it though. Typically the honor graduate gets a meritorious promotion.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Dec 13 at 2017 8:05 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:05:46 -0500

At least you have to be first in your class to achieve this one. Isn't that what the Army/ Air Force/ Navy Achievement Medal is for though?

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Dec 13 at 2017 9:32 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 21:32:59 -0500

If the navy isn't handing the "real" medals like candy, then who cares? I have awards that matter, and those that don't to me. I don't expect everyone to agree with how I view my awards, therefor I try not to pass judgment on whats awarded. Someone has to honor grad, but I'm pretty sure that most don't. So, is the award really meaningless?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2017 11:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 11:21:19 -0500

Well this definitely isn't a "participation" if it only goes to the top person, but I don't think it should be a ribbon. It should be a Certificate of achievement or a coin if anything.

Response by SPC David Willis made Dec 14 at 2017 6:00 PM

SPC David Willis — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 18:00:14 -0500

I don't have a problem with this its certainly not a blanket award and very few people in the service would have one. There were a couple people in our class that got ARCOMs as a reward.

Response by Lt Col David Nadeau made Dec 15 at 2017 1:30 AM

Lt Col David Nadeau — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 01:30:32 -0500

Personally I'm not a big fan of any participation ribbons (basic training/honor graduate/NCO PME/etc). In the words of one of my best mentors "sometimes less is more." When you end up looking like a Mexican Generalissimo I don't believe it is a good thing...JMTC.

Response by SPC Bill Pelkey made Dec 16 at 2017 2:48 PM

SPC Bill Pelkey — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 14:48:29 -0500

Never had that when i was in

Response by SPC Bill Pelkey made Dec 16 at 2017 2:50 PM

SPC Bill Pelkey — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 14:50:06 -0500

Oh thats navy lol i was army

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 16 at 2017 3:41 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:41:09 -0500

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member, I think many of the branches of the armed forces have gone overboard with fruit salad, most notably the Army and the Air Force. My father served in the Navy for almost three years during a time of war (WWII, 1JUL43-26JUN46). Much of that time he was aboard ship in the Pacific Ocean. This is what he was awarded. I think my father's award situation was similar to thousands of others. Furthermore, he didn't care and was just glad to get home.
Nonetheless, I think this shows how much differently the services think about awards now. Some of it's for the better and some is simply unnecessary. Lt Col David Nadeau

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 16 at 2017 5:21 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 17:21:26 -0500

I’m really butt hurt. Boot Camp was mostly like a vacation to me. After working through the winter in Denver trucking loading dock. Guess I’ll have to accept my five, two of which were gedunk ribbon, in 21 years. All they did to make me feel good was my way of promotions. Darn it!

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Dec 16 at 2017 6:47 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 18:47:40 -0500

So what is next? The I went to the "...Latrine by myself Award..."? Give me a break. I busted my butt to get soldier of the week at Basic Training and all I got was the recognition by my Drill SGT and my Platoon mates for passing the board, maxing the PT Test and Qualifying Expert with my M-16 to earn that award. That recognition meant more to me then some stupid PX Commando ribbon. This should be the ONLY ribbon awarded after a soldier obtains his MOS qualification

Response by PO1 Dennis Dio Parker made Jan 21 at 2018 12:21 PM

PO1 Dennis Dio Parker — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 12:21:03 -0500

While I will have to think about what I think of it, if it's awarded to only one member of the graduating company out of 70-80, it's absolutely not a "participation" ribbon. It's an earned ribbon.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Feb 11 at 2018 3:42 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 15:42:26 -0500

Sounds like “everyone gets a ribbon “ kind of thing. I recall in MC basic top in the platoons got meritorious promotion to E2.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2018 3:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 15:44:25 -0500

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member it has a classic look.

Response by John H Green Jr made Mar 7 at 2020 6:18 PM

John H Green Jr — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 18:18:07 -0500

Such negativity on awards, why? If you look at awards across the board you will see about 80% being similar or same (ARCOM VS Navy Com). Awards have evolved over time and will continue to.

Response by MSgt Dan Calhoun made Mar 7 at 2020 10:03 PM

MSgt Dan Calhoun — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 22:03:11 -0500

I wouldn't classify this as a "participation" ribbon. If it was that then everyone would get it. That said...no, I do not see the point of it. The air force has been doing this for years (honor graduate ribbon from basic training)...aside from giving someone another another piece of flare it doesn't make much sense. But don't dog the kid that got it...it is not like he woke up one day and decided he was going to get it.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2020 9:33 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 21:33:06 -0400

In my honest opinion, the entire awards system needs to be revamped. I have received awards in the past for just doing my job, but on the same token never been awarded for going “above and beyond”. Don’t get me wrong, campaign awards tell your story, which is great to pass on to your children. But if it’s time to award hard work, give it to my subordinates. They’re the ones who deserve it.