What is the best way to tell your unit that you in no way shape or form want an ETS award from them?

To me, it counts on the situation. I was stationed in Germany and was working in the orderly room (not by choice) when our unit got called for deployment for Desert Shield/Storm/Calm. When it came to loading up our equipment, it was a Saturday and no one (not the OPS SGT, 1SGT, XO, or the CDR) came in to help pack up the Company HQ items. It was just me (SGT at the time) did it all by myself. When we got into the AOR, I had to carry three weapons (two not mine), three laptops (in carrying cases) and my two duffle bags. Not one soldier offer to help. When we got back from deployment, our unit was being disbanded (7th CORPS), my PCS award was a Letter of Appreciation. I stood in front of the unit took it, shook hands, saluted. When I got back in formation, I rip it up and threw it away. It was a big slap in the face. That was my situation.

Well if your unit is like mine you would be O.C.S. for a year or more before it got approved anyway.. so just keep your head down and quietly leave.
I joke as I see people inprocess that they should start their PCS awards now so maybe they can get it before they leave.. lol

I med boarded out after 15.5 years...I didn't even get a good bye.....never mind an ETS award....I was considered useless by the CoC I guess.....

Been retired now since 05. Got a few awards that are still packed away...not because I didn't appreciate them, been busy remodeling a house.... Learned a few things though while active. An award is Not for the civilians, it is for us, the military. If we did not recognize service and commitment, we would fail to develop good leaders....and yes I have known a few fools get awards.... If your unit feels you deserve this, then provide everything you are asked to....set the example, show your troops what Eprit de Corps is. I too was asked to "write" my own EPR and an award... When I asked my supervisor why he bluntly told me, because I should know and always be aware of what I am doing and how I want to be seen..... also, it was much needed training for the future... I eventually had to write over 70 LOE's in theater in Kuwait, for my troops before end of deployment... Forced me to learn to pay attention to them, what they did or did not do daily, our mission and how well we completed it and how to convey that to their leadership back home. Once I started doing that, it made me a better NCO and taught me to really keep track of what was going on around me and with my troops. Once I got home I was slammed with having to write two EPR's with damn little to go on..... no thanks to my Shop chief.

Take it, appreciate it... Hang it on your wall, and be proud... but, if you still think it's a waste of time in the military, that attitude will carry over into a civilian job.... and some of those jobs employ fellow former military members.

Just suck it up and accept the award. I did that after my OIF deployment 10 years ago, because I was mad at the unit and had "my integrity". Turns out, I was a petulant child-disappointed my next higher. Learn from an old mustang...

I have stood in your boots, ETS'ing, hating my unit of assignment, knowing I would never, ever, wear the uniform again. Years later I stood on the other side and realized how individual awards impact unit cohesion and morale. Whatever you do, be gracious. It will not kill you to let them pin a small piece of ribbon and metal on you. But, be careful. After ETS I burned everything but my 214. Years later I would regret not being able to prove certain things about my service.

A lot of guys quietly hate their military experience usually due to abusive chains of command but go thru their enlistment doing their job well anyway. This strikes me as a case where a soldier seems to be telling his chain of command "You treated me like a piece of $&!+ for four years, treated the people around me the same way, and now you want me to smile, shake your hand, and pretend it's all been great. No thank you. Just let me go in peace.

First, I would check to see when your exit interview is. Every unit I have been to has given me one. That would be the time to air your concerns. Take the award, even if you have to write it. If the place is as bad as the implication is, you probably more than earned it!

As a former member of the same unit, I fully agree with this sentiment. I served with SGT Camron and he was one of the few NCOs who took care of his soldiers in the unit. I'm sure some of you lifers will try to flame this post but the fact of the matter is, he is right.

If what you say is true then it shouldn't be a problem. Eventually you will be asked to write the award, at which time you can do what Soldiers all over the world have been good for centuries - stall until it's too late for it to matter.
If someone DOES step up and writes you an award, then grin and bear it. It means that someone other than you sees that you contributed to the readiness and strength of your unit. Respect their effort and receive the award with the honor and dignity expected of a Noncommissioned Officer.

This is the type of NCO the army should be trying to retain

Take the award. It's for your family anyway. While we may know the politics involved in who gets what your family does not. To them it's a big deal even if they don't say it. Also, for some leaders it is a big deal and one way for them to say thank you TO YOU for service to the nation. At the end of the day the award is from the Army, USMC, etc... Not the person(s) who made things abnormally challenging.

Some of you are butt hurt about him not wanting the award which is laughable, others are saying get it for future generations so they can be proud of you. I am willing to bet if he is turning it down he has awards that he is actually proud of for going down range and other achievements not just thanks for completing your contract.

What is an ETS award?

please tell us the story behind this situation *grabs popcorn*

I'm in the too much fruit salad is handed around camp. That said, I've also sat a number of promotion boards. Since EOTs are common, a question that comes up in a reviewer's mind is why didn't that SM get one coming out of that tour even though the Eval was right in the pack? Stuff like that sticks out and if you wind up in the third crunch, you don't want people to start looking for reasons to toss you. Sometimes being different can harm you in the long run.

Well, I see there are already hundreds of comments.

But from what I’ve seen, in order to avoid getting an ETS award you simply don’t write it yourself, because no one else will write it either.

Then you ETS and everyone forgets all about it.

never heard of it.why would they do that?we had a party got on the bus the next morning.

When my NCOIC made noise about having to write an award for my medical retirement (at 16 years of service) I just told him not to bother, if I didn't warrant for one when it would do me some good then why put himself out now.

I received the MSM when I got out. But, don't believe that was an ETS award because the recommendation was written when the command still expected me to stay in the military. The award was for the work I had done the previous two years. It was only in the last month or so that I decided I did not want to re-enlist. Also, the date of the award was January of 1976. I never learned of the award until 2005. It got lost along the way and I only learned that I had actually been awarded the medal when I contacted the personnel records dept for a list of all my authorized awards etc. . Number one on the list was the MSM.. They included a copy of the orders and an engraved medal.