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

Drop and beat your face! It's time to toughen up buttercup. Sounds to me that you were a POS soldier and they wanted you out.

Take the award. Like stated below, your kids (or even you) will one day find it somewhere and reflect on your service. It probably won't help you find a civilian job but you'll be happy you took in 30-40 years from now.

You might be surprised at how many civilian companies are interested in your awards. Although they do not know what the awards mean, they do equate it to you doing a good job and when your peers will have awards, if many military members are applying for the same job, they might wander why snuffy as X # of awards and you only have a couple. So look further then the next couple of steps in front of you and accept the award. You earned it ....

Awards are good, but to often Awards not given based on Merit, but instead based on Rank.
Why do some higher ups beLeiVe you must be a certain rank to deserve a certain award ?

I kind of understand because I too had a problem with an award during a retirement ceremony. I accepted it but left it in the trash upon departure.
Not before the CSM and I had a discussion.
I told him I thought the ceremony was to honor a soldier's service yet I am here to receive the same level award for 20 years of service he would give a soldier he observed out his window picking up trash others had passed up.
He acknowledged but was pissed no less.
My award was two days late reaching the general's desk so he decided the thing to do was downgrade to the minimum.

I was told I should of written my own ETS award so I didn't receive one... Lead the way lol

If an NCO is ETS'ing then just leave it up to them. If they don't want one why tie up the NCO's time, his platoon sgt's time, 1SG time, SGM time on an award that'll get kicked back numerous times that isn't even wanted in the first place? For some of us an award wasn't the "end all end all". I think a lot of NCO's would rather just get a coin and handshake. At least your civilian friends think the coins are cool.

It's often a public show of gratitude for your service in the unit or your career. It's not suppose to bump up your promotion points right before you ETS. As far as benefits for the other soldier, if they see that the Military and/or the unit is grateful enough to commend you for your service, that could help retention and spotlight good Soldiers they should look toward being more like. It's certainly better than just getting a "thanks to SGT Dirtbag" at a final formation for your time

Well, I was put in for an ETS award by my Command. I was put in for an MSM. The higher Command down graded it to a AAM. No reason given and the COL who down graded it never neet me. My Commander argued it to no avail. I did not want it either. The problem is you still get the award. It will just go into IPerms. You dont have to keep the paper.

I personally don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal about him not wanting an award, and I don't see a reason to need a back story.

It should be, in my opinion, made fairly simple to ask that you not be recognized if one so wishes. Part of respecting your unit and the Army means feeling respected by your unit, and those in it. I don't think it means he is disrespecting his unit, or hates anyone, he's not dropping it in the trash can, he's asking in a professional way to not be recognized, maybe he just don't want to be recognized for something he don't feel like he deserves, or maybe he feels others deserve it more, or maybe he feels it's a pointless gesture. He's getting out, so wanting to see his soldiers get recognized for their achievements instead seems kinda honorable.

I can also say as someone who has been out for about 7 years, graduated college, got a good job, no ARCOMS or Good Conduct Medals have done me any good on the outside, in fact in my career development class in college they told me to focus only on my skill set from college, not my military time on my resume because it held little value to a cilivian company.

The two ways I was told to use my time in the military was by 1. Stamping Veteran at the top of my resume (because it lets them know they may get a tax break if they hire me) 2. Use skills from the military as soft skills on my resume (such as Leadership ability, attention to detail, team oriented, hard worker etc), but primarily focused on civilian achievement.

For example I went to college for a BA in Web Design and Interactive Media. Potential employers wanted to see that I knew PHP, Jquery, and Adobe Suite programs etc, they could care less that I got an 7 or 8 ARCOM's or a Good Conduct Medal, when it comes to hiring. Most veterans need to beef down their military part of their resumes, not beef up, because it takes away from skills potential employers really care about.

Now I agree the easiest thing is probably just to take it, but if his last wish upon getting out is to not recieve an award, and he is getting out honorable, I feel his unit should respect his wishes not condemn him for it. What value is an award if it's shoved down your throat. Just my opinion...

I get that you have some bad feelings, but if you refuse it you won't make the bad leaders stop and consider what they did to sour you. It won't send a message, all it will do is make them think you are a dirtbag. Just take it and walk away. Now if they try and make you write it, just "forget".

He can refuse to accept the award and the unit will just mail it to his HOR.

Awards are not just for the recipient. They are a means to show to other soldiers that the command cares, acknowledges the achievements of others and respects your effort and contribution to the team. It is in a way a team building moment. Take the award, you may appreciate it later...or even your children.

Well here's the deal with that. Your award is NOT always about you. I worked in the training room for an HHC for 5 years. Yes, your ETS award is your final good bye, it is also your Commander's and Lieutenant's job to have a good grasp on timelines and planning. So when don't receive an award, or your award is late your LTC is seeing that the officers below him aren't doing there job. If a commander doesn't know when one of his soldiers is leaving service then he's not a good commander. I know it's a pain in the ars to sit down with a team leader or whoever and hash out what you've done in your career. But they want to look good on the next PowerPoint brief. And having a late or no ETS award reflects on them as a professional. It's one of the last Big Green Weenies you may have to deal with...

I was in the same boat for my last two PCS awards and my ETS award. I told them I'd be good with unit coins and maybe a beer (it was Germany after all), but instead I ended up writing half of each award. With the last two I was working in the training room and made it easy to skip the ceremonies by placing them in my SMIF file directly after they were approved. I always led with the reason that I did solely my job, and that I didn't do extra to merit anything more. I got more than a few verbal counselings about my position on it, and even tried to convince my last rater to convince my 1SG that I didn't need one. I was told to shove that idea and I was getting one whether I liked it or not. I also operated from the frugal standpoint of not wanting to buy a new rack or new devices. That didn't please the BDE level after one board but that's a different issue.

Do what I did, I was stationed in Korea and got in to some trouble, so my pcs award was a COA. But there were numerous people who got into a lot more trouble than I did, and did things way worse than I did, but they got AAMs, so I felt there was a lot of favoritism in my unit. So for my going away speech, I accepted the COA, and my commander told me to give a speech, so I looked at him and said, "I have nothing to say about this unit, I am leaving and that's all I care about." He looked at my like I was crazy, but he understood my point about the unfair justice system in the unit

Whether the unit you are serving with has been a stellar experience or not be a team player and take the award they say you deserve for the job you've done. Afterward, if you are retiring and not expecting to wear a Class A uniform again. If you are staying in, then wear the award as required and let it get lost in your mind among the things you are more proud of.

You could always wipe your ass with it and hand it back to them. Make sure you eat Taco Bell the night before and drink lots of Guinness!!!

Here is a thought, maybe they are happy you are leaving. I jest, without more information it is not prudent to answer.

give them the wrong forwarding address...