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

AFAIK, you can't clear without one, or a memo justifying why you aren't eligible to get one.

I have a few awards and things like that myself that i didnt care for but still accepted not for me but for my kids. I have 3 kids and they are to young to understand what these awards mean but someday when they are older i want them to know what there father did big or small and know that they can be proud of their father so in my opinion take the award worst case scenario you put it in a file folder that takes up minimal space and toss it in your military trunk and lock it away for when they want to onow more about you. Like many on this post have said its not just about you so much as it is about your loved ones.

Just take whatever award they give you, salute smartly and put it in the box with whatever gear you're gonna keep when you get out. Before I retired, our S1 informed me that I needed to write up my retirement award and have it to him by such-and-such date. My response made it clear to him that awards really weren't that important to me so he could just let the chips fall wherever. He ended up writing up the award. My plan was to quietly sign out and go home to the swamps, but in the 101st the retirement ceremony was mandatory in those days. I was proud to see how many of our young troopers came to the ceremony, though. Awards may not mean much to you, but they do to the troops you serve with. They know who really does or does not deserve recognition anyway, so making some sort of statement about the unit by refusing an award will just be preaching to the choir anyway.

Obviously it's a "it depends" kind of thing. Take the award if it's what you deserved, however if it's an insult (for reasons like the staff officers that didn't do a damn thing are getting bronze stars and the enlisted are getting ARCOMs - been there, done that...) then it's an entirely different issue. People have jobs to do, those include writing and delivering awards. You should insist people do their jobs.

Hey - from my foxhole, if this is an ETS award it's cumulative of all of your service. Not just this particular unit. So go ahead and take the award. Make sure that you mostly wrote about the proud accomplishments you did. Since you will be writing it yourself, that should be easy.

Be benevolent about it and accept the award. Whether you feel it is smoke or not, not accepting it may have lasting effects, you may need a reference some day, you may need to show a trail of awesome, you never know. In the end, it is a just a piece of paper, you can take it, smile, shake a hand, toss it in the drawer...

Personally, i would take the award. Some people in hiring positions look at you resume and may ask why didnt he get an award when he left service. I do when i hire people here and it makes me wonder what if anything, they may have done not to recieve. Just a thought

As you say you would want your soldiers to get credit. Seems someone in your chain of command felt the same way and IMHO you should feel the same as when you recommended one of your soldiers for an award. Take it be gracious and then if you wish file it. These things may mean something to you later. Had a certificate when I left the Army in 1970 with the presidents signature on it years later he was gracious enough to sign over the top of the printed signature. Now I cherish it. Dutch DeGroot MSG, USAF, (ret)

I never got an ETS award but I did throw away all the awards I got in OIF right after I received them. I am retired now and I would do it again.

Awards are supposed to be for service rendered and the level rendered, sometimes the award is downgraded for mutiple reasons. At the end of your duty if you get an award taken it and move out. Will civilians care? Maybe maybe not it's all.in how you word your resume. But most of the time a civilian doesn't know the difference between and AAM and a MSM, it's on your writing skills. You didn't serve for awards, you know what you did, don't discredit your service by leaving on a bad note.

Dang. My unit repeatedly told me I was getting one and then received nothing. Pretty sure they just forgot. Not much you can do.

Air Force veteran here (32 years total)..... EVERY award I ever got (including my dod civilian years) were literally either thrown at me or they just came in the mail. Not once did I get to stand before my unit to have something presented to me. Therefore, it is impossible for me to feel sorry for anyone to get an award that they didn't want. The awards matter. Take the award with humility and gratitude, even if they aren't something you feel proud of. Often, the award actually represents the entire unit, not just the individual. It's just that simple. On Iwo Jima, it was said that “Uncommon valor was a common virtue”. There were 27 Medals of Honor awarded amongst the 12,000 American dead. Think about that for a moment.

what is a ETS Award?

You would have to explain WHAT an ETS award is. I have 37 years in and I have never seen one.....

Accept the award graciously and move on. What is the big deal?

former spc4 helm I ETSed in 89 never heard of an ETS award. is it like a participation ribbon that I hear Their handing out in basic now for making it past the first week. just wondering what has happened to the army I was in.

Be yourself

No matter how you slice it, refusing an ETS award makes you look like a pissy whiner. You may have all the reason in the world to harbor a grudge but no matter how you try to pretty it up you are going to be the one who looks petty minded and small.
My advice - shut your trap, accept the award, and give it to the neighbor's dog to play with when you get home.

Conversely, you could tell the 1SG you'd rather have cash.

Some have different reasons for wanting or not wanting an award.. I suppose for
S'one who is moving on ; ETS'g.. maybe they may hook up with a Reserve or Guard unit Air or ground. .. even if the individual did an exemplary job.. some may feel not the same.. wether they are justified feeling that way or not I don't know...? If I were to get one.. let me know and I'll tell them where to send it.. work it out so it
would be awarded at the Veteran's Service org. Post or Chapter I belonged to.. or via my Congressman /person or U.S. Rep .. Fine by me.. A friend was awarded their's in front of the community
And his Scout troop at a Memorial Day
Ceremony.. it had been 30 years after he had left Vietnam.. it was from the people of Vietnam .. an appreciation Plaque for helping them rebuild their village after a massive fire.. he had also wrote home to his church asking for baby and toddler clothes.. others in his unit had given of themselves and recognized, he had rotated before they could recognize his efforts.. The Army not to be outdone
awarded an award for community service .
Two nice plaques .. recognizing s'one for other than firing their weapon at the enemy.. his Congressman and U.S. Rep
awarded them and of course added their own recognition of him with a declaration..
for his selfless service to our Country's Ally.

I did not like you when I got here and I don't like you now bye.