Posted on Oct 5, 2016
What is the best way to tell your unit that you in no way shape or form want an ETS award from them?
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First off, wow kinda surprised this generated any response at all. I was looking more for a "oh hey, just do this memorandum and it's all done." kind of a deal. Anyways as for context, awards here go through about 15 or more corrections for non-grammatical issues. The award hasn't been written yet and I would probably end up writing it anyways. I just don't want to waste anyone's time or my own for that matter with writing an award that a civilian company cares not a whit about that just going to get kicked back over and over and over. I know what I have done and I honestly don't care much for recognition. I'd rather see some of my Soldiers get credited as they go on to do bigger and better things. Do I also have other motivations for not wanting an award yes because there have been several things that have left a bad taste, but I didn't post this to air my dirty laundry, I was just simply looking for advice. Thanks all for the numerous replies. Most were pretty entertaining, and a few were even helpful.
Awards
ETS/EAS
Advice
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 350
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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.
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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.
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SFC Robert White
end of service award. normally given to soldiers that served the unit honorably. without UCMJ
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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.
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CSM Dwayne Perry
Ive heard it said many times that Soldiers contributed to (insert name). If we truly appreciate those soldiers we lead then we acknowledge their assistance in achieving any award. Accept and thank those you lead
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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.
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.
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never heard of it.why would they do that?we had a party got on the bus the next morning.
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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.
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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.
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Is this a big deal now? I was an infantry company commander back in the 80s. If I learned that one of my NCOs requested no ETS award, I would say no problem, fine with me, tell the S-1, and wouldn't give it a second thought. If the S-1 processed it anyway, well then I guess the old man overruled me and you will get your award, soldier. This is the Army, not a democracy. Accept it in a dignified manner.
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I had a guy in my unit in Fort Benning who did three tours in Viet Nam. He got out for a few years and came back in. He worked running a range while he was here due to some medical issues. As a SSG, the unit gave him an AAM as his retirement award. If it were me, I would have thrown that in their faces, but he sucked it up and walked across the stage to collect it. I guess, by that time, he didn't have that many f*cks to give.
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As the daughter of a soldier, I would encourage you to take it. It may not mean much to you right now, but one day your children will cherish it. My father passed away 10 years ago. He was a USMC Carlson's Raider. He had 2 Purple Hearts. After the war, he became a doctor and moved on with his life. He kept very few things from his war time days and what he did keep was lost in a fire. You see, while we were out of town burying him, some scum broke into my parent's house. This person flicked a cigarette onto their mattress and the whole house and everything in it burned down. I recently filed a request to get his records from his service and replace his awards so I could make a memory box for my son. Those "little" awards mean the world to us.
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I just ETS my unit was just to lazy to write an ETS award for me even being at FORT RILEY. The reason was because I didn't have a PT test. But that is just some BS to cover for how fucked they are. Because I had surgery in September so I couldn't take one. When my Commander and first line told the reason why I wouldn't be getting one I told them both out right it's OK because I can't use that in the civilian world. Shit the GS jobs won't even look at them.
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Sounds like you're not having a good experience; you hope to put it all behind you and move on. Yet it is usually SOP for most units to issue awards. A friend of mine at his retirement said, "I don't deserve this award...but I'll accept it for all the awards I deserved and didn't get." Be gracious and take what you're given. It might just look good on your resume.
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From someone who never received one, through no fault of their own; accept it and be gracious. What happens to it when you leave the room is entirely up to you.
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Wait, some replies were *helpful*?!?!?
Alright, guys and gals, someone fucked up, big-time! You all *know* that being helpful is forbidden!
Lol! Glad you found a few ideas. Good luck in your transition active-duty to veteran.
Alright, guys and gals, someone fucked up, big-time! You all *know* that being helpful is forbidden!
Lol! Glad you found a few ideas. Good luck in your transition active-duty to veteran.
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I will share the story of my so called ETS award. My Platoon Sergeant actually took the time to put me in for a MSM. The bullets were strong and quantified. To make a long story short the BC summarily downgraded it to a COA. So we have the final formation and I was presented it. I said thank you, saluted and all that. Once we were dismissed I calmly and quietly ripped it up and tossed it in the trash. I didn't make a scene, although I wanted to. I just didn't want to give them any reason to try and slap me with UCMJ right before getting out. It was basically a slap in the face under the guise of giving an award. I would have rather got nothing at all, at least I could respect the CoC for being honest. I also felt kind of bad for my NCO, who had spend a great deal of time writing it up. In the end it all worked out. I found a great career as an Army civilian and am loving it. I had a bad taste when I got out too, but that was another life lol.
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Sgt Gustavo Soto
The hell with the award! At least you know you deserved the MSM, and they or no one can't take that from you! Drive on and congrats!
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For one, in moving on to the civilian sector, you better figure out what you've done or you won't be able to furnish a resume. Secondly, you will never get promoted, much less, earn a pay raise, because they expect you to document what you've done for them yearly! Having been passed over for two PCS awards for not requesting or pushing was a mistake on my part. Would have added to my already simple load I had upon my medical retirement pre 9/11. You must learn that no one is going to take care of you, but you! Bad taste or not, take your earned award if you did... If you didn't, explain to your Command why you didn't earn it so they can improve those things upon your departure! As far as the other smartassed conjectures here, ignore them and move on!
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SP5 Paul Riley
I threw all that shit away except one challenge coin, my unit was so fucked up the only I wanted was my retirement papers and my education benefits. And I still got fucked. Been retired over 5 years and they lowered my disability rate from 80 to 50. I threw my awards away in front of my command and walked outside and smoked a cigar. And don't call me a shitbag because I did that, I was a good NCO and did a lot of favors for officers and NCO's who didn't know my name when I got a field grade for rolling my eyes at a incompetent E7 from the Army Reserves. I am not as bitter as I used to be. Buts that's age.
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