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

After 6 years with a unit where I never received an award, I PCS'd and now I was put in for an MSM. I would rather of had s couple of timely AAMs than an MSM after I left.

Don't be a c@@@; Nothing good will come of it. Take the award and move out smartly. ETS/PCS awards means whatever good or bad situation you were in, is now in the past. Not having an award, or having a BS award would prompt a question "who did you piss off and how?" from anybody that reviewed your service record.

I've heard this argument from more than one of my Soldiers and my answer to them was that they were getting one regardless of how they feel about it. First off, if you contributed in any way to your unit accomplishing their mission it should be recognized, for you, as well as soldiers who are lower ranking than you it is important that they see hard work being recognized. Second, it is important for your children or children's children who may want to know a little about you when you are gone. You also may not think it is important to you now but you may look back on your service in the future and wish you had it.

Sounds as though you fell your not part of the group, must be something wrong? not accepting the award would be a smack in the face of your commander and your unit, if I was your commander I would insure your departure out of my unit ASAP. Advise you to reconsider your thoughts on this, unless its your way of saying your not happy in your job, position,, and rank. Advice from a retired vet.

The best way is to tell them directly. I have refused awards because in certain situations I felt that I was getting an award for doing the job and not for anything exceptional, and this is a radical trend in the Army, for rewarding mediocrity. If you tell your first line that under no circumstances will you accept an award or citation, they have to honor that request. Its your OMPF, not theirs.

I tried to refuse an award once because my supervisor submitted it out of obligation rather than for my accomplishments. In fact, the actual award was supposed to be an MSM and the unnamed individual tried first tried to take credit for the work and then took the easy way out by copying someone else's accomplishments on the recommendation for my award. Of course, the award was poorly written and downgraded to an ARCOM and pushed through the system to meet my Departure deadline. By the truck me I saw the award, it was ready for presentation and was a complete lie. I was ticked and requested to receive the award privately because I planned to turn it in board of record appeals to have it stricken from my record. First off, reward me appropriately for my work. Secondly, if it is going to be downgraded, at least let it be legitimate. The whole situation should disrespect, laziness, poor leadership, and a lack of concern for troops. I thought about throwing it away, but I was too much of a professional to do such a thing.

You are probably like me. I enlisted because the war on terror was my generations calling. I joined because I did not to be a grandfather telling my grandchildren that I was to much of a B*tch to fight my generations war. I joined becauss it was the American thing to do. I know what I did while in. My family is proud, my wife is proud, and i am proud. Shred my ETS award, it is just a piece of paper.

Take the award. There are so many people who are never recognized, that getting one seems to the exception to the rule.

I was awarded an AAM as a PCS award when I was SGT. I felt it was an insult for 3+ years in the unit. After the CDR pinned the medal on me and said the floor was mine to speak, I simply told him "I have nothing to say sir". Later that day I asked to speak with the 1SG but our schedules didn't mesh so I gave the orders and the medal to my PSG and asked him to return them. We had been talking about it for a couple weeks.

I didn't make an ass of myself in front of the lower enlisted, didn't humiliate my CoC or NCO support channel and kept the "insulting" award off of my records.

My advice is tell your CoC you don't want an award, don't get "forced" to write your own, and be professional with whatever action(s) you take.

Regardless if your ending your career or not, as an NCO you know in your gut that no one leaves an organization without recognition. Finish your time strong and take your last award on the way out.

You dont. Take your award, trust me, I ETS in 2006 and joined the Guard, I miss my unit almost daily and the award was a reflection of what we did together. Its never about you or me, its about the greater good, take that award and give a good professional speech about how we can win anything through team work

My commander called me a week after I was honorably discharged and said he wanted to have formation on Friday to present my award.

I was like Sir I already left and I am on terminal leave. They never mailed it to me and was never put into my record. So yea I can see this happening...

I left active duty in 1979 and again in 1985, I never received this. This award is not meant to harm you, but to show appreciation. When I retired from the US Army reserves in 2003 they messed up my paper work so I never got paid for my final weekend, no thanks. no nothing. even if its a form letter or award it's better then what they gave out 13 years ago.

Maybe it will fit nicely in your shadow box. Spit that bad taste out and get hot. Show some leadership.................

Just a couple of thoughts. These also shouldn't get you in trouble.

1 Did you try just asking not to receive the award?

2 You did say you will probably end up writing it anyway. Just don't write the award. When asked about it tell them you can't write your own award.

I will say I have been in your shoes before. When I was in Okinawa my battle didn't receive an award and she was not flagged nor barred. So I didn't receive an award either. I felt it was them saying I was better than her. I still received an award but it's not on my records. I still have the award I just don't wear it or have it on my ERB.

This will sound a bit cheeses.
"It's how you finish the game that counts" "not if you win or lose"
So finish like a Man with your head up and take the award. Do a about face and move out smartly.
We all get pissed off at times and want to act out. Good luck

As someone who worked in several units early in my career that had the attitude of no one needs awards, I say take it, you don't know when the next one will come. Two if your soldiers deserve awards submitted them for it.

Free points.

I always thought the Army was way over the top in handing out awards. My Father who was a retired E-9 in the Navy (Made E-9 in 14 years by the way) had 1 award that was his when he retired. The Navy Good Conduct Medal. The others were Unit or Service Awards such as WWII medals. When I was in the Army (72-93) I received end of tour awards also. They were simply participation awards. Awards for doing your job.

Look at it like this. How much time did you miss your family? How many times did the job suck but you did it anyway because it was you duty? I always felt awards we there to let you know your superiors cared and understood the tasks you performed to a high standard. In DS a fellow NCO of mine got a BSM for being the shit detail guy. He did it for two months straight. I ask the CSM later why? He told me that he never once received a complain about that detail, and that every time he used one of the latrines it was fully stocked and clean!! And as others have said one day your grand kids may be looking through you stuff and see the award. Take that award from a grateful nation and ride off into the sunset.