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

Be humble accept the award and shut up

Accept the award in a professional manner. You never have to wear the award or inform anyone you have it, but you'll have the option in the future.

I didn't serve but I've been seeing good men and women being kicked out of the services for less. If you get anything less than a honorable discharge how are you going to support your family? I say take it just like the man of honor you are.

Excuse me my Army friends, but the article does not say what the award is given for. Please share that if you will.

I never saw them in the Navy

You will not miss the award today, but you will miss it in the future. The process my suck, but the intent is to recognize good Soldier for their action. It may or may not help get you your next job, but it is not meant to help you get a job. It is to recognize your performance during your tour.

Just tell them to send it in the mail. G2G

I made my own....had everybdy sign my shirt and wrote comments

Do what Yasarian did

If you enlisted just to get awards, or expect to recieve them, you shouldn't have enlisted from the start. NCO creed prioritizes as #1 Mission and #2 Men, I don't see anything there about you getting anything.

I retired after 22 years, 18 years with the same BN. All I got was a DD214 and soldiers who still call on me, that should be enough.

It is a bad ideal to reject your ETS award. This award can be used to pad a resume when you are moving to the civilian world. Further, it is in poor taste to throw out something that someone has put the time and work to thank you for your service. If you have bad feelings about the unit, then it is always best to take the high side of the road by moving on to better opportunities.

I utilized the early ETS option for a job and my command had a very difficult time with how quickly I was supposed to start my new civilian job...I left the day receiving my DD-214 with nothing but a coin, handshake from the battalion commander, and no ETS award let alone an impact award that was "in the works" for the last 6 months. That was July and still haven't received my award...
I was just happy to be released for good behavior.

If you want an award, be direct about it and ask. Take it if it is given. If you have to write it, do the minimum and God willing no one thinks it should be upgraded. Put it in a frame and put it up in your new job somewhere if you can.

I am a retired LTC (O-5) with 4 years of AD (West Germany 80-84) and 20 years as a Reservist. Some of you already hate my guts, but please read on. As a young Platoon Leader in West Germany 80-84 there was really no policy for a EM-ETS soldier would receive anything other than GCM (If the S-1 and Company Commander were on the ball) and a Company Commander Letter or Bn. Certificate of Award prior to his ETS. (Those were typed up hurriedly as the soldier was out processing.) In 1983 the AAM, ASR and OSR where developed. Instead of getting a Letter of Appreciation from the Company Commander (o-3) which if less than a O-5 could not be placed in your Personnel Jacket (201 File) you really had nothing. All of the EMs in my platoon (Best in the whole F@#$%^& Army) were hard working soldiers (1-D-12-8th ID) When they ETS, DEROS, PCS all of them I made sure got everything they had earned. I would plan 30 days out. As a Company Commander, I would plan 60 days out and hold the Platoon Leaders feet to the fire. As a Reserve Bn. Commander the Company Commanders feet. Awards and decorations are important. Then after my Bn. Co position, I went to a higher echelon Staff position. Worked my A@@ of, then in the end my O-7 asked me to write my retirement award (MSM) the night before my retirement and he would approve it. I felt humiliated and pissed off. This guy preached "Taking care of the soldiers and going the next mile". ETC ETC. I decided the Award wasn't for me, but my peers and wonderful soldiers I lead during my 24 year career. I wrote it up as a thank you to them and my family. It has been over 15 years since then and I look at the certificate and thank my family and soldiers for these times. BOTTOM LINE.. TAKE THE AWARD AND THANK ALL YOUR PEERS AND SOLDIERS AND REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES !!

if I'm not mistaken that is an "END OF TOUR" award of some sort.?

Not familiar with an ETS AWARD. Can someone give me the civilian explanation.

I believe we should always be the example to younger troops. Stand tall take the award and move on. Keep your bearing. My opinion

There is a memo to clear without an award. Also if you clear without an award the unit knows and cares less over time mailing it to you from my view of things. Ets awards and pcs awards are mandatory unless you're flagged nowadays anyways. Just do whatever you need to do to get out. If that involves writing it... Then write it, copy paste if you don't care but one day you might be proud of your service and regret looking at a bs award so be honest. Imo of course.

I have been in the military for over 22 years. I spent 5 years out of the military in the civilian sector. There are a lot of prior service guys, vets and retirees in the civilian sector in management positions. If you think an ETS award doesn't matter, you are wrong. If you run into someone who has served, no matter the service, they will wonder why you didn't get an award and you will have to answer for that. Stop pushing back against a system that is actually trying to help you. And stop worrying about what other people have to do to get that accomplished. That is their job and each person uses those opportunities to enhance their skills in writing and it helps them out in the end. You are focused on the wrong thing Soldier and need to put your efforts into making yourself look more marketable for the civilian workforce. I speak from experience. And as such I see you as seeking attention more than bucking the system. I may be coming off wrong in that assessment but that is how you are portraying yourself. Take the award, appreciate it, say thank you, and move just move on to making a better life for yourself outside of the uniform.

Back in the day you had to beg for an award that you deserve then it gets down graded or even worse you have to write your own award.

Honestly after 17 years i am about to get a medical retirement and after being at my current duty station for almost 7 years and my command not appricating everything i habe done their i simply went to the SFC who just arrived at the unit 6 months ago and informed him if the unit could not appreciate everything i did while i have been here then dont waste your time i do not want an award now as i am leaving because that is the expectation i will just get a memo to clear without an award that way i am not turning it down in front of the Soldiers i will just quietly leave and continue with my life