What’s the appropriate award for saving an overdosed soldier's life?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 May 2021 18:47:50 -0400

A soldier in our BN recently overdosed on some narcotic. Another soldier discovered the overdosed soldier unconscious with a pulse but not breathing. He immediately started rescue breathes and continued until EMS took over. EMS credits the soldier with saving the overdosed soldiers life. What would you award the soldier?

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made May 28 at 2021 7:03 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:03:18 -0400

A comendation medal for a rapid response in saving a humans life.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2021 7:39 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:39:55 -0400

Unless he was personally endangered it likely won't qualify for Soldier's Medal. It's the peacetime equivalent of DSC as the highest peacetime award. ARCOM maybe, or AAM? I'd go with ARCOM depending on the details. A round at All Hands beer call from the rescued soldier would be a bonus as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2021 7:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:55:00 -0400

Soldiers Medal.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 28 at 2021 9:17 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 28 May 2021 21:17:01 -0400

My guess is an ARCOM or a Soldier’s Medal — probably one of those

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2021 10:04 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 May 2021 22:04:04 -0400

ARCOM. Since the life of of rescuer was not in peril, they would not rate the Soldiers Medal.

Response by SPC Wayne Wright made May 28 at 2021 11:58 PM

SPC Wayne Wright — Fri, 28 May 2021 23:58:23 -0400

I would award the soldier the highest award the state in which it happened issues to soldiers.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2021 12:54 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 00:54:13 -0400

How much does the CoC like this guy sir?

Minimum ARCOM, perhaps a COA signed by BDE, and a coin from the first star in your chain.

I don't think the Soldier's Medal qualifies unless there is some factor to the Soldier risking his life to save the other, and even then get someone damn good to write it up. Even then I doubt it, that's more of a run into an active shooter scenario or pull bodies from a burning building kind of thing.

One of our NCO's provided medical aid to an injured Civilian in a motorcycle crash. Saved the guys severed ear, and removed broken teeth from his mouth so he wouldn't choke on them, and stayed with him until EMT's arrived on scene. Got an AAM for it.

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made May 29 at 2021 2:34 AM

SGT Justin Brothen — Sat, 29 May 2021 02:34:11 -0400

Find a medal, then promote you need these kind of people

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made May 29 at 2021 2:40 AM

SGT Justin Brothen — Sat, 29 May 2021 02:40:40 -0400

Funny reading this that a soldiers medal isn't warranted...... Yet be a LT have a week in country.... Get bronze star..... Y'all have seen it maybe not that drastic but I have

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2021 5:07 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 05:07:09 -0400

I would recommend the Soldier for an ARCOM! I will disagree with others; the Soldier's Medal is not warranted in this instance due to the fact that the Soldier was not exposed to any risk (based on the information provided). I think an AAM is not enough.

Having the wherewithal to start CPR (rescue breaths) in such a moment is definitely worth significant recognition. As a civilian Police Officer in my metropolitan area, I am dispatched to CPR/Assist Fire calls several times a month. In my experience, only about half of the times does someone start CPR prior to my arrival. I can say from experience that CPR does save lives, especially in the case of narcotic (usually heroin or an opioid) overdose. For those that have never done CPR before, it is not an easy thing to just jump into. I believe it takes some mental fortitude to recognize the situation and to act accordingly.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2021 6:00 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 06:00:06 -0400

I’ve seen ARCOMs be given for similar things.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 29 at 2021 6:22 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 29 May 2021 06:22:07 -0400

One, it is a selfless act, more often than not they aren’t looking for recognition, two it would warrant an ARCOM, or AAM, it requires more facts. It does not rise to the level of Soldiers medal, one has to be risking of themselves while saving another.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made May 29 at 2021 8:50 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:50:24 -0400

From the unit: ARCOM
From the other Soldier: Free beer for as long as they are both in the unit.

In addition, the unit needs to make a BIG DEAL out of this. To show the dangers of narcotics, yes. But more importantly, to show the true measure of a Soldier, and how we expect Soldiers to ALWAYS do whatever they can to take care of each other. On the battlefield, off the battlefield, on duty, off duty. ALWAYS.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2021 11:01 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 11:01:38 -0400

Lots of ARCOM recommendations here, but I think the ARCOM has lost all of its value in the past 20 years. It's the new participation medal, you get them for literally doing nothing and HRC telling you to PCS, or for just deploying and sitting on BAF for a few months.
This Soldier could have done nothing, and no one would think less of them. I'd say a Bronze Star or MSM (at minimum), aka get a Flag Officer involved.

This is the problem with awards, people are always trying to diminish and give the lowest possible award to a Soldier, rather than trying to give the higher and actually utilize the award system the way it is. Or we just have a lazy service that doesn't want to write a narrative so they stick to ARCOMs because an O6 signature is fairly easy to get and be done with it.

Response by 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel made May 29 at 2021 12:59 PM

1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel — Sat, 29 May 2021 12:59:43 -0400

If you figure out an award, I need to apply retroactively….I resuscitated numerous ODs in my emergency medical career….military and civilian…

Response by CSM David Porterfield made May 29 at 2021 5:51 PM

CSM David Porterfield — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:51:43 -0400

ARCOM

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2021 6:01 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:01:27 -0400

Reading more responses it shows more of the problem within the awards system...it's too subjective. What some people feel MSM, others feel ARCOM, and some even say a coin or COA. The same subjectivity lies within the commanders with award approval authority.
We need objectivity within the system.

Response by CPL Brian Baumgartner made May 29 at 2021 10:15 PM

CPL Brian Baumgartner — Sat, 29 May 2021 22:15:10 -0400

There was a time when the accepted answer may have depended on whether the ill Soldier had his gear clean. Today, I would say a Battalion Commander's coin, and possibly even an AAM if below E-3 or under 15 months TIS. The ceremony of a challenge coin and displaying it will provide some motivation to the most junior personnel in the unit, and possibly give the recipient some profile that leads to opportunity. Perhaps there is justification to an AAM, though I struggle to understand it other than addressing a severely low morale level throughout the unit. Rendering basic aid should always be the minimum, not the exception. How would you recommend treating your same Soldier if he DIDN'T administer basic care known and executed by ten year old Scouts and (hopefully) all high school freshman, much less trained professional Soldiers? Personally it seems like another participation award resulting from happenstance, not anything exemplary or impressive. Perhaps I am wrong here, and perhaps missing something obvious. Is this more about politics and morale than merit? I do recall in OSUT that my bunkmate rendered aid to a Soldier who could not breathe; he received a coin, and we had not even reached the first aid training phase.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 2 at 2021 4:02 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 16:02:01 -0400

Commendation medal. Public presentation. Your soldier did a great service to his fellow Soldier and the US Army.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Jun 6 at 2021 7:05 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 19:05:05 -0400

With what I've seen during my time, an AAM or an ARCOM. Depending on the person in the 82nd and who they know, they'd probably get a Soldier's Medal (I've seen two Soldier's Medals awarded during my career that didn't meet the criteria, but they got them anyway because of who they were and who they knew). Just my luck, I'd get a handshake and COB formation and "see you in the morning for PT."