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As an army nurse, me and my department played a major role in fighting the COVID pandemic. Other departments have been given a HSM as well as a AFSM. However, me and others in my department were only given the AFSM. I brought this up to my ncoic and he tried to get us both however s1 or whoever decides this said no. Airmen of our hospital regardless of department were also awarded both. I am aware you can not get two awards for the same reason but I just can’t let it go. What can I do to fight for this award for me and the rest of the department
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 6
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S1 does not approve or deny awards. They process awards and other admin functions. Whoever is designated as the approving authority determines approval or denial of awards.
Here's the memo last year for AFSM and HSM published last year on qualifications. I'm not sure if there is anything newer since then.
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jul/01/ [login to see] /-1/-1/1/AWARD-OF-THE-ARMED-FORCES-SERVICE-MEDAL-AND-HUMANITARIAN-SERVICE%20MEDAL-FOR-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE-CORONAVIRUS-OPERATIONS-AND-ACTIVITIES.PDF
It does say that SMs are not eligible for both awards based on the same activities, deployment and/or period of service. So someone is wrong there if there are SMs who got both awards for the same time period or activity.
It says for eligible personnel: "Active and Reserve component (including National Guard) members who meet AFSM and HSM eligibility criteria contained in DoD Manual 1348.33, Vol 2..."
For AFSM it says for those who didn't deploy they had to be assigned to DoD covid-19 duties for 30 days.
It sounds like you should have at least gotten AFSM. But no one is supposed to get both.
Here's the memo last year for AFSM and HSM published last year on qualifications. I'm not sure if there is anything newer since then.
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jul/01/ [login to see] /-1/-1/1/AWARD-OF-THE-ARMED-FORCES-SERVICE-MEDAL-AND-HUMANITARIAN-SERVICE%20MEDAL-FOR-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE-CORONAVIRUS-OPERATIONS-AND-ACTIVITIES.PDF
It does say that SMs are not eligible for both awards based on the same activities, deployment and/or period of service. So someone is wrong there if there are SMs who got both awards for the same time period or activity.
It says for eligible personnel: "Active and Reserve component (including National Guard) members who meet AFSM and HSM eligibility criteria contained in DoD Manual 1348.33, Vol 2..."
For AFSM it says for those who didn't deploy they had to be assigned to DoD covid-19 duties for 30 days.
It sounds like you should have at least gotten AFSM. But no one is supposed to get both.
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They are different awards, one is for service in support of the pandemic, one is being on the “front line” of the fight. S1 doesn’t decide if you get it or not. Find the MILPER, resubmit the award with it.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
SPC (Join to see) - MILPER is Military Personnel Messages. It's not something you submit anything to. I posted the DoD memo that was issued for AFSM and HSM last year. But it wouldn't hurt to go to HRC and search MILPER messages.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SSG (Join to see) - the medals were created decades ago by the Institute of Heraldry. MILPER messages don't create awards, they announce eligibility.
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SSG (Join to see)
there is a MILPER that announced eligibility during COVID~22649:SFC Michael Hasbun]
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Your NCOIC needs to dig deeper. If different departments and divisions are getting/not getting the award for the same actions/same time period/ same award authority something isn't getting documented correctly. You can go through the Chain of Command, EO rep, HR, IG just to name a few.
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