Posted on Apr 3, 2014
What to do when a unit fails to issue a Soldier an award he earned?
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I competed in an event with a couple other soldiers and we all got awarded COAs but mine was mistakenly printed with another soldier's name on it. I have waited for my award and talked to everyone but there has been no out come and no body in my leadership seem to care. I also earned another COA for scoring a 300 in APFT but was never issued an award while others get rewarded for the same action. I did some work but that was used to credit another soldier as Warrior of the week. Can this be just bad luck? I kind of feel discourage. I really want my achievements. Can i put myself for theses awards? UI mean; soldiers get rewarded for theses things so why not me.
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Awards
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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Dont think your accomplishments dont go unnoticed so dont worry about not receiving a ribbon or two. You will get the recognition you deserve in time and it will be worth the wait.
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My brother was in an Army Reserve unit where they returned from deployment and, because their personnel guy did the paperwork wrong, no one received their awards (at least initially and not until after a great deal of headache). Apparently no one in Big Army (initially) noticed that this non-deployed SPC was awarded ALL (or some large chunk) of the unit's awards (with multiple duplicated award write ups). That one had all of us scratching our head. They eventually got things fixed, I hope you do/did too, MSG(P) (Join to see).
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Have your friend put you in for an award. If it gets "lost" again, get with your EOR. The are mandated to track records pertaining to things like awards by rank, race, gender, etc. for accountability and watchdogging. If they try to tell you it was submitted, make sure you check your records. I found an AAM in my downgraded records (originally submitted ARCOM). I didn't know it was there for years (didn't know I was put in for something). Hope this helps. Stay positive bro, never let them see you sweat.
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I once did a month of funeral details. Was on 24/7 recall for funeral's, wasn't even allowed to drink. Everyone on the detail got an AAM except for me, they filled out the paperwork wrong on mine. I fought and fought and fought, no one cared at all. I just got over it.
Sometimes, you aren't going to get rewarded for what you do. Then there are times where you will get reprimanded for things you didn't do. That is part of being a soldier.
Sometimes, you aren't going to get rewarded for what you do. Then there are times where you will get reprimanded for things you didn't do. That is part of being a soldier.
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SGT Suraj Dave
If he tried his chain of command, ad they obviously don't care, he is going to start to annoy them, and they will probably not be happy with that. When your a private, if your CoC doesn't care about you, all you can do is live with it until you get some rank and can do something about it yourself.
I was a PFC at the time, lower enlisted wasn't allowed in S1, and my Squad Leader did not care. Yes, everyone in the Army gets reprimanded for things they don't do, that is the life of being a soldier. If one guy in my platoon is late, we all show up early. I know you have been in situations like those SFC (Join to see) . Saying its not your fault wont help, group punishment exists for a reason.
I was a PFC at the time, lower enlisted wasn't allowed in S1, and my Squad Leader did not care. Yes, everyone in the Army gets reprimanded for things they don't do, that is the life of being a soldier. If one guy in my platoon is late, we all show up early. I know you have been in situations like those SFC (Join to see) . Saying its not your fault wont help, group punishment exists for a reason.
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SFC (Join to see)
If the chain of command is annoyed by someone bringing to their attention they're not getting the right information to recognize the person in question, are they annoyed by someone bringing it up, or themselves for not doing it correctly the first time. And if you stop at the squad leader level then you allowing yourself to only rely on them. If you can't get things done at the lowest level, things you know SHOULD BE done, then you escalate them to the next level. If a Leader does not care for their subordinates, they don't need to be a Leader. If you take up the position of "I don't care, its what happens" you are enforcing their position of not caring for their subordinates. Showing up early in response to 1 person showing up late is not a punishment, its to deter future issues. its a response, not a punishment. If I can leave my home, get a good parking spot, walk to formation with no wait time, its the perfect day, however I'm not allowing for changes to the schedule; bad traffic, change of formation location without notification and so on and so forth. Currently according to the rules posted by my S-1 i have to have a Staff Sergeant or higher to be seen, however, as I often don't have one available I go in and get things done, be it for myself, or my Soldiers. Group punishment is wrong. Period. However, most of them take the form of team-building and unit cohesion, to enforce policing each other up so they don't have to. We're working on solving someone's issues here, not telling them not to stress out because at their level there's not much they can do. Stop being such a pessimist. If you're not part of the solution you're a part of the problem.
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SGT Suraj Dave
I am sorry I am a realist, and I am telling him the truth. I am not saying his squad leader does not care, I am just saying this issue obviously isn't a big deal to his squad leader seeing as he has not done anything about it.
I am not being a "Pessimist". I am telling him exactly what happened to me because I was in the same scenario. There is a reason I am telling him to let it go, because when I jumped my squad leader to my PSG, I made my squad leader look bad. As a result I ended up on Post Police for a week.
If this NCO doesn't care about getting the soldier an award he earned, what's to say he doesn't care about giving reprisal to the soldier?
Showing up to formation early because 1 person is late is a "deterrent"? I guess we don't execute people on death row as punishment, its a "deterrent" for others to do what they did. I guess when you get half of your months pay taken away for an article 15, it isn't a punishment, its a "deterrent" from doing the same thing over again. The point of this whole paragraph was to show you that the word deterrent and punishment are 100% interchangeable, and in most cases is the same thing.
I am not being a "Pessimist". I am telling him exactly what happened to me because I was in the same scenario. There is a reason I am telling him to let it go, because when I jumped my squad leader to my PSG, I made my squad leader look bad. As a result I ended up on Post Police for a week.
If this NCO doesn't care about getting the soldier an award he earned, what's to say he doesn't care about giving reprisal to the soldier?
Showing up to formation early because 1 person is late is a "deterrent"? I guess we don't execute people on death row as punishment, its a "deterrent" for others to do what they did. I guess when you get half of your months pay taken away for an article 15, it isn't a punishment, its a "deterrent" from doing the same thing over again. The point of this whole paragraph was to show you that the word deterrent and punishment are 100% interchangeable, and in most cases is the same thing.
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SFC (Join to see)
You're right, you're not being a Pessimist, you're jaded. Threat of punishment is a deterrent, therefore the predecessor of punishment therefor not in fact interchangeable. That and you missed the whole one team one fight point didn't you?
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Most likely just bad luck and timing is my guess. Â Like SFC Gilley stated, use your chain of command starting with your team or squad leader and address the situation professionally and with tact. Â I guarantee you that they care and just do not see the impact it is having on you emotionally. Â
As a second alternative, you could have someone speak to them on your behalf so it doesn't appear that you are whining if you are worried about that sort of thing. Â
To answer your other question, no you may not recommend yourself for an award. The regulation is very clear about that. Â
Do not get discouraged, there are good leaders out there who will ensure Soldiers are rewarded that are deserving.
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use your chain of command. Start with your team leader then squad leader, platoon sergeant etc. It will be fixed I'm sure
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MSG(P) (Join to see)
Thxs SFC(P), I have utilized my chain and it been more than six months without any result.
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1SG (Join to see)
utilized your chain of command to what point? If it has been 6 months and still no resolution I would venture to say that you did not maximize the potential and power of the chain of command. Once you elevate through the levels of leadership one by one, you eventually end at the top. Before a good PSG would let it get to the 1SG/CSM level it will be taken care of, or you will be given a valid reason of why it is not happening.
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