When can we finally be done with these "give me" awards like the NDSM and GWOTSM?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 20:07:14 -0400

I am a firm believer that we should no longer be issuing the National Defense Service medal or the Global War on Terror service medal (atleast to those who have yet to truly go forward deployed and protect this country). When can we finally be done with these give me awards?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2018 8:52 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 20:52:03 -0400

Since they are for joining/serving during a time of war, and we are still deploying combat troops, at least the NDSM is appropriate being awarded as it always has been. The GWOTSM is probably outdated, and we should arguably just have the appropriate campaign medals though.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 7 at 2018 9:30 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 21:30:56 -0400

That's fair. In fact, it could be argued that wearing the uniform is as good as the NDSM or GWOT. Then again, what harm do they do? And how do you reconcile the fact that some will have them and some won't when all have served under the same conditions? Do we take them back?

Response by LTC John Mohor made Jun 7 at 2018 10:01 PM

LTC John Mohor — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 22:01:59 -0400

SSgt J Hamilton I just gotta ask why? As it turns out the NDSM started being awarded during the "Korean Conflict" it's the most awarded medal in US History. The GWOT Service seams appropriate now that conflicts are now no longer against a nation state but many terrorist from many countries including our own. With Reserve Centers, recruiting stations and even military bases being attacked what's forward deployed got to do with it? Once forward deployed now you can earn the UN Multi Force Observers Medal, Kosovo Campaign, Inherint Resolve, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Now Inherent Resolve Medal after Iraq Campaign Medal end date was established along with the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Jun 8 at 2018 5:47 PM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:47:53 -0400

A case could be made that the NDSM and GWOTSM are redundant based on the history of conflict related service medals since WWII. During WWII military members were awarded the American Campaign Medal for service in the United for various periods of service based on branch of service. It was the "I served in WWII but didn't necessarily go anywhere" medal. If they were sent overseas they received the service medal(s) appropriate for the theater(s) in which they served. In 1953 the National Defense Service Medal was authorized for all that served honorably during a designated period of national emergency usually defined as war or conflict regardless of where they served. In '53 the NDSM was awarded for service during the Korean War, Conflict or Police Action effective from '50 to '54. Those that served in Korea and environs also received the Korean Service Medal. The next emergency period was declared for the period 1961 to 1974, the Vietnam Era. Those that served but didn't go to Vietnam received the NDSM; those the went to Vietnam one way or the other received the Vietnam service Medal as well. The Gulf War('90 to '95) worked the same way. The NDSM for those who served but not in the war zone and the NDSM and the SWASM for those in the war zone. So there's the tradition - a service medal for serving during a declared national emergency but not going to the actual site of the emergency and a service medal for serving in the area of conflict. Nowadays there's the NDSM for all who served in the current period of national emergency(9/11 through a date to be announced), a Global War On Terrorism Service Medal for all who served in a period so far concurrent with the current eligibility for the NDSM whether or not the service includes deployment to those areas of conflict for which service medals(ASM,ISM, IRSM and GWOTEM) are awarded. That's an "I served during a national emergency"medal, an "And that emergency was the War on Terrorism, but I didn't necessarily go anywhere" medal and, finally, a "During the current national emergency here's where I went" medal(s). Based on historical precedent the GWOTSM is redundant. Based on current awards practice maybe not so much...