Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

The real answer is there are many lazy leaders with poor written communication skills who don't know their subordinates well enough to write good recommendations. Copy and paste was status quo while I was in the Army. I took great pride in writing evaluation reports and award recommendations that were very specific so if copied, they would be blatant lies about anyone else. I challenged my commanders to check the NO block on DA Form 638 and say why it should be downgraded. I mentored Company Grade Officers on how to write evaluations and award recommendations for Junior Warrant Officers, and NCO's for their subordinates as well instead of using fluffy bullets or narratives that lacked any substance. The focus should be on the individual, not their rank. The message to leaders is do your job. Written counseling, performance evaluations and award recommendations are part of it. You owe it to the people who do the work that fills the evaluation reports that get you promoted and awarded for.

I have been in the military for many years, both active and reserves, as a enlisted person to currently a MAJ, and I have gotten my share of awards. But if this SPC thinks he should get an award for just showing up, then all the awards that have been given for going "up and beyond" mean nothing then. So, instead of feeling sorry for yourself, I would look inside yourself and reflect on why after 8 yrs of being in the reserves "I'm only a E-4" and surely you have done a few 2-week AT's and haven't gotten a single award, that should make you wonder if there is something I need to do.
But, after all that you still think you deserve an award, go ahead and put yourself in for one or two, you don't need to wait on someone else to write your award, you can write up your own award and submit it, as long as you have supporting documentation your Commander should support you and sign off on it.
Good luck and I hope you have many more years in the military.

Difficult to answer. I received every award without prior knowledge of having been recommended. How ever, during vietam, I recognized the exemplary actions of my aircraft crew under extraordinary enemy fire and awarded them accordingly. There was a time when awards ment being awarded under the most trying time during war. Today, the same awards seem to be awarded to desk jockeys deminishing their recognition and politizing the military for recognitions unworthy of such.

Because officers approve awards, They will give each other awards for all kinds of dumb crap, and then the few enlisted awards they usually approve will be even stupider. NAM ceremonies are always interesting when you get to listen to the trumped up accomplishments of your peers or leaders.

What have you accomplished? Have you made significant impact? Have you changed jobs? Have you volunteered? Stop worrying about the other guy and work on you. If you do not like your current situation, change it. What have you done to change this culture? If you do not like being enlisted, a WOCS class starts every two weeks and OCS is taking applications.

Wow. Seems like leadership issues. Have you ever PCS? Deployments? Have you done anything outside of your duty description that distinguished yourself?

I was on a deployment supplementing SF when there weren't enough to go around. My unit was broken up and sent all over Afghanistan. I was a Spc doing the job of a 1lt or ever Cpt. I was put in for a bronze start but our command decided it did not matter what you did, it all depended on your rank. So officers got a bronze star, NCOs got a ACM, and jr enlisted got an AAM. I thought that was absolutely ridiculous, lazy, and unjust. Command did a huge disservice to all it's subordinates.

There's not a course in ROTC that covers award writing... when to give awards.. etc.. your LT that has been in a year is still learning how to be an officer.
My unit, enlisted, especially the most junior, are getting awards on a regular basis. Every field ex we do an award ceremony for the Soldiers who have had the most impact.

Any body can recommend someone for an award. Officers take care of each other because it is vital to their profession. Enlisted are so busy working or working to get out of work, they fail to take care of each other.