Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

As a retired Battalion/Brigade S-1, I can speak to the fact that officers are not getting more awards than enlisted soldiers. I can assure you that the amount of awards that are processed monthly are tallied. That tally is sent to division each month and audited to ensure there is equality among awards is distributed by demographics. I have processed at least 20 awards on a monthly basis and none of those awards included any officer. Now I have served in several units as the S-1 and that was a very common trend. Now when it comes to the type of awards among soldiers, they vary. They vary based on the impact the soldier made on the unit or the mission. If an officer made a significant impact or contribution, that officer was awarded accordingly. The same goes for an enlisted soldier. In the case of enlisted soldiers, there were some that weren't warranted, but with a tenacious command team, that award was pushed through. My point in all of this is that if you do the work or efforts it takes to get an award, your leadership will (and should) push for an award on your behalf. Eight years is a long time to only receive one award as a AAM.

In my opinion and experience, sometimes it comes down to ass-kissing or name recogntion. I've been both a beneficiary and a *victim* of this phenomenon. On the name-recognition front, while in the Corps in 1993, I spent time with a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit for the non-Marines here) as a commo maintenance tech. Made multiple trips to and from ships while in transit to keep equipment working. Flew so much that the wingers *awarded* me honorary flight crew status, had my own cranial, flight patch, and they wrangled two pairs of coveralls for me. Put together the entire class IX parts block for the entire commo maintenance section. Was put in for a NAM upon return to the states. Stood in 5 different batallion formations and watched as 5 different Marines received NAMs for work that I personally had done; every single one of them had a direct connection to Headquarters at the battalion level. 4 months later, an impromptu company formation was held and my name was called. The reason? My NAM had cycled all the way through the Corps, out the other side, and had somehow ended up on the desk of the XO for the 6th Fleet. I don't know if it was because he was feeling especially magnanimous that day or if he took pity on me, but he felt it necessary to issue me a "Letter of Commendation" for my work. The NAM citation was quoted word for word. Let me reiterate: I got a letter of recognition from a Navy Rear Admiral for work I did for my Marine Corps unit. That was the day I stopped giving a shit whether or not anyone recognized my work. I did my job, well, and went home at night toy family.

On the *not gonna kiss ass* front, I served with the TNANG in Iraq in 2005 as a commo chief - both fixing them AND co-managing the comm section. 12 months in country, multiple troop movements to and from retrans sections, including he and I both spending time out on site in the *wilderness.* worked long hours both in the commo shop and the TOC, gave multiple classes to troops and officers because a lot of them had little to no experience on the SINGARS system. At the end of the tour, PltSgt and I (both of us were SSG's fulfilling E7-E8 duties throughout the tour) were put in for ARCOMs. Mine came back without a hitch, his was bounced around and eventually downgraded to an AAM, eith half of theboriginal citation trimmed out. Why? While I have never been one to suck up, he was an even pricklier ass who refused to even entertain the suggestion of playing nice. I love him like a brother and would do anything for him, but he was absolutely the epitome of *screw you, I'm doing it my way.* And when our reqards wwnt up simultaneously, I was seen as much less of a prick than he was.

Moral of this long-winded story? Unless you perform some undeniable valorous act under direct enemy fire, your likelihood of receiving an award commensurate with your actions is oftentimes directly proportional to who you know or how much ass you are willing to kiss. So if you get an award, good. If not, it's not necessarily because you didn't earn it.

1. Maybe because officers have a higher level of responsibility than enlisteds? An Army officer starts as a platoon leader whereas a platoon sergeant, on average, has 10 or more years time in service. After about, on average, 6 years the lieutenant is a captain in command of a company and his first sergeant has about 15 to 20 years time in service. Remember this - NCOs "run" the Army but officers "own" the Army and bear ultimate responsibility for its success or failure.

2. Maybe because officers are more likely than enlisteds to push for a medal. Senior commanders (battalion level and above) who want their junior officers to succeed are more likely to recommend them for awards so they have a "good" record. Other commanders might have the "you were just doing your job" mentality and only give awards for those who go "above and beyond".

3. There never has been and never will be a perfect awards system. Don't worry about awards. Sometimes they come and sometimes they don't. If you waste your time comparing yourself to others - you will always be disappointed. I didn't get my first AAM until I had been in for 21 years and was only a SGT. I retired as an MSG with a BSM and an MSM (plus 2 ARCOMs and the AAM). Yes, many have done better but I think I did okay and that's all that matters.

Officers take care of officers and sometimes remember the troops. Now i know some officers i served with took care of anyone who deserved recognition. Few and far between.

That is known as the Good Old Boy network. They make sure they look out for each other. Unless you have a good senior enlisted supervisor you will not be recognized for the outstanding work that you do. But also if you have senior enlisted supervisor who had to work hard for his personnel awards he will be reluctant to recommend you for a personal award for just doing your job. I found that now awards are handed out at the drop of the hat for merely just doing your job. It has come to appoint that a lot of awards such as Navy Achievement and Navy Commendation are no look upon as being as valued as they once were.

I agree with many comments above - the whole “your level of leadership dictates the award” is not very realistic (where the hell did this concept come from). It’s the action that is (or should be) being recognized not the individual/slot they’re in. I would suggest, and I stated this every chance I got as a BN Cdr, that every soldier should be taught how to write a DA 638. Best part of the job is promoting or awarding deserving Soldiers. Love to see the look on a Soldiers face that’s done a great job but didn’t expect the recognition!

Granted, I served from 89-2010 so my experiences may not be as relevant. Having said that... I never saw an officer with opportunities to earn awards like an enlisted man in a garrison environment. Soldiers have the chance to earn awards by simply winning boards (Soldier/NCO mnth, qtr, year). I have also witnessed batch award ceremonies where AAMs are a dime a dozen following FTX and gunneries and there is no rhyme or reason for who gets one. I have been on both sides if this, didn't recieve an award I earned and recieving one I did nothing to merit. If you set yourself apart by outstanding actions and deeds you will not be recognized EVERY single time. But if you continue to excel you will recognized. If your main concern is about who gets what award when, perhaps you should reconsider you career choice. No Soldier deserves an award for doing thier job. It is what you are paid for. Guess that doesn't really address the question but, folks did a pretty good job of spelling out "life ain't fair" in other posts here.

Because officers sign the awards. If an officer and enlisted do the same job, the enlisted gets an AAM and the officer gets an ARCOM or higher. Unfair, but just a fact of life.

I put my soldiers in for awards after 9/11. None of them actually got awards but our leadership took the idea and opportunity to give themselves the award. Awards are so arbitrary and inconsistent, it seems to reinforce the old boys club mentality. We had a LtCOL get a bronze star for setup up barracks for a few hundred people, after that vomit pile I gave up caring about chest candy.

Can't speak for every service or circumstance obviously but my first 10 years were spent as enlisted, but the last 4 years as an officer. I received far more awards comparatively during my enlisted time than I have as an officer. It all depends on who your supervisor is and whether they care to write awards or not. If you feel you aren't being recognized as you should, take the initiative to write your own award and submit it. The worst that can happen is it being denied.