Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

As someone who’s written numerous awards, and who was prior enlisted and now an officer. There is an unwritten rule concerning position and how you affected the organization. If you were able to articulate how the enlisted Soldier impacted the unit with their performance the usually received the award recommended (emphasis on usually). If leadership is willing to fight for that Soldier they will receive that award. I have received higher awards than peers, and have also been subject to the unwritten rule. So I understand both sides of the argument.

Officers put themselves in for awards, also helps with promotions. I was enlisted 17 years, never got a Commendation Medal, found out after later you have to put yourself in for the award. A good First Sargent would stay on top with an annual review, this is lacking in most reserve units.

While I’m not sure you’re perspective is completely accurate, the only factor that comes to mind is “visibility.” Officers are generally more visible and generally have more responsibility than your average enlisted.

One aspect of awards are “unwritten” rules that prevent personnel from being recognized with an appropriate award. A few times, after reading either a DRAFT citation or the 1650, I would inquire as to why the award didn’t align with the write-up and the majority of the time the answer was that the awardee didn’t have the rank to receive that level of award.

I speak from personal experience having worked and all echelons upto BDE and REGT level. I have served for 11 years and have 14 awards. All Arcoms or AAMs. I have seen a SGT squad leader be denied his BSM because he wasnt a SSG verbatim on returned 638. I have also seen myself included be Soldier of the Year and recieve Arcom where as the NCO got MSM. I have seen Staff officers get BSMs for serving on BN staff in AFG while that same SGT who led hundreds of patrols with countless victories got an Arcom. I have seen almost everything from again myself included recieve AAM for pcs because i was a SPC Team Leader yet my battle who just pinned E5 a month prior and had 9m less TL time got arcom bc he was a SGT. Oh and i pinned SGT 2 weeks after i PCSd. No the system is flawed but it starts at the recommender level. When i put anyone in for an award i fight to ensure its approved. If denied i go face to face with that person and ask why if its BS i call them on it. Endstate 9 out of 10 times its because we as leaders are lazy and wont fight for our troops. All the approving authority can do is tell me to piss off.

I don't know about the Marines, Army, or Air Force, but back in Vietnam times, Naval Officers were allowed to put themselves in for awards. That's why when John Kerry was running for POTUS there were many folks, including his former CO, who wanted to see his original award citations. I seem to recall they didn't get them.

because they write them

So, as an enlisted navy member who has spent over half of my career working around flag and senior officers. I have seen great enlisted leaders and poor officers; for that matter great officers and poor senior enlisted leaders as well. I can tell you that the average awarded recognition for officers is multiple levels of that given to enlisted. An extremely hard charging E6 who takes on multiple command leadership role and makes a serious difference, may be lucky enough to receive a Navy COM, but give a COM to a LT(O-3) who at best was barely able to stand a watch without relying on others... And you can see the grimace on their face while accepting it.

I personally innovated, designed, and built a project as a seaman and 3ed class that an unscrupulous LPO decided to claim to have "supported" the project and would have received a COM for it. The only reason that individual did not receive the COM was because the admin officer was aware of the project and knew exactly what "support" that LPO had actually contributed due to the fact I had worked directly with the admin officer throughout the design process. He denied the award. Later I received a NAM as an EOT, and that project was only one small part of my overall contribution.

Most sailors even if they know how to write up a 1650, don't often put themselves up for awards because, honestly, either they don't feel like they did enough or they expect that if they deserve recognition, their leader will do it. And this applies to each level up.

So yes, rank and visibility plays a major roll in the kind of awards someone usually receives. I am proud of the work I do and my goals are never centered around recognition, however with the way the military is structured, recognition is required to advance.

I wish I had an answer to fix the system, a suggestion even. But in the long run, is it the system or the mindset and priorities of the leadership that is really at fault?

Because they are officers.

Because officers are in charge so they rain awards down on each other. Every officer above LT would get a bronze star down range and now a MSM. It’s all about career progression for them, not for you

The officers get the awards that should go to the enlisted because most are incompetent and if it wasn't for the enlisted carrying them they would fall flat on their faces. Every one knows that the competent NCOS are the ones that make the Military work but its always the officer that receives the recognition. Call me what you may But I served thirty Years I,ve seen and know first hand officers also will stab you in the back in a heart beat.