Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

When I was in the Navy River Patrol in Vietnam, an investigation was done when an enlisted man was put in for an award. Officers on the other hand just put themselves in for awards and received them. In all fairness most of the Naval Officers I met deserved far more awards than they received. However, on occasion, you would get liers who would put themselves in for awards for someone else's actions. One lieutenant put himself in for a purple heart, claiming he had a broken ear drum from guns going off. The corpsman didn't verify he was injured and he received his purple heart. It could have had a lot to do with the face his father was the Admiral in charge of Subic Bay Naval Base. It was just the way things were back then.

Officers are the top management they are at the top of the hill making decisions effecting everyone under them. I myself received more awards enlisted than I did as an officer

You know anyone can put a Soldier in for an award. That means a PLT SGT, another leader, or other Soldiers from a different command. Leaders are not doing their part in supporting Soldiers. The Army somewhere lost it's way.

The RLOs take of their own. Or, it is known as a class system. There are Officers, then there are Enlisted Swine. Proud to say I was an enlisted swine.

LMAO they approve the awards

I made it a point to make not only mental notes but "notes" when ever I saw anyone do an outstanding job. Also those who did their job on a consistent basis too. I did recognize that not many NCO's would take the time and write soldiers up for an award and officers as well...I think it was because of lack of motivation and or "oh someone else will do it". If you want high morale in your Unit and you truly believe in your soldiers and you know their doing a damn good job, then take that time to fill out the form and get them recognized. I saw a few officers write each other up and wondered why? I won't go any further .....

My favorite awards story is when I saw an AGR 1LT on her first AGR tour throw a hissy fit because she got an ARCOM instead of an MSM at the end of her tour.

SPC Cody V.
There is no reason why enlisted personnel do not receive as many awards. You would find though that the NCOIC just doesn't want to take the time to write his section up for a medal. It takes a lot of work to fill out the form, highlighting your accomplishments (humor), I think the biggest reason is many leaders do not wish to take the time and others think that you are just doing your job.

In reality no one cares how many awards someone received. How many awards or ribbons did Pvt Joe Dokes receive in the revolutionary war? Nobody knows and nobody cares. How many ribbons or awards did snot nose 2nd Lt percful receive in the civil war? Nobody knows and nobody cares. If some officer is giving himself a lot of awards just remember no one knows and no one cares. In civilian life. If one does a good job one gets a increase in monies. That person can take those funds put them in the bank and make a better life for himself and his family. Cannot do that with worthless awards no one cares about. Just a thought on keeping one's priorities straight.

From my experience as USAR Company Commander, essentially soldiers are flagged for APFT/HW (awards for valor are exempt from flag disqualification). I quickly learned to ask that question to S1 before I went and wasted my time with a 638. I bend over backwards with 638's on my computer ready to fill in names with general accomplishments already drafted (anticipating which of my superstars will get recommended). 1-2 soldiers get an ARCOM per AT exercise, 3-4 get AAM's. AGR's get MSM's with properly articulated accomplishments at end of tour. Then those numbers come crashing down when checked if the soldiers are flagged.

Next, as prior enlisted MI, and current officer Quartermaster my observation is MI is much more liberal with awards relative to Logistics (regardless of rank). My MI enlisted (intel analyst) deployment showed awards were handed out by rank. From LOM’s down to ARCOMS (for the lowest ranks). AAM’s were given as an F-U for those who totally sucked.

What I take going forward now as the author of these awards is regardless of perception of awards it all comes down to circumstances and chain of command. During a deployment with a MI mission set willingness to sign off on awards is very high (you don’t even have to be MI, being a reservist attached to an SF mission set helps just as much, and logistics find themselves everywhere). So, milk it while you can if in such a situation. While in garrison it’s a lot harder, and I have to write very strong accomplishments for just a simple AAM. While at an Annual Training Exercise under a separate command it is often expressed they want to hand out ARCOMs and AAMs for the exercise and will use their O5 and O6 powers to grant them (meaning I get to sneak awards through outside of my garrison chain of command). Leaders need to POUNCE on those opportunities.