Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

The DSM is the General Officer's ARCOM. The Bronze Star was considered a combat award at one time but without the V it's a glorified ARCOM. The entire awards system, E thru O, is confusing at best. When I completed my VN tour (USMC), I came home with 4 ribbons. Recent grads of basic training have that many. Awards have always been "top heavy", I doubt that will change. Officers need them for promotions. With the exception of true combat awards (MH, DSC, SS, PH and campaign medals), maybe enlisted/officer awards should be completely different in design.

Because enlisteds make them look GREAT. We less than commissioned have to do something above board to get recognized. Just the was it was and it appears, still is.

Great read here. To a point the same goes on in the squid world.

I've often wondered why the pilot of an aircraft gets a higher award than his crew...they ALL shared the same risk.

Let me put this in a way that is blunt, direct and accurate. Officers receive higher recognition for the same actions as enlisted personnel because, let’s face it, Officers have a more difficult time accomplishing the same task. Find me a 2Lt that can walk and chew gum at the same time without suffocating themselves, I’ll show you a 2Lt that’s time for an award and promotion. Show me a PFC doing the same thing and I’ll show you a guy doing his damnedest to stay out of the 2Lt’s line of fire while avoiding the wrath of the 1sgt. Seriously, rank comes with responsibility. The higher the rank, the higher the responsibility and the higher the level
If reward for carrying out that responsibility. If you don’t like the way it is, make damn sure you do
It differently when you get to the top.

I have to say that your question is a fair one. However, I have a better bit of advice. Get yourself a “good” Mentor. Preferably a Master Sergeant or above. Concentrate on Career Progression accolades you will need to achieve to advance. Things such as a TRADOC assignment, Drill, Recruiting, NCOS, skill badges, etc…. You know, stuff you can control and do something with. You can’t control whether you get presented an award. Don’t let your heart dwell on such things as awards. Regardless of what some have stated in here, the system is as it appears. All of it. From awards to Climate Surveys to the actual implementation of the METL. It’s all a numbers game. It’s up to you to learn how to navigate it. As you advance through the ranks and experience more varieties duty assignments, you’ll understand that better. We can go round and round about how Bronze Stars are handed out to LTs for breathing in a combat zone (and yes, we’ve all seen it happen) or you can invest your time and energy into what really counts for you. If you plan to make this a career, which I believe that 8 years in you may, check out EOD and other advanced assignments. That should be up your alley and it will get you where you want to go. Hang in there. Keep your head up. Make real plans. Move forward.

It has already been answered, and it was scoffed at by enlisted men. My answer will be scoffed at by enlisted men because I am an officer, and irrespective of my enlisted service.
But here it is: awards at increasing levels of authorization, require impact at increasing levels within our services. An Achievement Medal issued by an O-5 expects less impact on our service, and at lower echelons, than that of the Commendations or Meritorious Service Medals, and so on. The awards earned and conferred on Soldiers is a matter of opportunity to impact upon our Service, our Nation, and indeed, the international World. There were no enlisted personnel around when I helped CENTCOM, the Corps of Engineers, and the Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior negotiate the cost of Camp Arifjan below $200 Million. Therefore, that particular Joint Services Commendation went to an Officer, and not an enlisted man.
Finally, I will point out that 77% of all Medals of Honor have been awarded to enlisted men.

This is a wide reaching topic, you could also ask why Academy Graduates get promoted faster then ROTC or OCS candidates. Or why a certain MOS or group of MOS's get promoted or awards in greater numbers. There is no real answer. I think someone that loves this country and wants to serve does not worry about recognition. I have the same feeling when donating to the V.A or Disabled Vet organizations. Take the donation and keep the blanket. (Ok, I went on a tangent, but there are so many things to be said about awards, and I think it was covered by everybody)

Medals Schmedals. The preeminent medal story for me was the stay-puffed marshmallow LTC who demanded respect at the weasel hearing a few months ago 'cuz he got a purple heart in Iraq. The fat
bastard's purple heart was for a PAPER CUT from filling out the forms following a brief encounter with a rock-throwing kid. I used to remember this jerk's name so if he decided he had the authority to lead me into battle he'd need a lot of Preparation H. I understand brave warriors fought for this idiot and I deep respect them for what they did. But as far as that idiot goes....

Because they have great people working for them