Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

When you see an OFFICER put himself in for an award, as a enlisted NCO VN Vet, you get it and move on.

In my experience, an officer would only need to be within hearing distance of gunfire to receive a commendation, ribbon or medal while the rest of us, actually in the shit, got squat. I've always believed that it's because the Army has a lot more invested in officers and want them to make a career in the military, while lowly enlisted people are more expendable. That's just my opinion for what little it's worth.

While in the Army in Germany, there was an incident where a gun went off and hit the TC on a personel carreer. A mmedic and his driver were passing at the time. The medic grabbed his aid bag, jumped out of the jeep, and onto the tread of the APC, then he rolled onto the top of the moving APC, and gave aid to the injured soldier. The Medic was awarded an Atmy Commendation Medal, and the first officer there was awards a Legion of Merit, The medic deserved a lot more than a commendation medal. He saved the life of another soldeier by his selfless actions.

My all time favorite excuse on this subject is that officers are on the hook and are ultimately responsible for far more equipment and for what happens to their personnel and that somehow warrants a higher award.

I would say that the problem is rooted in the officer promotion system. From what I have witnessed, awards, and more importantly a few very specific awards, see to carry far more weight in the officer ranks than they do in the enlisted. This has caused two things. Lopsided awards for officers versus enlisted and the Army just handing out awards like they are candy.

Do we really believe that deploying overseas and coming back somehow warrants an award? Aren’t we just doing our jobs? Isn’t that what campaign awards were intended for? With that we have turned the Bronze Star into a joke because again… officers cannot receive the same award as the men they supervise.

The awards system, in the Army at least, is absolutely broken. Perhaps we should spend some time revamping that rather than creating another fitness test that makes little sense or issuing yet another uniform.

Because we simply CAN NOT have our illustrious leaders going around looking like a "Slick Sleeve" BOOT. That would be unimpressive. It would lessen morale. We do NOT want the lower ranks to begin to question the "Obvious" superiority of their officers. It is bad enough that the most deadly thing on a battlefield is a "Butter Bar" with a map and a compass. Let's not frighten the enlisted ranks any more than necessary. LOL

Because they take credit for the job that their troops do. They are the ones who have to do the paperwork. I know it was the desk jockey that seem to get the awards when I was in.

After Desert Storm the Commander of the XVIII ABN CORPS told the Commander of the 525th MI BDE (ABN) that only E-7's and above could be awarded anything higher than an ARCOM. E-6's, such as I could only get ARCOMs. My Platoon Sgt, an E-7, received a Bronze Star I was recommended for before the order was given, for things I did during the combat part of Storm. He did far less than I and my squad members did and took far less risks. He was even under possible investigation for fraternization. Those of us E-6's that got ARCOMS requested the BDE Commander add the Broze V device to our award to distinguish it from the Bye Bye Arcoms routinely given to soldiers when departing a unit, as was common practice at the time, but that request was denied. Even though I didn't get the award I was originally nominated for, I still feel proud I was considered for it.

We had the same problem in the navy, so it's probably military wide.

Coming into service in 1975, as a Security Police K9 handler, I received my first set of orders to Vietnam. Those orders were "RED LINED". I finally received orders to Aviano AFB, Italy. Yes, Yes, I know everyone thinks it was "SLICK" orders but (FACT) this duty station was no play base! We were miles away from Yugoslavia (During that time when they were under Communist Rule). We had our fair share of intrusions and the area I used to work around had Nukes! (MWD) Walking Patrol around two important areas in some of the crappiest weather without any supervisor support (Warm-up breaks, coffee breaks,) Etc. So, I got a tough skin FAST. All the time and work I put into showing my pride and work was always taken for granted. At my duty stations for my 11 years in service, I never had any awards for duty above and beyond the scope of the job for all the hard work. My last station, (Lowery AFB, CO.) I went back to K9 School for training as a Narcotics detection trainer and then followed with supervisory training for kennel masterwork and was very active! We were stationed between Aurora, CO. and Denver, CO. More civilians than you would expect trying to make it through the base (Not knowing the base was even there)! I became the Asst. Kennel Master working 50 - 60 (and more) hours I kept very extensive records of the work for training and kept the K9 units on a finely trained working level. Not one single acknowledgment, nothing. I DID enjoy my work but it would have been nice to see some type of and I think it was due to the mentality of the Senior personnel still in after the Vietnam War. I have seen MORE Military personnel receiving awards for Desert Storm, and other recent wars than ever before. MIND YOU, I understand the moral and job these men and women, today deserve every single thing they have received, but I feel we needed the support from our Command & Support back then just as well as they do today! (Wow I didn't know I had that much to say)

Cause officers have to sign off on awards & it's easy for them to pass around award certs.