Why are officers recognized with awards more than enlisted?

Because they AREN'T worried about how many awards they have. The Soldiers who think less about themselves are the ones who get awarded. If you really want to be selfish, be unselfish.

I talked to a World War 2 Veteran and while we talked someone asked him about what medals he got from landing on D day! He said the only thing he got that mentioned anything was his honorable discharge! Don't worry about medals, ribbons and awards do a great job and you'll know!

It is not just officers, Mobilized with a Brigade I seen a Sergeants Major that was in charge of just 4 enlisted soldiers, 1 SGT, 1 SPC and 2 PFC's and NCOER tracking, for which there were very few enlisted in the G4. The whole tour never left Bagram to visit his troops in other FOB's . Major achievements were cleaning up a motor pool and crunch numbers. End or tour award-Bronze Star. The four enlisted that did the work for what his Bronze Star received a Campaign Medal.

I found it ironic that the most senior enlisted member that is suppose to take care of enlisted troops take credit for their work and keep it all for himself.

Being an old Combat Marine who served two tours in Vietnam, I can only say this. If no one is there to actually put someone in for any type of Award, then it's just common sense that no one will receive an Award, whatever it is. During my time in Vietnam, I received several Awards, including Unit Awards and I've seen many enlistment Marines receive all kids of Awards from Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts, Navy Cross and so on. But sometimes, due to what happened during battle, there was no one left to actually submit a recommendation for Awards. Point in case, In August , 1969, we were in the Cam Lo area of South Vietnam, Quang Tri Provence, near the DMZ and we were set up on a Hill. The shit literally hit the fan. I was a squad leader at the time. As a result of a fierce firefight that ensued during the night, we were over-run by the NVA and Sapper Units. When everything was all over, we lost our CO, his radio man, my Lieutenant and his radio man and so many other great, brave and courageous fellow Marines. Marines fought their hearts out to force back the NVA and finally, the NVA retreated. So many Marines when above and beyond their Call of Duty to save their fellow Marines. The entire Company were brave heroes that night. In short, our CO was Awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously, and the entire Company received the Navy Unit Commendation. Again, I'm sure that many Marines that night could of received other Awards, but no one in Command recommended anyone, other than our CO, for any individual Awards for Valor other than the Purple Hearts. Go figure...........

Award inflation is a big problem in todays military. You have Senior NCO's and Officers that deploy and basically just sit around and they go home with a Bronze Star and a Combat Action Badge. Yet you could have a junior enlisted Soldier who logged thousands of miles on the road and have been directly engaged in hostile fire situations and they walk away with an ARCOM. Its not a situation that I see will be fixed anytime soon. As an NCO I always try to recognize my Soldiers achievements whether its in theater or at home stateside. About half the time the awards get downgraded but all we can do is try to justify it the best we can.

Why do some enlisted get fewer awards than officers? Poor leadership. If you are in a command where officers are getting more than enlisted, welcome to poor management. As for the previous statement that enlisted could do the same jobs as officers, it's coming from a very narrow perspective. I've been on both sides of the aisle and can tell you for fact that many enlisted could not. There ARE some that definitely could and I've worked with some. Conversely, there are officers that can't do a good job, as they original post points out. I've seen those too. One thing I've seen in every command though is that an enlisted that only does 8 hour shifts always calls the officer that works 12-20 hours lazy because the enlisted don't see them work past their own shift. Many officers put in AT LEAST 12 hour days. We called it a Banger half day when I was in the Wallbangers (VAW-117).

Looking at your profile it looks like you havent done anything to progress your career in over 5 years, i mean youre an 8 year specialist and youve been on funeral detail since 2012. What do you do that is actually related to your MOS? have you tried volunteering for deployments? you cant just sit still and expect stuff to happen on its own, you have to go out and work for it.

I would argue the opposite, it's hard as an E3 or E4 to look at an O1-O4 and understand their responsibility, and sometimes for an O1-O4 looking at that junior Soldiers' contribution, but I have always witnessed enlisted guys getting impact awards, while officers general get EOT awards.

Awards, Medals, Commendations, I've seen people get them that I felt didn't deserve them, including myself.

I've seen people not get them, who richly deserved them. Including myself.

My theory of Officers getting more medal:
They work directly for the people who have the authority to recommend medals, their efforts get noticed by those people. So they get medals.

My personal opinion is, if an officer gets an award, the enlisted down his chain of command should get something as well. He/She didn't do that alone.

If you aren't getting any awards it says more about you than the command. You're an 8 year specialist. I've met quite a few people who made E-7 in 7 years. I've also seen many guys make E-6 in 3 years.
The fact that you think privates can do the same job as LT's shows that you obviously don't know much about an officers job. In fact it's quite the opposite of what you think. An officer can do a privates job and be a rifleman, or push, quarter turn and pull on an M60 igniter. On the other hand, I've never met a private who understands MDMP, or can write an operations order. Hell, most privates don't know the paragraphs of an Op order. The few privates who can regurgitate the paragraphs still have no idea how to use them while planning a mission. If you're referencing a Bronze star deployment award then you probably don't know what they're awarded for. Now understand that I'm talking about a Bronze star without valor. Also, if your buddy in your squad does something dumb, you won't be held accountable for his actions but, an officer a thousand miles away on a beach vacation will be held accountable.
Just a little tip, don't worry about awards, especially other people's awards. Worry about doing your job to the best of your ability. Do some sole searching and figure out why you haven't been promoted and take accountability for yourself. Wont blame other people for your failures.