Posted on Jan 28, 2016
Why do higher ranks get Bronze stars and the soldiers on the ground doing all the work get a lesser award?
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I was cross leveled into a unit and mobilized to Afghanistan, I fly all over that country to do my job. But except for one officer no of the higher ranks ever left BAF. When the mission was complete all officers and the highest ranking NCO were awarded Bronze Stars but the rest who went out the wire got Achievement medals?
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Awards
Awards
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 256
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After watching an SFC who never once left the wire, receive a bronze star, medals in general lost a lot of meaning to me! From my experience, if there's no "V" device, it was a rank award.
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SSG (Join to see)
Seen E-7 and above awarded Bronze Star with V device based on Rank. Had Soldiers hit by IEDs, Conducting Daily Patrols and depending on Rank, EM recieved AAMs and NCOs ARCOM. Total BS, a F*cking AAM or ARCOM in a Combat Zone. You can het those at the Range on Main Post without taking Fire or any of the BS.
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SSG Rick Langley
SGT Jeff Hanson - you need to read the regs. That is exactly what a bronze star without V device is awarded for.
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SP5 Jeff Hanson
SSG Rick Langley - I have been retired for a couple of years now, my comment was based on a conversation from 15 years ago. Sorry for the confusion.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
A V device is for combat actions, you could get a BS for handing out supplies above and beyond the call of duty, so it’s also fir meritorious service. Which is arbitrary. You got a V its well earned.
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Its rank based. After five deployments with two different units I have seen a lot of BS. A SPC gets an ARCOM with V while a SFC gets a BSMV for the same fire fight. Apparently you are more courageous with more rank. I have seen a SSG get an ARCOM for being a PSG while the other PSG's who were SFC's got BSM's. (I was one of the SFC's) Its a bunch of crap.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
CSM (Join to see) I would strongly disagree, if the SFC and the SSG are assigned to the same position and performing the same mission in the same unit they are taking the same risks and have the same responsibilities.
The SSG just got the shaft!
The SSG just got the shaft!
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SFC (Join to see)
Yup! PSG as a SSG on three tours two Arcoms and a BSM... the other two times was told I was only a SSG... new CSM in BDE when I PCS, got an ARCOM and told I was only a SFC smh... rank should have nothing to do with the awards system... a broken system...
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Sgt William Margeson
The higher the rank, more leadership is expected. With that leadership, is higher exposure
to fire
to fire
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Don't you know the unwritten rule that nobody in senior leadership will admit to existing? Awards are commensurate with rank! Smh. Gotta love the double standard.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
Hell SSG, I'm still waiting on the ARCOM I was told I was to be awarded once I got to FT Benning. Too Bad I got out of the Army in 1984.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
SSG (Join to see) That infuriates the hell out of me. To give a COA to a soldier that put a his ass on the line when he should have gotten something much higher is an insult.
Hells Bells I got a COA from the VII Commander because I worked at the APIC during REFORGER 1982.
Hells Bells I got a COA from the VII Commander because I worked at the APIC during REFORGER 1982.
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MAJ Scott Walton
It’s a fact. The only time you actually get recognized for an award that’s commensurate with your work/mission is when you ETS or retire. And even then you only get the better awards when you smooch a little butt.
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SSG (Join to see)
Can confirm, considering the Amount of BS we went through to get your MSM approved for your retirement Dan.
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