Why is it so hard to get an award?

Have you ever said. "that ain't my job!" That would be the killer for me to recommend someone for an award.

Look, often awards are few and far between, or you have to exceed the standard to the point of making a new record. Some units have a history of expecting so much that when they do awards, they are often lower in stature than other units.My ex-son in law, retired E7, has 3 MSM's, 2 from normal OCONUS tours. All my career was 82nd, Rgr and G3 XVIII ABC- different mindset- I have 2 MSM's. 82nd often downgraded awards at least 1 level, Rangers- "Well If you had killed a couple of tango's when retrieving that trooper, you might have gotten a BSM, but here is an ARCOM with a V. Much of awards is 1-who see's it, 2- their perception of what you did. 3- do they want to spend the time shuttling it back and forth between Command and the PAC rats.

Look at the possible awards that are out there. Look at what it takes to qualify for said award and speak with your CoC. Then work towards it.

Also, what you consider 'hard work' might not rise to the level of what is noticeable. No offense. You need to work harder than the others, set yourself apart from the rest while still being a team player. Your perception is not their perception.

There are a few things that will almost always get award nominations:
1. Being the honor graduate or on the commandant's list at a school
2. Winning a board-type event (Solider of the Year, etc.)
3. Doing well in competition (Best Warrior, Best Ranger, US Army Small Arms Championship, etc.)
4. Volunteering to plan and run events at a the company+ level (Christmas parties, training events, APFT plan, marksmanship training schedule, etc.)
5. Deployment

If that isn't working, you can always get creative. The MOVSM is awarded for civilian volunteerism. Look around and see what other awards you might qualify for.

Depends if your active or reserve, if you're the latter there won't be many opportunities during drill weekends or AT to merit recognition. During my active time I received more coins and certificates than awards. Personally, I feel its more about your peers and chain of command ability rather than your own inability. I know its not the answer you want to hear, but this kind of stuff can eat you up inside.

A point frequently missed is awards better be a part of an overall people progression scheme. Awards are not participation trophies. The CoC should be looking at everyone and deciding who is in the upper, middle, and lower third. Uppers get the best paper and higher percentage of awards. Middles are the group you don't want to harm but also don't have as many silver bullets left to spread around. Lowers are what help the uppers get promoted with the grading spread on evals. Uppers get the plum opportunities. Lowers get the same thing every day. Ineffective or toxic leadership can't distinguish things very well and tend to meander around the award world which in turn gets the Whiskey Tango types of perceptions.

Whatever the numbers game a Skipper can play, the Skipper should stay focused on the prize; pushing the best forward. I'm likely dated on quantity, but I had a certain % of body count with some splits between officer, enlisted, designator, etc. that I could do Achievements. The % was much lower on Commendations. Higher stuff had to go to the Flag or one above that. I had the XO and SEL really know what's going on in each of the shops. They better agree on what's going on. So we collectively made sure people have the opportunity to excel, even at the backwater jobs. Best way to move up is to move out into something else by demonstrating we're wasting your talents otherwise. The Lowers tended not to work on breaking out. BTW, good CoCs already know who's likely to get this stuff down the road because they see how well people skate the short and long programs. Your job is to prove them right or wrong.

I didn't read all of the replies, but in my experience there may be several things that trigger some automatic recognition that you might try. By your own opinion, you may already be deserving so I wouldn't beat myself up if I volunteered or tried any of these things.
Boards (especially battalion or brigade annual or higher)
Extra duties that fall within command inspections (your commander earns his award and you can show your contribution and perhaps be recognized if you excell in your area)
Ask for a project from a senior. NCOs love someone who asks to distinguish themselves and leave a mark to improve the unit.
After any or all of this, at least you can say you earned every penny of your PCS award or the handful of COAs you might earn. I am certainly not the highest decorated voice here, but I have seen many awards (and earned a few myself) through work in these areas, and regardless of how big your ribbon rack is this should help with any future plans for promotion. Good luck!

You don't have to be lazy or bad to not get an award.
Average will get you a PCS or ETS award, normally, but no interim awards.
Consider these questions and adjust, if necessary:
What, or how well, are those getting awards doing different than you?
How is your PT score compared to others, especially those getting awards?
Have you competed for any SOM boards?
How's your uniform and appearance, compared to those getting awards?
How's your attitude and military bearing compared to those getting awards?
What have you done to stand out?
Ask your peers these same questions.
Ask your supervisor the same questions.

Bottom Line Up Front: Directly ask your leader what you can do to earn their recommendation for an AAM. It's not too uncommon since most SPC are looking for ways to build promotion points.

Aside from that:

I strongly concur with SGM William Everroad .

SPC (Join to see) To add on to that, I've mostly seen it come down to lazy leaders not wanting to do the extra work of writing an award recommendation for their Soldiers. Either that or they are so caught up in trying to catch the attention of their own leader that they aren't able to see the accomplishments of their subordinates. That is why leaders at all levels have to look out for those directly under them, so that those under them can do the same for the next tier down. If everyone is having to act in self-interest because they don't feel their leadership is looking out for them, the system breaks down. That's a slightly different topic for another time though.

Sometimes the awards you see others getting are less about the absolute value of what the Soldiers accomplished (it's subjective) and more about the fact that their recommender actually submitted something that met the criteria. That is, in comparison to other leaders who never submit anything until they are forced to at PCS time, and then they do it poorly or late.

Ya got to be part of the "IN CROWD"