Worst Feeling? Explaining to a Soldier why the COC felt the need to deny their award.

Folks, we have all experiences something like that. Suffice it that once you are out or retired, those awards hang in your I love me room or in a box and don’t mean much out here in the civilian world. Except MOH or other award that comes with benefits.

Well guys??... hmmm... funny thing about awards... you either get them or you don't!... I didn't go in thinking I'm going to get this or that.... we went in for the HONOR... and a little glory... and a few bragging rights... (those came later, ha!)... but in my 24 yrs, 6 months and 18 days... (who's counting?)... I walked outta the gate, with four rows!.. and I'm proud of that... nothin crazy... a few AR-Coms/NAV COMS/Achievements.... and the rest?... mostly unit/command awards... in which everyone in the command got one... but it was the PERSONAL awards, that set the soldiers apart from the rest... cuz not everyone gets those... all in all?... I loved my career, its over, had a blast, and I miss it everyday!.... god damn it was a highlight of my life!... HOOAH!... SSG. Mike Raysses, 92-G30, USAR-Ret.

On a deployment I served as the battalion motor sergeant for about 10 months As a cpl due to my mentor and BMS being med evaced. A week before awards get send out while I’m training the incoming BMS the send a SSG from S-1 to “do my job” and he gets a bronze star with all my bullets. The problem lies in the buddy system and they will always find a way around the system.

I think we can all agree that current award system is broken, we all know someone who received an award that left everyone scratching their head, in my case it was a SFC who was relieved for cause and received a BSM for his end of tour award. that being said I want to be clear that I never felt like I deserved anything more than my ARCOMS and I dont see how comparing awards does anyone any good. I have been retired for 9 years now and not once has any award ever affected anything in my professional life. my point being be proud of any award you have earned and try not compare.

Don’t expect anything, do your best and understand the reason your doing it isn’t for awards. Soldiers, marines, airmen, and coast guard should think that it is a privilege. But if you must give awards and your command denied it then make up your own awards! Let them off Monday or Friday or both! Think outside the box don’t let your first lines take the fire out of your service members!

In the world of we spot 'em, you swat 'em, we accept since we were never officially there no awards, (but we heard that ) . 1980 my Rear Admiral had 3 ribbons, Best a Sailor could do was good conduct, expert pistol, expert rifle , were not in it for awards, so getting home alive in one piece will have to do

SSG Michael Hasbun,

I have experienced this too many times during my career. The last was an NCO whom I recommended three times for a Meritorious Service Medal. The last recommendation was "lost" by the BN S1, resubmitted, and denied due to insufficient rank. the other two recommendations were downgraded even though the Company Commander supported and endorsed the award and by all accounts the accomplishments justified the recommended MSM, as attested to by the BN S1 who also supported the awards. The recommendation for downgrade came from the BN CDR who did not like this Soldier and who took professional action based on personal feelings.

Was the Soldier bitter?, yes. He ETSd and eventually enlisted in the USAR where he became more bitter, finally retiring after 20+ years of service. While proud of his service, he always relates the many disappointments delivered by various Commands to which he was assigned.

I rationalized this by acknowledging our Command (at the Company level) doing everything we could to promulgate a deserving Soldier being recognized for noteworthy accomplishments. Honestly, it did not make it any easier to accept. I recommended this Soldier for many other smaller awards, such as Commander Coins, letter / certificates of appreciation, AAMs, and ARCOMs, all of which were approved.

The best outcome was from the Soldier who told me he knew he was appreciated and supported by the unit and he appreciated the attempts to gain him the recognition he earned and deserved.

The best case scenario for me, would involve an awards board who was not associated with any Command in the Soldiers chain. This board would review the recommendations and approve awards based on the merit presented in the justification narratives. This independent board would then submit the awards for approval by the action Commander. This would remove any bias or prejudice against a Soldier who otherwise deserves an award.

Thank you for this question.

SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)

I agree with SSG Spratlin I have seen far too many awards that were downgraded because of rank

As a prior PSNCO I found that there were many awards recommendations submitted with little knowledge as to the requirements and preparations from the supervisors submitting such awards.  We must take time to become knowledgeable about the requirements and procedures before submitting an award this will prevent embarrassment at the supervisor level and mixing feeling at the recipient level.  At the PAC we cross all t's and rewrite recommendations before going final draft and presentation at the BN level.  We then get scrutinize by the local Milpo before goes to DA.  This is back in the days 20 years ago. HOOOOAH

I think that the form has the right spaces to explain why and who denied an award.