Posted on May 15, 2015
SSG(P) Photographer/Owner
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I have been in the service for almost 6 years...all reserve. Awards have been few and far between. I recently recommended a O-4 for the MSM as a Specialist. It seems to me that not many people take the time to write award recommendations anymore. Why? I think it is imperative that we recognize people who are deserving of awards, i.e me recommending an O-4 for an award because he deserves it and nobody wants to take the time to recommend him. Thoughts?
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Responses: 7
1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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Edited 9 y ago
SSG(P) (Join to see), if anything I think we've been overdoing it in the Reserve. There is only so much a Reserve Soldier gets an opportunity to contribute, so I see a lot of ARCOMs for a single AT. Please.

One recurring theme that supports your assertion is that some leaders can't be bothered to work on Army stuff at any time other than drill, so they often forget about writing awards. It isn't right, but I have two companies in my battalion that hardly ever recommend, two that recommend everybody for stuff, and then there's my company, where I strive to get it right.
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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9 y
I agree. I can't stand when they say we have to put in awards. I told them I don't think anyone deserved an award. There really wasn't anything we did that was special. I am sure you have seen this too.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
Good to know Someone, 1SG Healy is actually doing things the right way!!!
Carry On!!! Nancy
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
I agree with you!
I saw Units recommend almost everyone and other units recommend No-one! Unfortunately, I was in such a ‘Rag Bag’ Unit, it was amazing anything got done! CPT (Join to see)
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I am one that seldom puts people in for awards. After my first four years at Bragg I only had 2 ARCOMs. One for going to Iraq and one as an ETS award. I had other service awards. I put in soldiers when I think they earned it. I am fearful of awards being handed out to easily. I have see awards something that is expected. I don't understand giving an award for doing your job.
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SGT Journeyman Plumber
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9 y
I get where you're coming from, but I honestly think that in many cases the Army has bred a culture of putting certain awards on pedestals. Valor awards are given far too seldom in my opinion as I have seen many cases where soldiers were short changed considering their actions. SPC Jameson L. Lindskog is a perfect example of this. Attached below is his citation for the Silver Star, but if he isn't worthy of the Medal of Honor then no one is.

Tying this in to a more on topic point, this pedestal mindset seems to have (in my opinion) seeped down into the "lower" awards too. Receiving a medal for simply completing training is absurd in my opinion, which is something I think many people would agree with, but the very nature of many MOSs can and does put soldiers into award worthy scenarios by virtue of purely just "doing their job."
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
I agree with the concept of doing your job. However, when I break my neck to publish orders, get the information to finance, work from 0730 until Midnight because the cut-off scores didn’t get to my Unit in Germany until the last day of the month, I consider that more than just ‘doing my job’! The Soldier in my position before I arrived in Germany didn’t even do his job and finally received a BCD, he ‘lost’ his weapon while in the field! Only one of his Major screw-ups! I took my job seriously and wanted the troops in the field to not worry about their rank and their pay because THAT was MY mission and I made sure rank and pay were correct on the first of the month! I knew the other Units appreciated my dedication and determination; however it’s very disturbing to not be acknowledged by your Oen Unit!
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SGT Keith Boettcher
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NO! You are write people do not want to up the proper paperwork.. They Act as if it is an eyesore to review, research, and write up the award. And YES! the Reserve and National Guard do not get the awards they deserve nor the promotions.
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