Does anyone feel like the merit\integrity of Army awards has been watered down?

2015-01-21T07:09:22-05:00

Blanked awards and things like that.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Jan 21 at 2015 7:13 AM

2015-01-21T07:13:22-05:00

I was thinking that back while I was on Active Duty working the "Clinton Balkan Vacation Package" i.e. Bosnia and Kosovo. Our unit would surge operations and everyone who worked it seemed to get an award for working double missions i.e. 10 -12 hours instead of 5-6 hours. When I finally ETS'd my Platoon Sergeant asked what award I wanted and I told her I wanted a Meritorious LES with Gold inlay.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 7:32 AM

2015-01-21T07:32:06-05:00

Some thought it was a bit over the top, SSG Private RallyPoint Member, that 1SG Moerk received an ARCOM for correcting personnel online. I was among that group. Others felt it was warranted.

It became a cause célèbre, and in my opinion it's an example (maybe a variation on the theme) of the watering down you're talking about. A GO got involved and that was all she wrote -- ARCOM, photo op, etc.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arcom-for-calling-out-inappropriate-use-in-social-media-appropriate-or-not

ARCOM for calling out inappropriate use in Social Media. Appropriate or not? | RallyPoint

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=57351

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 21 at 2015 8:00 AM

2015-01-21T08:00:35-05:00

The AF is accused of giving out too many awards, but in all seriousness, getting an AM or higher is pretty hard unless you are a "firewall 5", compared to things I see the Army give awards AM's for is am dumbfounded. My guys when they deploy they love going with the Army because it almost like it is a everyone get a medal and usually a level higher then they would get in the AF, where AF deployments medals are restricted to usually no more then 10-25% of the deployed unit.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 21 at 2015 8:09 AM

2015-01-21T08:09:01-05:00

Yes, I think the merit/integrity of Army awards has been watered down but don't take my opinion for it, let's look at some historical trends. Apologies for the Special Olympics references but seemed to be the best way to convey what I see happening.
- Compare the number and percentage of BSMs awarded in WWII vs OIF and OEF. The BSM has become a sort of Special Olympics award where everyone gets one.
- Look at the badges and tabs that have been authorized over time and why. CIB was authorized in WWII to recognize the special hell that infantryman had to endure. CAB added about 2006 because the other branches felt left out of the Special Olympics competition.
- Compare the retirement photos of a Soldier in any war from Vietnam prior to now. Retiring Soldiers now look like WWII Soviet generals with all of the awards they have.
- I personally have served 22 years thus far and have received multiple versions of 17 different awards. Only five of these types of awards have been earned through personal performance, however (JSCM, ARCOM, AAM). The other 12 types of awards were received for breathing in the Army at a certain time (2x NDSM), location (KDSM, OIF/OEF awards), or event (2x HSM). A Soldier should have to do more than breath to receive an award.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 8:12 AM

2015-01-21T08:12:37-05:00

Im in a unit that does the whole blanked award thing. Past couple deployments they have gone based on rank and not accomplishments. Ive seen people who deserve them not get them and people who dont deserve them recieve them. I wish i could of played on facebook all day for a BSM like some people instead of actually doing my job. My 2 cents anyways.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Jan 21 at 2015 8:58 AM

2015-01-21T08:58:44-05:00

Not necessarily, people are human and there will likely always be debate whether awards are warranted as the decision is open to inpretation. We could all look at the same write-up and be split on our recommendations.
I think the Army has to adaptable to current times. It's a fact will now live in a world of new technological advancements, Social Media, Alternative training strageties, and we continue to evolve. We train and fight differently. We need to open-minded about how we award

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 21 at 2015 11:03 AM

2015-01-21T11:03:59-05:00

I can only speak for my experience. The answer to this question, I would say would depend on who (or I should say what rank) you are. In my experience, if you deployed as an Senior NCO, well, you got a BSM. E-6's got the MSM. E-5's and below got an ARCOM or lower. I didn't matter what you did or didn't do...
There was a great post by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM, where he talks about most retired guys looking like WWII generals. I have seen a never deployed 1SG who has a rack bigger than some of my guys who have been deployed multiple times.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-01-21T11:04:06-05:00

This has been going on as long as medals have been presented. History gives some great examples:

An entire unit was presented the Medal of Honor for reenlisting during the Civil War. These were descended during the early 1900s review of the Medal of Honor.

LBJ received a Silver Star as an observer flying on a bomber in WWII (a B-17 if memory serves me) and was the only crew member to get a Medal for that sortie.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2015 11:55 AM

2015-01-28T11:55:57-05:00

Yes.

What is the Navy policy on awarding the Bronze Star?

The Navy requires meritorious service in a combat zone of the level equivalent to the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (MM) and personal exposure to hostile action. The Director Navy Staff signed a memo 2 March 2007 stating “Navy's interpretation of the warfighting intent of the Bronze Star has always included a requirement for personal exposure to hostile action. However, in today's complex combat environment, our Awards must also give credit to those who are exposed to significant risk of hostile action.” As of 11 April 2007, the Navy had awarded 1,922 Bronze Star Medals since 9/11/2001.

How is the Navy policy on awarding the Bronze Star different from the Army’s?

The Army requires meritorious service in a combat zone of the level equivalent to the Army Meritorious Service Medal (MM). There is no specific requirement for personal exposure to hostile action. As a matter of fact, Army regulations prior to 2004 prohibited the award of the Meritorious Service Medal or the Army Achievement Medal in a combat zone, because they are viewed as “peacetime awards.” An exception to policy was granted 15 October 2004 and now the Army allows the award of the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Achievement Medal in a combat zone but not for service directly related to combat operations. As of 28 February 2007, the Army had awarded 57, 972 Bronze Star Medals for service/achievement in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-08-05T10:41:07-04:00

Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Recommenders, reviewers, and Commanders are responsible for the awards they submit and approve. If leaders feel awards are watered down they don't have to look very far to identify the responsible party.

I always find it interesting when I am bombarded with recommendations for impact awards following every exercise - by the very same senior Noncommissioned Officers who complain awards are too watered down. We review them, bring the recommenders in and ask questions, and generally recommend less than 2 of 30 go forward. This is always greeted by a rush of "not taking care of the Soldier" or "missing the impact", etc. If 90% of Soldiers involved in an exercise are personally responsible for the success or failure of a Division staff... well, we have a lot more questions to ask, don't we.

I do think we have made it easier to submit awards AND first line leaders feel compelled to be "a buddy" to their subordinates. This inflates award submissions dramatically. I have had recommenders state they know the award won't get approved but they are submitting it anyway to "let (their) Soldier know they're being taken care of." What kind of sense does that make? What kind of leadership is that?

Commanders also need to review their policies for PCS/ETS awards. Many make it a requirement to submit Soldiers for awards - whether they have earned one or not. Being present in a geographic location for a period of time does not meet the criteria for most awards (Berlin Occupation Medal, etc are exceptions) . This is an area that Commanders and CSMs have full control over.

Let's take responsibility for this and ensure that when Soldiers are recognized they believe it (the award) has real and lasting value.

Response by CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA made Aug 5 at 2015 6:28 PM

2015-08-05T18:28:47-04:00

I agree with SGM Paul Edwards about the awards process. In my opinion, it's alot like professional cycling. If you truly wanted to be at the top of the podium, you had to take a PED (performance enhancing drug) like Lance Armstrong and his crew proved. So, in that case, the cyclists on the "moral high ground" had to work harder, and still couldn't crack the top 20 cyclists competing in the Tour De France.

The solution was to take a step back, relook the rules and how they are enforced, and then begin to implement the changes. Looks like cycling has benefited from the fall of Armstrong and the exposure of the large number of cyclists cheating by using PEDs. So, they have cleaned up the culture of cycling and brought the competitiveness back to a lower, yet realistic, level.

I suggest we do the same in the Army culture. Build an awards review board of members; all senior enlisted and officer. Create new, stricter rules governing award presentation and re-define how a Soldier earns a medal. Start with the top award and work your way down the list of merit awards. Make a clear delineation between the awards and leave no questions whether someone has earned it. If it's the MOH, they better given everything or saved an entire company. Saved their platoon or lost limb or eyesight, etc. during combat; then a Silver Star with V device. Bronze Stars will have to be revised, as this is the most controversial award presented during OIF and OEF, as well as during current operations.

The goal will be to make it extremely difficult to earn the award unless true valor or selflessness are obvious to a LARGE number of fellow unit members and leaders. Awards should be earned and given regardless of rank of the earning member. Awards given by rank are against the entire premise of the awards process. Blanket "I was there" awards are fine as they are and presented for just being overseas or in a country during conflict.

The recommended time to implement the vast changes are during a lull in major combat. This way, it won't disrupt as many awards in progress and there won't be as much complaining about not getting a certain awar. No one will be earning many combat awards during Motor Pool Mondays as opposed to a high intensity conflict deployment of 12 months .

Just like I remember when I joined right after 9/11, the only combat patches I saw were on senior officers and NCOs who were part of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. We young bucks had plenty of time to earn ours, and many have now over the past decade of fighting.

Maybe the Army's leadership will decide to stop playing "musical chairs" with the uniform, stop cutting the ranks down to untenable levels, and start focusing on something important: like developing new combat systems, updating regulations and manuals to match the 21st Century of warfighting, and building an extremely professional warfighter.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 12:12 PM

2015-08-10T12:12:29-04:00

-So with the advent of the current type of war, we didn't have enough infantry, armor or MPs to do the jobs asked of them and so we sent in Signal, MI, and other branches in to kick down doors and provide direct support. That was the beginnings of the premise of the CAB. It was later extended to those who suffered IDF simply because IDF can kill as easily as 7.62. Of course there was butt hurt just as much as there was abuse.
-I don't believe in blanket awards. That is what unit awards are for.
-I knew a PFC and SSG that received BSMs in 2003. Its not always about rank and sometimes leaders do the right thing.
-Don't blame the recipients, blame the 'leaders'. Especially the Commanders who institute stupid award policies
-Also, I refer you to a previous discussion: https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/military-misconceptions-the-bronze-star-medal

The Bronze Star Medal: Military Misconceptions | RallyPoint

There are many awards that the military bestows on their service members but none hold more disdain than the Bronze Star. You will find resentment among the ranks for young officers in staff who receive this award while other soldiers are fighting on the front in the Global War on Terror. We often ask how this could happen, but it is not quite that simple. The Bronze Star Medal was authorized in 1944 by President Roosevelt. There was no “V”...