Soldiers Medal or ARCOM?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:50:57 -0400

Two of our medics pulled and rescued a semi-truck driver that over-turned outside our base, while off duty. I am in a RTI Guard unit. I am a NCO, I want to see them recognized.

Which award would you write them up for?
Certificate of Commendation, Letter of Appreciation, Soldiers Medal, AAM or ARCOM?

Have you received or written up anyone for a Soldiers Medal?

How many awards have you written up for your Joe's?

Care to share your story?

Since they are medics, isn't this type of heroism expected?

One can say it is their duty to render aide where and when needed. Doctors have this obligation/duty as well.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 1:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:44:19 -0400

Id say Soldiers Medal. But thats just me. Also, when the Infantry just do their jobs, they get Bronze/Silver Stars and above for bravery and heroism.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:52 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:52:37 -0400

We have a similar situation at my RTI. We have a NCO that saved a life (twice now) and are looking to recognize him but the criteria for the Soldiers Medal states that to receive the award there must have been a risk to his life as well.

Right now we are trying to justify it as an ARCOM but our S1 is giving us some pushback on it. We can get it to fly as a Achievement Medal with no pushback.

I am a big believer in recognizing our troops and seeing that they receive medals. Since I am in the Guard I have the ability to recommend the Soldier for both a Federal and State award - that will ensure they will receive at least one of the awards.

The question about your guys receiving an award or if it was just their duty - I will ask you this. Were they in uniform and acting in an official capacity as a medic or were they off duty and not obligated to act. Every state may be different but EMT's not on duty are not required to stop and render aid. Paramedics may be a different story however. I would still - regardless of what their profession is/was put them in for an award. Bottom line - it is the right thing to do.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:58:05 -0400

I would begin gathering facts and circumstances to see if I could justify a Soldiers Medal recommendation.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Apr 20 at 2015 6:31 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:31:37 -0400

They Are not obligated to Respond, to my knowledge, to anything off post. The only way they could is if they where EMT-b's or P's. Keep there a$$ outta dutch. I would shoot for the soldiers medal that way when they shoot it down, Unless your very articulate, they get the ARCOM!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 1:32 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 01:32:38 -0400

Some sort of recognition is certainly warranted. However, unless the medics were in danger, the criteria for the Soldier's Medal is not met.

SFC Palmer (my recruiter) was awarded the Soldier's Medal for providing medical care to a victim of the Tacoma Mall Shooting in 2005. http://www.oregon.gov/OMD/AGPA/docs/sentinel/2005/dec05-web.pdf
(previous link no longer available)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 1:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 01:42:10 -0400

Put them in for the Soldiers medal, if it is warranted it will get approved. If not then it will get held up and downgraded to what your commander sees fit. It's all about bullets, if you feel that you have enough quantifiable reasoning to award it, then it's worth a try.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 2:28 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 02:28:38 -0400

Army Medics are EMT-B Certified, so do they have a duty to respond? Yes, they do...does that change your opinion?

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 21 at 2015 6:38 AM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 06:38:43 -0400

Every Soldier has an obligation to respond if they can help someone, not just medics. That being said, the regulation AR 600-8-22 called for the following to award the Soldier's Medal:
1. The performance of the act of heroism must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty.
2. The extraordinary achievement must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from his or her comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances.
3. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy

If you feel the Soldiers meet these requirements, write the Soldiers up for what they deserve. From the info provided, I don't know whether the Soldiers faced personal hazard or danger. Not sure if the actions were above and beyond what others would do in similar circumstances. You and your command know the meat and potatoes of the action. You'll have to make a leadership call. Without more info, I'd recommend an ARCOM.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 3 at 2015 9:56 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 09:56:23 -0400

Unless the tanker created a bad HAZMAT situation, was on fire, or clearly at risk of combusting, this will likely be a well deserved ARCOM. He must have put himself in known danger and the truck driver would have to be in immediate danger. A few weeks ago, a CPT at Bragg pulled two people out from a burning car while off duty; thats a SM.

My unit put me in for this award and from what I was told, the packet and fact gathering was a long process. Took a year to get approved. Remember, it needs to ultimately be signed off by the Sec of the Army. Good luck.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2016 1:14 PM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:14:10 -0400

I had my Soldiers Medal downgraded to an ARCOM after pulling a woman from a burning vehicle and I was injured as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2017 9:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 21:33:34 -0400

I received a Soldiers Medal as a young SPC in 1996 for pulling out some young men out of the water after their vehicle went into a river. Anyone would have done it. I didn't think it was heroic, I just was the first on the scene. I just happened to have over 50+ witness who saw it from the river bank and bridge and wrote statements that went up with the packet.

Later on in my career I was actually embarrassed to talk about it because I felt it was no big deal. I got a lot of attention at Class-A inspections and at later ASU inspections. I actually didn't want to talk about it because I felt it wasn't that impressive. I never discussed it and I was always introverted when it came to my own personal accomplishments during my entire career.

I even staggered my ribbon rack to "hide" it underneath the lapel of my Class-A & ASU jacket!

I am not trying to diminish the award or anyone who ever earned it. Please understand that.

I just retired and this may sound selfish but I did get a 10% increase in my retirement pay for being awarded the SM. That was very nice.

I remember a very respectful senior NCO tell me early in my career that you can put all your awards in an empty coffee can and trade them for a cup a coffee when you retire. Let's just say I can have free coffee for life now.

Response by SSG Tom Montgomery made Sep 27 at 2019 11:47 PM

SSG Tom Montgomery — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 23:47:52 -0400

This is an exceptional act of bravery. Their chain of command should work in conjunction with local officials and determine which award is appropriate.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 11 at 2022 10:28 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 10:28:05 -0500

A Soldiers Medal would be inappropriate, as their was no risk of death on their part.