What can be used on your Retirement award if you have already recieved awards throughout your career for major accomplishments?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:36:31 -0500

I will be medically retiring after 8yrs of Service and would like to know what can be used as bullets if my major accomplishments where rewarded? I know that you cannot get awards for things on previous awards but how do u cover 8yrs of service if you cant include those?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 12:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:51:54 -0500

What is "enough" awards?

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Feb 2 at 2016 12:57 PM

SFC Adam Potter — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:57:18 -0500

I would have your NCO Support Channels and Chain of Command do their job and have them evaluate your 8 years of service and submit the award. Nothing I would lose sleep over personally.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 1:00 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:00:10 -0500

There's an app for that:
Army Regulation 600–8–22
1–23. Recognition upon retirement
a. Period of service. Each individual approaching retirement may be considered for an appropriate decoration based on his or her grade, years of service, degree of responsibility, and manner of performance.
b. Service recognition awards. The following awards may be awarded upon retirement:
(1) Meritorious service awards will be awarded, upon retirement (to include medical retirements), which may include periods of service longer than that served in the recommending command. An extended period will only be considered in those cases where the length or nature of the individual’s terminal assignment would not qualify him or her for an appropriate award. It is neither necessary nor desirable to consider an extended period of service when the length and character of service of retirees in their terminal assignments would qualify them for an appropriate award.
This is not to imply that an extended period of service should be considered for every individual who retires, such periods will be limited to the last 10 years of service. When writing the citation, it is not necessary to indicate the time period again; it is only pertinent to mention the total number of years of service, for example, over 22 years or 30 years of service.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 2 at 2016 1:05 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:05:19 -0500

Your retirement award justification should span up to 10 years of prior service SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member. Therefore the justification can include mention of significant accomplishments throughout the span of your career. Just because something justified a previous award does not automatically mean it can not be used for the award justification at the end of your military service.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 1:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:07:23 -0500

Not trying to burst your bubble, but shouldn't you be worrying About what comes after the Army? like employment, schooling etc? And second an award is something that is recommended by others not oneself, more or less like a surprise, it should not be expected. Just my thoughts on the matter.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 1:16 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:16:36 -0500

Thanks for all the information I have got confirmation of researchable facts regarding retirement awards!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 2 at 2016 5:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 17:01:47 -0500

After my MED Board I popped smoked. They wanted me to write my award. If the unit could not write my award then what I accomplished wasn't crap, so I said fvck the award.

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Feb 2 at 2016 5:11 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 17:11:29 -0500

IMO there is a difference between recognizing "meritorious service" of a longevity retirement (e.g. long-term service, 20+ years) and medical retirement (in this case 8 years). If the non-longevity individual had been previously awarded for past effort/actions then the award of a paycheck/pension recognizes said sacrifice.
This said, I have previously discussed the establishment of a "Retiree Medal" that would have a years of service device attached (similar to the Reserve Mobilazation Medal). I think this would serve the purpose recognizing "retirement" without compromise the award system with "I showed up" awards. In the end, if your leaders truly believed you were deserving, they would make the effort, and you thinking you are "deserved" an award is a "sour grape" conversation.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 6:24 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 18:24:21 -0500

well i never recieved one after 31 years of service my command wanted me to write my own retiremnt award and i declined, it is their job not mine, and it has not affected mylife what so ever nor my civi career, im proud of my service i gave all that i could, no regrets what so ever.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 2 at 2016 10:42 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:42:14 -0500

E-4 to fiveish with 8 years; hmmm. Your case is outside the typical range for which retirement awards are done but if honestly evaluated might be a gold star in lieu of subsequent award (I guess oak leaf in your case) for something you already might have like an achievement or commendation. Since local commander can do achievements, maybe commendations, and higher up's can sign higher awards, it's a matter of what the Flag would bite on vs. pushing back on your Skipper aka Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is this? Regardless, this can get real political real quick so be careful.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 10:52 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:52:06 -0500

Generally anything you did during the last 10 years of service is included in your retirement award.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Dec 21 at 2020 3:22 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 03:22:35 -0500

Most E7 and above for an MSM Meteoroids Meritorious Service Medal

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Apr 10 at 2021 8:30 PM

1SG Alan Boggs — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 20:30:46 -0400

So, after less than half the time required for retirement, you are being separated because of medical reasons and you want to know about retirement awards?

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Jun 10 at 2021 11:33 PM

SGT Justin Brothen — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:33:35 -0400

The joy of a DD 214 lol, what more do you want? You've stated you have already been awarded for major accomplishments. Can't double tap that shit