Posted on Aug 25, 2016
Is the U.S. Army awards system broken? Does it support "participation Awards"?
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As leaders we are often dictated to that all of our subordinates will receive awards after field exercise, deployments, etc., if they deserve them or not. Why should a Soldier receive an award for doing the job the signed up to do?
I feel this cheapens the award and encourages a feeling of entitlement for doing your job and essentially makes awards "participation ribbons".
I feel this cheapens the award and encourages a feeling of entitlement for doing your job and essentially makes awards "participation ribbons".
Posted in these groups: 
Awards
Entitlements
Awards Entitlements
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 28
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Don't get the old Master Gunny started on this one...nothing in writing guarantees anyone an "End of Tour" award, or a "PCS" award. You do your job to the best of your abilities, you get paid, you get great fitness reports and guess what you get promoted! In my opinion, NO SERVICE should give any points towards promotion for personal awards. That might help a few Services stop handing them out like candy. Proud of what I earned over 29 years of Service, nothing I received was an "End of Tour" award with the exception of a Defense Meritorious Service Medal for Service in Combined Joint Task Force Consequence Management in Camp Doha, Kuwait. Semper Fi.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
I concur with that MAster Gunny..
I had recieved awards I hadn’t expected.. after I had departed both the Reserve Sqdn I was assigned and the regular AF Unit. It was about a month after I’d reported. Cmdr. asked if I wanted him to present at a Cmdr. Call or just add to my file.. and I chose. The later.. my new fellow Airmen found out in the daily ops journal page that was posted next day..
it was posted as such: A1C Herrst was forwarded awards earned at his previous station. They were posted to his 201 file . That was it.. I had the actual certificates and those In file were noted by entry by the clerk. That also happened previously when awards from
My Reserve Sqdn/Wing were forwarded.. Nice and quiet almost !
I had recieved awards I hadn’t expected.. after I had departed both the Reserve Sqdn I was assigned and the regular AF Unit. It was about a month after I’d reported. Cmdr. asked if I wanted him to present at a Cmdr. Call or just add to my file.. and I chose. The later.. my new fellow Airmen found out in the daily ops journal page that was posted next day..
it was posted as such: A1C Herrst was forwarded awards earned at his previous station. They were posted to his 201 file . That was it.. I had the actual certificates and those In file were noted by entry by the clerk. That also happened previously when awards from
My Reserve Sqdn/Wing were forwarded.. Nice and quiet almost !
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Something given has no value. Something earned does. When I first came in, someone with a Bronze Star was rare and it was something that was respected. Now, almost every E-7 and above gets one and it cheapened to the point that it is viewed no better than an AAM. I think Soldiers and leaders should be rewarded when they go above and beyond. That would promote a desire to want to do more. However, handing them out like candy doesn't encourage that. I have received a bunch of awards just for showing up. To me they are something for my resume but nothing I really value. The only medal I really value is my Commander's Award for Civilian Service because I took initiative, worked hard and was rewarded by my leadership for it.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
I would have to agree with that. IMO the BS should never have been a merit based award.
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SGT David T.
Lt Col (Join to see) - I am not opposed to it being a merit award in itself. I think it should be reserved for exceptional Soldiers and Leaders and not an E-7 and above thank you for showing up award.
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My current commander is not a believer of mass participation awards. My unit just completed a WAREX mission at FT McCoy, and only one person walked away with an AAM. But he most certainly earned it as he did so much admin and logistical work prior to the mission that it made sure we were mission ready and mission effective.
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MAJ (Join to see)
This is how I think our awards should work. That gives Soldiers something to work towards rather than a guarantee of getting something undeserved.
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