Posted on Feb 19, 2020
Can you wear or display both the ARCAM and the Army National Guard Components Achievement medal together?
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They look identical although one is listed on your ERB with Federal Awards and the other listed in your state awards.
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Awards
Awards
Posted 5 y ago
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It's the same award, so no. The National Guard and Army Reserve are both considered reserve components that qualify for the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (sometimes referred to as the "Reserve Components Good Conduct Medal"). The Army National Guard Components Achievement Medal (ANGCAM) doesn't actually exist, and it doesn't appear you have a state award with that name in Virginia. AR 600-8-22 has no mention of this ANGCAM even though you will see it listed on some websites. You can check your state military awards AR, but my guess is that whomever manages your ERB simply entered your 3-Year Service Ribbon under an erroneous name.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
That makes a lot of sense to me and it was entered under the VA Good Conduct Medal
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SSG (Join to see)
Army General Order 1971-30 establishes the ARCAM:
2. The medal will be issued with distinctive reverse faces for service with the Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve.
5. Only one Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal will be issued to any one individual. A bronze oak leaf cluster will be issued in lieu of a medal for each additional 4 years of qualifying service. A silver oak leaf cluster will be issued in lieu of 5 bronze oak leaf clusters.
Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for award of the ARCAM was reduced from 4 qualifying
years to 3 qualifying years.
My interpretation of all this is that if you received the ARCAM in both the USAR and ARNG you wear the medal that corresponds to your first award with appropriate oak leaf clusters.
2. The medal will be issued with distinctive reverse faces for service with the Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve.
5. Only one Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal will be issued to any one individual. A bronze oak leaf cluster will be issued in lieu of a medal for each additional 4 years of qualifying service. A silver oak leaf cluster will be issued in lieu of 5 bronze oak leaf clusters.
Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for award of the ARCAM was reduced from 4 qualifying
years to 3 qualifying years.
My interpretation of all this is that if you received the ARCAM in both the USAR and ARNG you wear the medal that corresponds to your first award with appropriate oak leaf clusters.
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CPT (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - On the back of the actual medal, it says either Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Like you said, it is still the same award, so even if you got one while serving in both the Army Reserve and National Guard, you would still only have an Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, not two separate awards. There is no difference at all in the ribbons.
The ARCAM would also not be listed on the ERB under the "state awards" section even if earned in the National Guard, so that's why I figured it was a different state award for years in service. For example, in the ILNG we get another numeral on our Military Attendance Ribbon every 2 years.
The ARCAM would also not be listed on the ERB under the "state awards" section even if earned in the National Guard, so that's why I figured it was a different state award for years in service. For example, in the ILNG we get another numeral on our Military Attendance Ribbon every 2 years.
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Yes you can, unless you are Active Duty Title 10. Then no National Guard awards are worn.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
Thanks for the feedback Chief Cardwell, it looks very odd side by side since they are the exact same ribbon
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The National Guard ARCAM should not be in your state awards. It's the same award.
My reserve ARCAM is an OCL on my Guard ARCAM
My reserve ARCAM is an OCL on my Guard ARCAM
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MSG (Join to see)
The ribbon is the same, but the medals are diffrent, so now lets talk about the medal,
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