Posted on May 28, 2021
What’s the appropriate award for saving an overdosed soldier's life?
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A soldier in our BN recently overdosed on some narcotic. Another soldier discovered the overdosed soldier unconscious with a pulse but not breathing. He immediately started rescue breathes and continued until EMS took over. EMS credits the soldier with saving the overdosed soldiers life. What would you award the soldier?
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Responses: 20
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From the unit: ARCOM
From the other Soldier: Free beer for as long as they are both in the unit.
In addition, the unit needs to make a BIG DEAL out of this. To show the dangers of narcotics, yes. But more importantly, to show the true measure of a Soldier, and how we expect Soldiers to ALWAYS do whatever they can to take care of each other. On the battlefield, off the battlefield, on duty, off duty. ALWAYS.
From the other Soldier: Free beer for as long as they are both in the unit.
In addition, the unit needs to make a BIG DEAL out of this. To show the dangers of narcotics, yes. But more importantly, to show the true measure of a Soldier, and how we expect Soldiers to ALWAYS do whatever they can to take care of each other. On the battlefield, off the battlefield, on duty, off duty. ALWAYS.
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Lots of ARCOM recommendations here, but I think the ARCOM has lost all of its value in the past 20 years. It's the new participation medal, you get them for literally doing nothing and HRC telling you to PCS, or for just deploying and sitting on BAF for a few months.
This Soldier could have done nothing, and no one would think less of them. I'd say a Bronze Star or MSM (at minimum), aka get a Flag Officer involved.
This is the problem with awards, people are always trying to diminish and give the lowest possible award to a Soldier, rather than trying to give the higher and actually utilize the award system the way it is. Or we just have a lazy service that doesn't want to write a narrative so they stick to ARCOMs because an O6 signature is fairly easy to get and be done with it.
This Soldier could have done nothing, and no one would think less of them. I'd say a Bronze Star or MSM (at minimum), aka get a Flag Officer involved.
This is the problem with awards, people are always trying to diminish and give the lowest possible award to a Soldier, rather than trying to give the higher and actually utilize the award system the way it is. Or we just have a lazy service that doesn't want to write a narrative so they stick to ARCOMs because an O6 signature is fairly easy to get and be done with it.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Chief,
I disagree. An ARCOM is (or at least SHOULD BE) no small thing. Additionally, we are looking at one specific moment in time where a Soldier did an exceptional thing, true. BUT... that thing is also something he has been trained to do, and something we would EXPECT all Soldiers in a similar situation to do.
This Soldier did not run into a burning building, did not disarm an active shooter, did not use esoteric knowledge for a rare condition, did not perform miracles. I am not saying the Soldier did nothing, and should not be recognized with an award. Just that according to award criteria, ARCOM is the appropriate award.
Criteria for MSM: Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to 16 January 1969. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility.
Acts or services comparable to a LoM, but with lesser responsibility. In this case, I would say a team leader who comes upon 4 ODs and directs his/her team to perform lifesaving measures until EMTs arrive would be comparable but with greater responsibility. For the sake of argument, we will even go a squad leader with 8 ODs. Would that team leader or squad leader be eligible for a LoM?
LoM criteria: The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner. Performance of duties normal to the grade, branch, specialty, or assignment, and experience of an individual is not an adequate basis for this award. (b) For service not related to actual war, the term “key individuals” applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement. In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner. However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of important positions.
Key phrases here: extremely difficult duty; unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner
I do not think this act comes even CLOSE to that required of a LoM - even that required of a LoM but with "lesser though considerable responsibility."
I disagree. An ARCOM is (or at least SHOULD BE) no small thing. Additionally, we are looking at one specific moment in time where a Soldier did an exceptional thing, true. BUT... that thing is also something he has been trained to do, and something we would EXPECT all Soldiers in a similar situation to do.
This Soldier did not run into a burning building, did not disarm an active shooter, did not use esoteric knowledge for a rare condition, did not perform miracles. I am not saying the Soldier did nothing, and should not be recognized with an award. Just that according to award criteria, ARCOM is the appropriate award.
Criteria for MSM: Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to 16 January 1969. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility.
Acts or services comparable to a LoM, but with lesser responsibility. In this case, I would say a team leader who comes upon 4 ODs and directs his/her team to perform lifesaving measures until EMTs arrive would be comparable but with greater responsibility. For the sake of argument, we will even go a squad leader with 8 ODs. Would that team leader or squad leader be eligible for a LoM?
LoM criteria: The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner. Performance of duties normal to the grade, branch, specialty, or assignment, and experience of an individual is not an adequate basis for this award. (b) For service not related to actual war, the term “key individuals” applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement. In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner. However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of important positions.
Key phrases here: extremely difficult duty; unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner
I do not think this act comes even CLOSE to that required of a LoM - even that required of a LoM but with "lesser though considerable responsibility."
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CW2 (Join to see)
SFC Casey O'Mally - Correct that an ARCOM SHOULD be no small thing, but it has been so watered down now that it has lost the luster. They are all but guaranteed for spending 3 years at a unit, or going on a deployment and in both cases - simply showing up everyday and not getting into trouble.
I don't see using the same award for "you were assigned to this unit for 3-4 years and now you're PCSing" as "you saved a person's life".
There's a difference between what the reg says awards are for - believe me I'm all for using the award system the way it's SUPPOSED to be used. But in practice, and we've all seen it, there's one thing approval authorities look at when they see the 638 - the rank block.
Now I have seen this in practice as well, massive car crash on the highway, Soldier renders aid and saves the driver's life. Soldier gets an ARCOM - because their MOS was 68W so it was "just doing their job" as they told him. So yes, and ARCOM should be a great thing, but it is also the "go to" award for just about anything short of retirement or assaulting an enemy MG position alone.
I don't see using the same award for "you were assigned to this unit for 3-4 years and now you're PCSing" as "you saved a person's life".
There's a difference between what the reg says awards are for - believe me I'm all for using the award system the way it's SUPPOSED to be used. But in practice, and we've all seen it, there's one thing approval authorities look at when they see the 638 - the rank block.
Now I have seen this in practice as well, massive car crash on the highway, Soldier renders aid and saves the driver's life. Soldier gets an ARCOM - because their MOS was 68W so it was "just doing their job" as they told him. So yes, and ARCOM should be a great thing, but it is also the "go to" award for just about anything short of retirement or assaulting an enemy MG position alone.
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SSG Gregg Mourizen
I think the problem is usually the latter. Too many officers and NCO's just don't want to put out the effort. I tried to get the Volunteer service ribbon, once. They made me write it up myself. Made me jump through a few hoops, and liked the end result so much, they had me write up ten more people for things ranging from volunteering to help with their kids pre-school to actual significant events.
Who got awarded? The admin NCO and the CO. For what? You guessed it, helping with their kids pre-school.
Me, I nearly was killed trying to save a fellow volunteer firefighter who was pinned in a crashed fire engine, first on scene, took immediate action to assess the firefighter, ensure civilians on scene contacted EMS, ensured bystanders took care of the firefighter that managed to self extricated, and then climbed in, to perform life saving procedures on the one trapped inside. During extrication, I was almost crush, as the vehicle shifted and started to collapse on itself. I don't think it is relevant that the trapped firefighter was a longtime friend and former squad leader from the Army. DENIED, no other award given, because "it was part of my job as a 'Volunteer' firefighter to conduct rescue operations." Ignore the fact that it was a significant event, or that I walked away with PTSD, or that without me being there, the trapped firefighter would have ended up with more severe injuries and most likely died.
That same year a Sheriffs deputy (who was a reservist)) got the Soldiers Medal for pulling a driver out of a car and performing CPR. There were two other SM's issued that year, but I don't remember the circumstances.
Note: Sorry for the rant, but talking about it is the best way for me to deal with the memory.
Who got awarded? The admin NCO and the CO. For what? You guessed it, helping with their kids pre-school.
Me, I nearly was killed trying to save a fellow volunteer firefighter who was pinned in a crashed fire engine, first on scene, took immediate action to assess the firefighter, ensure civilians on scene contacted EMS, ensured bystanders took care of the firefighter that managed to self extricated, and then climbed in, to perform life saving procedures on the one trapped inside. During extrication, I was almost crush, as the vehicle shifted and started to collapse on itself. I don't think it is relevant that the trapped firefighter was a longtime friend and former squad leader from the Army. DENIED, no other award given, because "it was part of my job as a 'Volunteer' firefighter to conduct rescue operations." Ignore the fact that it was a significant event, or that I walked away with PTSD, or that without me being there, the trapped firefighter would have ended up with more severe injuries and most likely died.
That same year a Sheriffs deputy (who was a reservist)) got the Soldiers Medal for pulling a driver out of a car and performing CPR. There were two other SM's issued that year, but I don't remember the circumstances.
Note: Sorry for the rant, but talking about it is the best way for me to deal with the memory.
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