Are IG complaints legit for those who complain about not getting an award?

2021-02-07T13:01:07-05:00

This has happened to me in the past, and now a peer of mine is dealing with the same thing. A Retired/PCS soldier is threatening an IG complaint for not getting an award.

In my situation I had my bases covered and submitted said award twice up my chain of command to the BN under two different BC's. Long after the fact the PCS'd 1SG reached out to the CSM with a threat of IG. CSM then called me up to give me an ear full. I wasn't having any of that BS and said, well, when the IG contacts me I'll forward the two submissions via my Mil Mail to Battalion and sounds like it will still be your problem. Not mine.

Now my peer/friend Company CO is dealing with the same thing with his retired 1SG.

I basically told him it's an empty threat. Do whatever you feel is the right thing, and document it. Other than that, don't lose any sleep over it.

How can these "IG" complaints be legit. No one is obligated to get an award. Various awards have different/higher levels of approvals. The one in question is an MSM awards so at least a 1-Star would be involved in the final process. So it all comes down to someone complaining that a 1-Star isn't giving them a medal.

How can that be real?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2021 1:05 PM

2021-02-07T13:05:21-05:00

WOW, that is one of the worst sense of entitlement that I have ever heard. I have not received an award in the past. I wasn't too happy about but I just accepted it. The IG isn't some sort of magic entity that will take your side and make you feel better. The IG is only there to ensure the proper process takes place. They are usually there to protect the command from making an error. Awards are not required so there isn't anything he could do. I have feeling something didn't go well. I have never seen a company commander not get an award. The worst I seen was an AAM for a commander. He wasn't well liked so that is way he got that.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2021 1:10 PM

2021-02-07T13:10:48-05:00

It would not be valid if a DA 638 was not submitted because a soldier was never recommended for an award. I believe it would be a valid complaint if a 638 was submitted, but it was not appropriately routed to the approval authority for approval/disapproval. Once submitted by the recommender, the intermediate authority can recommend approval or disapproval, but the 638 should still continue it's journey to the approval authority even if the intermediate authority recommends disapproval.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2021 3:05 PM

2021-02-07T15:05:17-05:00

I never experienced any controversy surrounding an award, with one exception being multiple bogus awards. Most Marines were too busy to think about it. Hitting the main gate toward the ville got them through the day. If the floodlights weren't broken out for night work, that was a bonus. I did notice policy shifts and attitude changes in the latter years. I think that was due to more scrutiny toward political correctness in society.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2021 3:20 PM

2021-02-07T15:20:53-05:00

Anyone can complain to IG. Soldiers believe that IG is a big red nuclear destruction button with a sign that says "Smash glass if angry at command".

IG only reviews policies, laws and procedures and makes recommendations based on those. An award is not an entitlement. Awards are at the Commanders discretion, and no outside agency can demand someone recommend an award. What the IG can do is review the awards process, find where it's stuck or lost, and make recommendations as to how to prevent it from happening in the future. If you submitted the award, twice, and it hasn't been denied or downgraded, then the issue isn't you. The IG report will conclude that you submitted the award IAW your units policies and identify where the award dropped and how to fix that routing chain in the S1 in the future.

In my opinion, IG complaints are usually good because it shows people that their complaints are unfounded and they aren't entitled to a thing just because they want it, or it shines light on a broken system that needs to be fixed. Honestly, I would expect a former 1SG to be more aware of the role of IG

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2021 6:15 PM

2021-02-07T18:15:50-05:00

Thanks for all the responses. I learned some technicalities of the award process. So I'm glad I asked here.

In my situation I did tell the CSM I sent it up twice to his staff. So he asked I rewrite a bullet block and send it up again and CC him in the e-mail. So it probably got fixed.

In my friend's situation I'm pretty sure it's the same thing. BN and higher are administratively lacking.

I can barely take care of my own lane let alone worry about the process above me.

I spent 27 months in command of a legit sized company in RFX status and kept the wheels from falling off. It's more than a year out from that and no award for me. I left there with a top block OER, #1 LT in the BN, and #2 company in the BN (#1 company was headed by a CPT). My Commander's Climate Survey had the Company better than average for a USAR unit, and better than average for a QM unit. That success was documented in my out going OER so I'm happy about that.

I did submit a 638 for myself along with a batch of other 638s for ARG's PCSing. Who knows what happened to all those awards. I do not want to kick up any dust mentioning it, and I'm just glad to have moved on.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 11:25 AM

2021-02-08T11:25:14-05:00

We don’t educate soldiers on the real purpose or function of the IG. Then toxic leaders compound it by telling soldiers to go to the IG if they don’t like what they’re being told. Feedback loop ensues, much time wasted.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Feb 8 at 2021 2:08 PM

2021-02-08T14:08:18-05:00

Excuse me, I grew up in an Army where you could retire with only a Good Conduct and maybe an Army Commendation. A National Defense if you did an overseas tour. I forgot Nd scurrying around Afghanistan er Medals distasteful.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Feb 8 at 2021 2:28 PM

2021-02-08T14:28:12-05:00

I have found that those who seek out awards to the point of threats are seldom worth of awards. I have never sought out awards and actively thwarted some of them as I did not deserve an award. Some of my best awards were gifts from troops I lead and mean more to me than Command Bling. My retirement award is my retired pay and my world class people skills :)

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 10 at 2021 2:34 PM

2021-02-10T14:34:49-05:00

I have some awards. I don't however worry about getting them. It all comes out in the churn.