Awards: How do we get it right in terms of recognizing performance?

2015-07-27T22:15:35-04:00

What is the appropriate way to acknowledge Soldiers accomplishments with awards. I have been in commands that rarely give awards other than mandatory PCS awards and I have been in a command that gave away AAM's every Friday safety brief.

I'd like to believe there is a happy medium. What are some TTP's for preserving the integrity of the medal being awarded, but not allowing our troopers to go unrecognized for work that is above and beyond the scope of their duties.

For leaders: What is your personal stance on medals, awards, and recognition? Did you use recognition techniques that didn't always translate to a soldiers ORB/ERB? Was it effective?

For junior Soldiers: Do you feel cheapened by awards? What would you prefer to recognize your accomplishments and a job well done? Do you feel we recognize too much or too little with awards?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 27 at 2015 10:26 PM

2015-07-27T22:26:22-04:00

Trips respond best we rewarded. Just like when we take immediate corrective actions our subordinates deserve immediate recognition for a job well done.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 10:37 PM

2015-07-27T22:37:48-04:00

We use to have Company or Battalion formation for awarding a Good Conduct medal or a Bronze Star, it didn't matter. An award should be a "big deal" for the soldier receiving it. However that was in the good 'ol days. (me smiling) :) :)

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 10:50 PM

2015-07-27T22:50:46-04:00

I am unfamiliar with the way that the DOA awards system, but I requested that my Skipper gave out Certificates of Commendations and Meritorious Mast anytime I saw the boys going above and beyond what was expected of a Marine of his rank/billet. I also ensured they filled a fleet hometown news release and mailed it myself through the Bn S1. I also kept SOA for each Marine/Navy Corpsman (can't forget about Doc) that fell under me. I updated these monthly with notes from Notebook. I also ensured my Plt/Co was represented and prep'ed for any Bn board that was on the horizon. I also invited my Skipper/Plt Cmdr to go walk with me throughout the week to observe (and to show off) his Company. I had a Skipper one time whose mantra was "Mission First, Marines Always". He believed that awards were to done in a timely fashion, not left sitting in the company office waiting to be presented. I also attended IOC with him as the SNCO Student and still consider him to a very close friend (even though he is now selected for LtCol and about to get his first Bn command) and one of the best true leaders I have ever met. Promotions should take place at morning formation on the first in front of the entire company on the first or the first weekday after the first. Never push off the formation until noon. That man/woman earned thier time in the lime light. Just my thoughts.

Semper Fidelis

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-07-27T22:55:07-04:00

Most Division or Corps Commanders have policies on awards based off of achievement and rank. Unfortunately many units don't provide awards based off of performance but solely off of rank. Many people will argue that too many awards during a duty station will take away from the overall PCS award, but I believe that if you feel that a Soldier has gone above and beyond the scope of their duty, than fill out that 638 and submit it with substantiating data and hope for the best.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 11:17 PM

2015-07-27T23:17:19-04:00

When in doubt, go to the regulation: AR 600-8-22. One of my favorite myths is the use (misuse) by S-1s and commanders of quotas. The regulations says, "Limiting awards to a specific number per unit is not authorized."

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 4:26 AM

2015-07-28T04:26:43-04:00

I don't think we use give out enough awards. At least in he units I have been. I have put soldiers in for an award and nothing came of it. At least I would like the 638 back with a decline with a reason. It should be used as a tool to reward those that earn it. But so often there set a predetermined mark and only give it out for who makes it and don't reflect on the achievements of the individual. An example of this would be that you will be required to put in 2 soldiers while at Annual Training. You just have to find two soldiers to put it. It doesn't matter what if they really achieved anything as long as they were the best. It is a false measure of achievement.

It is like saying, the top shooter on the Annual weapons qualification will get an Award. Then out of all of the soldiers in the company the top shooter got a 33. Then you give them an AAM. That is not how it works. They were the best but their best wasn't anything of excellence.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 6:26 AM

2015-07-28T06:26:09-04:00

Anyone can out anyone in for an award. Submit it and wait for results. The only problem I know with awards is the whole officers or higher enlisted awards. As a private I busted my ass burned poop, pulling massive guard shift, carrying the M240 and 1,200 rounds on my back. I went on every mission. I earned more than an ARCOM. I see remf getting bronze stars for service because of their great admin abilities. Doesn't add up. I know people now that have gotten bronze stars and they say that they didn't really deserve it. Venting down sorry for whining.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 7:43 AM

2015-07-28T07:43:37-04:00

Counseling statements! They aren't always negative. A positive counseling statement is justifiable proof for when award time rolls around. Use these statements as reference and a lot qualitative numbers. How much equipment is the soldier responsible for, what's it's value? How many hours of duty did he go over? Making it a regular habit to positively counsel soldiers will make it easier to put them in for awards, also it's a moral boost.. Telling the soldier his good deeds have been noticed also impact the way the soldier reacts to his job. Maybe I'm doing a good job after all.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Jul 28 at 2015 7:57 AM

2015-07-28T07:57:45-04:00

The senior leaders seem to get plenty of awards, those who are visible to this leadership get awards, the rest of us working our asses off behind the scene usually get nothing. I just wish the system wasn't biased.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Jul 28 at 2015 9:16 AM

2015-07-28T09:16:33-04:00

I have always been partial to the Commando Coin - Challenge Coin - Commander Coin - Unit Coin whatever you call them. These coins were given for excellence and achievement. I think the Medals have been over used - I have been retired for 8 years and i am still receiving notices that I have been awarded a medal from such and such time or deployment. As a young Airman to be recognized for a job well done was an awesome feeling. For me as I went through my career i would be notified of an award I would just say mail it to me. As a Supervisor I would always recognize my people - a simple thank you is very appreciative - but something to hang on a young Airman's wall will last forever.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 28 at 2015 9:38 AM

2015-07-28T09:38:48-04:00

"Early & often."

When you see something worth acknowledging, recognize it. When someone else brings it up, recognize it. It doesn't have to be "formal" however. The USMC is big on things like Letters of Appreciation (I have close to two dozen of them), Certificates of Commendation, Meritorious Masts. I know the Army likes Coins. But the big thing is to "document" things, that way they can be noted on the performance evaluations later.

I had a SgtMaj who was a firm believer in just giving a Marine a day off. He delegated that authority to the NCO (Cpl) level. If your guys did something noteworthy, even to the point of looking good in uniform, give them a day off (not on Friday or Monday). There are few rewards better than time off.

Now, I know some services have promotion tied to Awards, which creates issues, from a philosophical standpoint, which is far too complex to even get into in this post, but go by the reg.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 9:47 AM

2015-07-28T09:47:44-04:00

Go back to the basics. If you want blanket awards, have the first line leader write up the award in order to personalize it. A blanket award spells out nothing. AAM, ARCOM, MSM, etc are personal, not unit awards.
I received three unit awards andbut no blanket awards. I am glad of this as I have an award recommendation for each medal that spells out what I actually did to achieve the award.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 10:00 AM

2015-07-28T10:00:10-04:00

1LT Private RallyPoint Member As I stated in this discussion: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/awards-medals-coa-s-vs-self-satisfaction-what-does-motivates-you
I work for me and not for recognition, however, I think that you must recognize those who deserve it. In my BN, we have a Super High Speed PFC, if not SPC already, Expert in Weapons Qual, more than 270 in APFT, GAFPB, Soldier of the Quarter, Soldier of the Year (He won both) and his AAM hasn't been approved yet. I wonder if the leadership knows the message the Junior Enlisted get of this.

Awards, Medals, COA's vs Self-Satisfaction...what motivates you? | RallyPoint

The other day I was talking with the Civilian at my shop, he used to be an O-5 in the Air Force. He is always telling me, if you do this you might get an award, if you do that you might get a COA, etc. I told him that I wasn't doing it for the awards because if all my motivation comes from just getting an award, what will happen if I don't get it? Or if I get it, what's next? Then I would need to find another motivation. I told him that my...

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Jul 28 at 2015 7:09 PM

2015-07-28T19:09:09-04:00

As a SPC I put in some PFCs and PVTs for COAs and AAMs. They deserved the recognition.

If a Soldier manages to complete the Division CLS course, with 100% on both written and lanes, then they deserve an award. Excellence is what we strive for, but when only 1 person at a time can be the Distinguished Honor Grad as it were, then that's an accomplishment.

If a Soldier manages to graduate the Unit Armorer Course with a 100%. A score that has not been seen in 4 years, so the Brigade CDR walks in to hand you a coin...that's also worthy of an award of some sort.

If a Soldier is told to jump site from north side of a FOB to south side of said FOB on 2 hours warning...and 24 hours later the soldier has built a new shop office in the new location...then that's another Award in the making.

A PFC is Unit Armorer, develops tracking mechanisms for all sensitive items, supervises shipping of arms room to Afghanistan, completes CoR with outgoing unit, maintains unit arms room and TPE inventory without incident, runs ranges without safety incidents and redeploys arms room without incident...you guessed it, an award is in the mail.

Have a proficiency test/competition, make it monthly, winner gets a COA. Or a LOC.

Achievement awards are there for a reason, if we don't see our soldiers' achievements then we're not looking hard or close enough.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jul 28 at 2015 9:22 PM

2015-07-28T21:22:54-04:00

Reward superior performance no matter what rank. No quotas, no rank restrictions. If a PFC deserves an ARCOM award the ARCOM, not an AAM. USE the criteria in the reg, not your criteria.

Always make a formal presentation.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 9:44 PM

2015-07-28T21:44:35-04:00

Having worked as an awards clerk in an S-1, I have first hand experience witnessing how poorly the award system functions. Frequently it isn't that awards are not deserved but rather they are given the lowest of priority unless it appears on a metric of some sort that someone with enough rank will notice hasn't been processed and starts asking questions (I'm looking at you AGCM).

Even ones that do get submitted occasionally get kicked back due to a lack of supporting documentation that leadership is either A) unable to obtain or B) unwilling to put together for the packet.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 11:55 PM

2015-07-28T23:55:18-04:00

I do things that are above my job description nearly every day, and my leadership comes to expect it now, meanwhile I've seen some pretty, for lack of a better word, garbage soldiers slightly improve and recieve awards and recognition. Am I doing something wrong by always going above and beyond? Hard to go against the way you were raised, but it gets very frustrating seeing things like that consistently.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 29 at 2015 12:05 AM

2015-07-29T00:05:18-04:00

One thing to remember is that ALL awards are a relative and subjective call. The best thing to do as a leader is to set the criteria for how you will do awards and be consistent with it. As long as you are consistent, you should be able to avoid most issues. A couple of things to keep in mind:

1) junior enlisted get promotion points for awards. So being stingy with awards hurts the promotion chances of your soldiers.
2) you can't double dip, so if you give a lower award for a specific action, you cannot then use that same action for a higher award roll-up.
3) those 2 reasons are why officers tend not to get on the spot or impact awards and tend to roll up all their achievements into on more significant PCS award.

Response by SGT Bradley L. made Jul 31 at 2015 8:19 AM

2015-07-31T08:19:08-04:00

I think positive reinforcement is good, but it doesn't warrant an award for everything done. There are other methods to be honest at recognizing an action. I would have preferred the CO awarded a 4 day when one of my guys did something great. I think mass punishment is used to much, when individual reward/awards could go to improve moral. 1, it has instant impact because you work extra hard because it was the right thing, and then someone recognizes it. 2, it still allows you to write a better PCS award. It extremely hard to write a PCS award when a soldier has gotten a COA or AAM for every little action. 3, other soldiers see it, and think "I'd like some extra time off", and they pick up their game.