Can a Certificate of Achievement be used as a bullet for a higher honor...ie AAM or ARCOM?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 14:41:47 -0400

Can't find a definitive answer to the question, just a bunch of he said she said. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Response by SGT Chris Reese made Mar 27 at 2015 2:43 PM

SGT Chris Reese — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 14:43:23 -0400

You never want to use an award or COA for a supporting Documentation for another award. You cannot be awarded multiple awards for the same thing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 2:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 14:53:17 -0400

From AR 600-8-22 para 1-19,

"c. Continuation of the same or similar type service already recognized by an award for meritorious service or achievement will not be the basis for a second award. If appropriate, an award may be made to include the extended period of service by superseding the earlier award, or the award previously made may be amended to incorporate the extended period of service."

The COA is a recognized achievement although it isn't worn. It could possibly be amended in order to be used as justification for say the difference between an ARCOM and an AAM, but in that case, the COA would become null and void based on my understanding of the regulation.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 3:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:01:47 -0400

I was gonna put in SGT Private RallyPoint Member and SFC Mark Merino , for an AAM for being the top two most trending influencers on RP right now.............but who do I submit it too.....

:P

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 6:54 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 18:54:36 -0400

However, it's been done for decades with an end of tour award. You mention the accumulative achievements, but don't mention the earlier awards in the write up, i.e. if you had a Soldier/NCO who receiced three AAMs during his/her tour and wanted to see them get an ARCOM as a PCS award.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 27 at 2015 9:36 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 21:36:12 -0400

No. An official certificate of achievement is considered an award. The award continuum starts at the Certificate of Achievement and ends at the MoH. See AR 600-8-22 Paragraph 10-7. You can not recognize someone twice for the same act. I run into this all the time with awards recognizing someone for an entire PCS assignment, when they recieved an award for a period in the middle of it. The exception is individual acts (like a Command Inspection, or winning Soldier of the Quarter), you just can't cite those individual acts again. Retirement awards are a different story entirely.

Response by CPL Jeff Kirk made Nov 17 at 2018 7:38 PM

CPL Jeff Kirk — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 19:38:43 -0500

what is the difference between,army certificate of achievement and a,army achievement medal

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Oct 26 at 2019 10:49 AM

CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 10:49:25 -0400

A Certificate of Achievement is honor for an accomplishment and invites promo points, I believe. Don't try to equate certificate to Medal, because awards are for going beyond the expectation and its subjective. Do hard work with diligence, honesty and integrity leaving the awards and accolades aside. Your efforts will payoff and awards will flow to you like water. Remember, serving your Country is not about awards or certificates, it about achieving and exceeding. God Bless!