Do final military awards for retirement cover accomplishments from unit or from entire span of uniformed career?

LTC Eugene Chu — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:39:16 -0500

Curious about how long or far back retirement awards for service members can go...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2019 2:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:49:06 -0500

Entire span of service

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2019 3:04 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 15:04:19 -0500

600-8-22 1-23 a
This is not to imply that an extended period of service should be considered for every individual who retires, such periods will be limited to the last 10 years of service.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Mar 4 at 2019 6:14 PM

PO1 Rick Serviss — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:14:07 -0500

Your DD 214 and shadow box, if given, will show the awards received during your whole career. Your final award usually covers the last assignment.

Response by MAJ Christopher Thompson made Mar 4 at 2019 6:55 PM

MAJ Christopher Thompson — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:55:35 -0500

Entire career, including enlisted/officer together, if applicable. Keeping in mind the bullet comments are pulled from the past decade of service for the recommendation as per regulation. It can get a little more odd and weirder for recognition, if a service member has breaks in service or has changes in branch of service in terms of the final award citation, but the provisions remain the same. For example a service member started as a USMC enlisted, became an NCO, break in service, switched to US Army as an NCO, went to OCS, became an officer and then retired. In this case, emphasis would be on the US Army service period as an NCO and officer, UNLESS the preponderance of service time (>50%) was USMC. A good adjudant will understand how the final citation should be worded in this case.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2019 11:26 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 23:26:23 -0500

I actually had a retirement packet submitted - I was asked for the last 10 years. I ended up pulling my retirement packet...and still in.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 4 at 2019 11:58 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 23:58:34 -0500

Don’t know, I’ve never got one when I retired!!!!!

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 6:53 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 06:53:35 -0500

By regulation it should be the last 10 years of service. But I have seen it go further back because of breaks of service ect.