Does a retirement or PCS warrant an award?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 00:58:22 -0400

Recently I saw a post from a friend stating they didn't get an award after retiring from the military. To me it was a bit odd but I find myself in a similar situation. After spending about ten years in the North Carolina National Guard I transitioned to the Regular Army. In my time I have served full and part time as an NCO and Officer. I completed two deployments and a plethora of schools in support of my unit.

I can't tell you how many ceremonies I have been in for soldiers retiring or PCSing where they received an award. We all know after a deployment they are handed out like candy. Maybe I am expecting too much. I would hate to say I expected one. Maybe a handshake with a "smiley face" device would have nice.

What have you seen when your peers retired or moved on to another duty station? What is your expectation of how a unit should handle this?

Response by SSG Kenneth Lanning made Oct 7 at 2017 1:27 AM

SSG Kenneth Lanning — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 01:27:04 -0400

Personally, my award is going to be my retirement check...if they want to put something else on my chest then neat - but personally don't care. I know most commands require an ETS / retirement award template to be submitted with the packet (they do here at Riley), but not sure if it's a show-stopper if it doesn't get fully submitted.

Response by SGT Frank Pritchett made Oct 7 at 2017 1:30 AM

SGT Frank Pritchett — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 01:30:10 -0400

I completed 25 years of service but because I was Medically Discharged just short of 6 months from my retirement date all I received was a retirement flag from a Specialist working in S-4 at the discharge section.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2017 2:14 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 02:14:00 -0400

I don't think anyone is entitled to an award, but it seems to be a general practice that many units participate in as a recognition of their service.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Oct 7 at 2017 2:24 AM

CPT Tom Monahan — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 02:24:04 -0400

No. Awards should be merit based and specific. A retiring soldier gets a certificate, full benefits, pay and retain their rank title. That's a nice award for service.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Oct 7 at 2017 8:13 AM

LTC John Griscom — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 08:13:24 -0400

Saw many cases where people were “ROAD” or retired on active duty and did nothing other occupy a deck in their final assignment. Just biding time.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 7 at 2017 8:19 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 08:19:22 -0400

No, your not entitled, you are authorized.
But that takes a chain of command and supervisor that is interested in doing so.|

I was at NTC just weeks prior to my last duty day, and in the parking lot doing a TOCEX the day prior...
We were busy as a DIV Staff..and I think it all just got lost in the mess... I could have thrown a fit or asked the G3, ADCM for an award......but its kind of like respect, if you have to ask for it, it does not count.

I was at work Friday, I was not Monday and that was that. 27 years 8 months, retiring as the 1st CAV DIV G3 SGM and I retired with a hand shake from the three NCO's that worked directly for me.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Oct 7 at 2017 8:44 AM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 08:44:23 -0400

Entitled? No. Awards and decs are earned, not given for doing the time

Response by CPT Griff Tatum made Oct 7 at 2017 9:58 AM

CPT Griff Tatum — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 09:58:55 -0400

An award or something of equal value should be given to any SM, honorably leaving the military, given they are leaving in good standing with no red marks. That I can see, giving an award to a SM, however just anyone? No, definitely not. All I want when I leave is for it to be recognized that I will truly miss the unit, and hope I somehow made it better. Whether it's an award or not, that's all I want. Satisfaction comes from within.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2017 10:15 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 10:15:09 -0400

Barring extraordinary circumstances, I do not see a reason why good leaders wouldn’t take a moment to recognize someone on their retirement. At an individual level, writing an award is a simple matter that costs the unit little and matters a lot to the retiree. At the Army level, presenting an award to a retiree in a public forum provides a leader a platform to affirm Soldier for Life and inspire other Soldiers to provide a lifetime of service to the nation.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2017 10:24 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 10:24:33 -0400

I wouldn't say entitled, but I think they're relatively commonplace. We all know there are folks who find ways of skating by, doing the bare minimum until it's time to move on. Unfortunately it's many of these same people who expect awards when they move on. I somehow ended up with an MSM when I ETS'ed from the enlisted side. Honestly I liked getting awards a whole lot more when I was a young troop, probably because I needed the promotion points associated with them. These days I have enough fruit salad on my chest.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Oct 7 at 2017 11:45 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 11:45:56 -0400

See SGM Erik Marquez's statement. Enough said.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 8 at 2017 12:25 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 12:25:03 -0400

Odd that you mix PCS with retirement. "Entitled" in itself is a hard no. The reality is the PCS issue is valid to the extent that the ever increasing fruit salad mania means your next promotion has more risk if you don't have more croutons. I've posted on more than one occasion that EOT awards need to go away and harder max percentage aspects need to be reinstated. As to retirement, an award has no effect on your military career at that point, so the potential negative impact is zero. So in that sense, I don't care what the policy is because it doesn't affect anything other than diluting the stature of the award. I'll tell you the Achievement Medal I got in '79 would likely garner a MSM now. That's how diluted the stature of awards overall are now.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Oct 9 at 2017 6:55 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 18:55:42 -0400

As a good friend said after he received some retirement awards " If I was so great, why didn't I receive awards before I retired "

Response by SP5 Joel McDargh made Oct 9 at 2017 10:04 PM

SP5 Joel McDargh — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 22:04:47 -0400

Seems to me this has become the mindset of most every facet of our life. Everyone has to get a trophy for playing, an award for participating, and recognition for just being. Thank God there are still men and women who are not afraid to put their lives on the line without regard for what's in it for them.

Response by SSG Francis Hiebler made Oct 11 at 2017 1:16 PM

SSG Francis Hiebler — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:16:07 -0400

No, nor should it. What one achieved is always the only award that should be needed.
If you get one thank your leadership your peers and your subordinates. They were part of the reason.

Response by SSG Edward Joy made Oct 12 at 2017 1:13 PM

SSG Edward Joy — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 13:13:05 -0400

If you have served 20 years or over, I think an army achievement medal would be appropriate.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Oct 12 at 2017 2:05 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:05:07 -0400

In the AF it's a box that needs to be ticked on the cover page of the retirement or PCS package. If you check "no" you have to justify it with a statement. It's no big deal "MSgt O' doughnuts had a DUI, beat his wife, ect." If you do submit one, it has to be justified just like every dec submitted.

No matter what your commands policy is, I see no reason why it shouldn't be discussed each and every time.If it's not, then that's a leadership problem.

Response by SFC David Xanten made Oct 12 at 2017 4:31 PM

SFC David Xanten — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:31:37 -0400

Short answer is NO, however it really depends on the Unit and the role the person played while there.

Response by SSG Michael Eastes made Oct 12 at 2017 8:18 PM

SSG Michael Eastes — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 20:18:27 -0400

I was RA from 1971-79, and don't remember anyone getting awards for pcs'ing. Maybe some of the higher ranking officers did, but if so, we enlisted swine didn't hear about it.

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Oct 13 at 2017 5:39 AM

SFC Francisco Rosario — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 05:39:50 -0400

Its my opinion, that every soldier who retires, pcs', or ets' should get an award for the time, effort, and dedication that they provided to the unit/organization. I was able to witness when an O6 whom i was working for was getting ready to retire with 30 years of service. He was recommended for the Legion of Merit, only to have it downgraded to a MSM. That is a slap in the face, why are we awarding an award that is normally presented during a pcs, to a soldier who has given 30 years of his life to the US Army. Many commands act as if the award is coming out of their pocket. In my opinion retirement awards for senior NCOs (E-7 -E-9) should be either a LOM, DMSM, specially if they have served over 20 years. Junior enlisted should get an award when they decide to ets of pcs as well, provided they are in good standing with the command. They all have served and given time from their lives that they will never get back.

Response by Lt Col Paul Maxwell made Oct 14 at 2017 10:23 PM

Lt Col Paul Maxwell — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 22:23:20 -0400

PCS or change of station/organization, or retirement, are good career mileposts for consideration for awards, and recognition. Should obviously not translate into automatic awards.

Response by LCpl Walter Bright made Oct 14 at 2017 11:37 PM

LCpl Walter Bright — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 23:37:00 -0400

I think a nice certificate of appreciation or plaque of some sort would be fine...medals just for doing time exist such as a good conduct medal in the Marine Corps for enlisted personnel just for being good guys and gals for 3 years...

Response by SFC Jose Rivera made Oct 19 at 2017 1:53 PM

SFC Jose Rivera — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 13:53:03 -0400

I think is to the command/ or unit to honor your service, I attend prior to my retirement some sorry retirement ceremonies. My thoughts were change when my time came up, no only my self but also my family was recognized in the same stage. Hooah.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2017 7:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:48:55 -0400

Most units make it mandatory but it is not

Response by 1SG Klayton W. Hayes made Mar 7 at 2018 1:01 AM

1SG Klayton W. Hayes — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 01:01:49 -0500

In some cases a person presented with their Retirement Certificate and DD 214 is considered their award recognition. Case in point a Senior NCO who has lost favor with the Bde. Commander and CSM. They have their time in and are encouraged to retire.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 7 at 2018 10:19 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 10:19:51 -0500

I did not receive an award for retiring, until some months after the date. A SNAFU with the paperwork, forced it to be re-submitted. My old CDR/Friend sent the certificate, orders and award some 5 months after the parade.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2019 10:33 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 10:33:22 -0400

I spent 11 years in the national guard. 3 enlisted and 8 officer. 2 deployments (one that lasted 27 months). I was a company CO twice. I was always the guy they called if they needed a volunteer to fill a school slot or do some crappy assignment. Activated multiple times for hurricane/tornado relief efforts, once as the task force commander for a group consisting of soldiers from 5 different MP companies. When I transferred to the reserves and left, I didn't get so much as a handshake. Not saying that I should have gotten an award but just the tiniest bit of gratitude for 11 years of devoted, loyal service would have been nice.

Response by SGT Robert Whatley made Jan 12 at 2020 6:51 PM

SGT Robert Whatley — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 18:51:43 -0500

Heck when I retired I was just told to leave no handshake or thanks

Response by SSG Stephen Arnold made Jan 12 at 2020 6:52 PM

SSG Stephen Arnold — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 18:52:04 -0500

I received an AAM when I left my first appointment unit. I refer to it as my “thanks for leaving” award.

Response by SPC John Decker made Jan 13 at 2020 6:26 AM

SPC John Decker — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 06:26:05 -0500

If an award was in the pipeline and it will likely be authorized, actually awarding it at the time of duty station change would allow the individual to celebrate with people he/she knows, as opposed to waiting until they arrive at the new station. Similarly, at the time of retirement.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 15 at 2020 6:42 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 06:42:04 -0500

Each award comes with the requirements associated with earning it. If you meet the criteria you deserve an award, if you do not then no award. It is really a simple thing. Units that issue awards as you state, like candy are poorly run organizations with weak leadership. Thank you for your service