GWTSM do you use yours? Do you even know if you have it?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:16:02 -0400

I've seen that the Junior Enlisted don't comment that much in discussions posted here so, here one so you can participate.

Last week I saw a lot of E1-E4 walking around in ASU's and I noticed that most of them wasn't using their GWTSM Ribbon. When I got out of AIT I used just 2, the NDSM and the ASR, but when I got to my First Unit, in my first ASU's inspection, every NCO was asking me about my GWTSM and if they didn't give it anymore. Which E1-E3 doesn't want another ribbon in their barely empty ASU?! So I checked my ERB and there was it! I ran to the MCS and got my ribbon, got to admit that even when I didn't know I could use it, I was excited about my new ribbon.

Do you use yours? Do you know if you are authorized to use it? Do you even know what is the GWTSM? If you are a NCO, do your Soldiers use them? If you are tagged, feel free to response.

For reference, a recent post from HRC: https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20expeditionary%20medal%20gwotem%20and%20global%20war%20on%20terrorism%20service%20medal%20gwotsm

Response by SFC Joseph James made May 12 at 2015 3:25 PM

SFC Joseph James — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:25:22 -0400

Maybe I'm crazy but what is that picture you added? It's not the GWOTSM. This is...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2015 3:26 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:26:07 -0400

When I first did ASU Inspections I wasn't informed about the missing ribbon from my previous PLT SGT,I need to check my ERB ,BUT I don't know how lol any help

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2015 3:29 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:29:08 -0400

Bottom line if you are my Soldier and you are authorized a ribbon no matter what it is you will wear it if it is on your ERB. If you dont make Soldiers wear all there ribbons and set there uniforms up correctly they willi never know how to do it when it is time to prepare for a DA photo for a centralized promotion board. And yes I do spot checks of ERBS when I do ASU inspections.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 12 at 2015 3:29 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:29:18 -0400

The award criteria of this one is a little different than NDSM. You need 30 days "while not in training" which is probably where the confusion lies. The National Defense is granted to anyone with 90 days in, which means anyone after bootcamp.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 12 at 2015 3:33 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:33:04 -0400

Do they not do service uniforms in AIT/OSUT anymore? We knew everything we were authorized to wear by the time we graduated as it was firmly in place on our greens.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 12 at 2015 6:13 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 12 May 2015 18:13:52 -0400

AF doesn't give you a choice. You will wear ALL. Our verison of ERB (vMPF) actually lists and displays your ribbon rack for you with all the devices.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 12 at 2015 7:10 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 12 May 2015 19:10:30 -0400

PFC Antonio Camacho Ortiz I don't really know what you mean by using it but all service members should wear it proudly if they are authorized it.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 12 at 2015 8:55 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 12 May 2015 20:55:20 -0400

If I am authorized to wear it, I wear it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2015 10:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 May 2015 22:07:01 -0400

Yes, I use it. I found out about it when I did my in processing here and that's when I went and bought it. I check and print off a copy of my erb at least once a month.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 11:10 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 11:10:58 -0400

A lot of great advice on here. One more thing I will add, PFC, is to start an "I Love Me" (career book) if you haven't already. It's good keep copies of all your paper work (promotions, orders, SSD certs, training certs, etc) in one place. Get a big 3 ring binder and document protector sheets and organize your paper work. While the majority of your stuff can be found on iPerms, it never hurts to have copies for yourself.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Bly made May 14 at 2015 11:22 PM

SPC Jeffrey Bly — Thu, 14 May 2015 23:22:12 -0400

Good topic. I was very clueless about a lot of things while I was in. So, how do I find out (years later) if I was supposed to have any of these ribbons or medals? Would it matter now as I'm only a veteran? I'm proud of my service and feel kind of forgotten and left out on a lot of stuff.

Response by SPC Candace Leach made May 15 at 2015 9:18 AM

SPC Candace Leach — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:18:01 -0400

I didn't wear mine until after my first deployment from Iraq in 2005.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made May 15 at 2015 9:23 AM

SA Harold Hansmann — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:23:58 -0400

Pardon my ignorance, but what is that ribbon? and what does the letters stand for?

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 10:19 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 10:19:30 -0400

There are some differences between the Guard and the rest of the services. In the Guard you earn state awards that are ribbons that you cannot wear on Title 10 orders. My ERB when I was in the army showed everything but was still getting weird looks when I was on active orders for schools and was wearing my state awards.

Along with what everyone else is saying Make sure you are checking your ERB for any discrepancies. When I was a team leader I was checking my soldiers ERBs every battle assembly in case they were awarded a state award and didnt get the memo. In some of the national guard units that I was in all awards were givin at our annual AT instead of when they were awarded so it was always nice to see if someone got something but didnt get told they had it.