Have you been awarded all of the medals that you think that you have earned?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:05:27 -0500

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 17 at 2015 8:15 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:15:07 -0500

Medals really mean nothing. It's the sense of service to something greater than self that's important. Medals are nice but pride and honor and dignity are more valuable

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 17 at 2015 8:15 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:15:46 -0500

For the most part. I probably could have fought for a NAM (Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal) or 2, but that medal is given away like candy and I never cared about my "rack."

At the end of the day, my medals (or lack of) don't define me as a Sailor and didn't help me get a job after I got out of the Navy!

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 17 at 2015 8:28 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:28:53 -0500

A few thoughts:
- We get paid for doing our jobs.
- We get promoted for showing the potential to perform at the next higher level.
- We receive awards for performing our jobs in an exemplary manner.
- Too many military personnel feel they should receive awards for merely doing their jobs. This is incorrect. They/we already received an award of sorts. We got paid for doing our job.
- The US Army has too many "feel good" awards. We have awards for breathing at a certain time (National Defense Service Medal), we have awards for breathing in a certain location (Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Service Medal, Iraq Service Medal), and we have awards for breathing during certain events (Humanitarian Service Medal). The main achievement medals that we have are limited including AAM, ARCOM, MSM, LOM.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 17 at 2015 8:40 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:40:31 -0500

SPC Margaret Higgins - Yes, absolutely. And I have been awarded many others that my soldiers earned for me. My success, and my awards, are directly attributable to a great many soldiers, NCOs and officers I have had the pleasure and honor to have served with over the years.

Response by SSG Greg Kerr made Nov 17 at 2015 9:15 AM

SSG Greg Kerr — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 09:15:35 -0500

No. And i was even told that by my commander. But higher up said they could not give it to the rank I was.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 9:22 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 09:22:18 -0500

Good topic. I believe I've been shorted a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and my End of Tour award at my last command was written up as a Joint Service Comm but got bumped down to a Jsam because I was an E-4 at the time. Aside from those, I believe I have.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 11:03 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:03:03 -0500

At the end of the day, it all comes out in the wash.
I think I got a medal or two that were a bit on the weak side. I know I got jobbed when I did exemplary work in Iraq and got an ARCOM (like everybody else) because higher instituted a quota system. But I certainly can't complain.
I can proudly say that I earned every ribbon and device on my rack, and never lobbied for a single one.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 11:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 11:11:27 -0500

I have been given more than I think I deserve honestly. I have 5 medals/ribbons and two badges. Three of those ribbons/medals were given to me by the time I hit my first duty station. My first AAM was from a sham detail. My second AAM is something that I think is earned truly through my hard work. Both of my badges (basic parachutist and German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge) were very well earned! haha. My next few awards I have in the queue are an ARCOM from deployment and a MOVSM for various actions. Those are things that I feel that I have earned.