Obviously you cannot wear it if you do not have it in your permenant records. So how can they "recover" these awards?
Places where awards are supposed to go, and there is a potential place to find them:
- official OMPF (certificate), which can be requested after ETS. Your S1/G1 is supposed to do this upon approval of said award...yeah doesn't always happen. If it does, someone is always compelled to scrawl your SSN obtrusively as possible with a sloppy, lazy elypse vaguely drawn "around" the SSN. While you "technically" have it, it looks crapptastic in a frame.
- there are 4 copies of the 638. One of those copies is retained by the approval authority, That becomes the permanent orders you should be able to get it from them. 1x Unit, 1xOMPF, and 1x individual. Have seen as many as 3x individual. It doesn't get you a certificate if you lost it. Some S1s make a black and white copy.
- Enlisted members (or the S1 on their behalf) are supposed to submit the certificate and 638 when placing in the Official personnel file. Officers typically only need the certificate for iperms.
Unit Citations are easier. Take your ERB / ORB and search the 4x Data Bases on the HRC website. They are linked to DA General Orders that announce them.
Takes 3 minutes to complete. I finally just did it myself, as we were awarded a couple medals after I ETS's 23 years ago. They will send you a complete replacement set, no charge, the first time.
Start Your Military Service Record (DD Form 214) Request
How to Request Military Service Records, Military Personnel Files, Veterans Records, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents, DD214, or Prove Military Service
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Takes 3 minutes to complete. I finally just did it myself, as we were awarded a couple medals after I ETS's 23 years ago. They will send you a complete replacement set, no charge, the first time.
Start Your Military Service Record (DD Form 214) Request
How to Request Military Service Records, Military Personnel Files, Veterans Records, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents, DD214, or Prove Military Service