Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medal

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 May 2014 12:33:54 -0400

How did you earn yours? How did it affect your career and outlook on the branches you worked with?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2014 6:34 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 May 2014 18:34:26 -0400

I earned mine while assigned as the LNO with CJTF 101 in Afghanistan. Overall I think it is a conversation starter while in uniform and makes me stand out a little on boards as not everyone has one (like the MOVSM). I enjoyed my time working with the different countries, services, and agencies. I gained experience working with them and understanding their own culture and practices. They were a great group to work with and I would not shy away from working within another joint or combined joint environment.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 31 at 2014 11:09 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 31 May 2014 23:09:08 -0400

Earned mine (JSCM) while working on the personal staff of the Commander, Stabilization Force (COMSFOR) in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999.

Can't see the tangible benefits of a single award, but it IS pretty on a medal rack...but expensive.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 8:02 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 08:02:17 -0400

JCOM - PCS award from a DoD installation.
JSAM - Deployment with CENTCOM to Afghanistan.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 11:47 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 11:47:55 -0400

Generally, the JSCOM or JSAM are award to service members who are assigned to Joint Commands, they are awarded for the same recognitions as the ARCOM or AAM. For an approving authority to be able to award the medals, they have to me in a JDAL (Joint equivalent of our MTOE) showing they are a joint commander, or in most recent cases, units deployed such as CJTF-101 in RC (E) when I was in Afghanistan last year.

As for how it will affect your career, I can not truly talk how a board would look at them (your centralized E7 and above boards). As we are conducting more and more joint operations, I would say if you get the chance to serve in a joint organization, I would take the opportunity. It is always a great experience to serve with other branches.

Does this help answer your question?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 12:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 12:37:09 -0400

I've earned two JSCMs so far: one for a deployment to Afghanistan, and another for PCSing from a joint assignment. I also earned a Defense Meritorious Service Medal for my tour with NATO in Izmir, Turkey. I presume the joint awards helped me fairly well as I received a promotion sequence number on my first look. I can't -won't- say that is why I got selected for promotion, but I'm sure it helped.

Response by SSG William Sutter made Jun 1 at 2014 4:08 PM

SSG William Sutter — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 16:08:31 -0400

I earned mine by being a Battalion Unit Movement Coordinator for the CJ6 in Afghanistan. I moved people and equipment into, throughout and out of Afghanistan. It didn't help my career. I am still a SSG.