CPT Private RallyPoint Member 315406 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div> 2014-11-07T11:00:42-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 315406

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2014-11-07T11:00:42-05:00 2014-11-07T11:00:42-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 335797

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Should it be automatic. No.<br /><br />However, I do think that we as a service should do a better job of awarding service when members ETS or PCS. Failure to do so is a failure of leadership.

2014-11-20T18:02:43-05:00 2014-11-20T18:02:43-05:00 1LT Private RallyPoint Member 335846

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No, because they're not authorized as a general thing by law.<br />AR 600-8-22 clearly states in chapter 3 that no one is entitled to an award. Especially not for completing an assignment. This is for exceptional cases only.<br />We've been violating this legal requirement for over a decade with deployment awards and other shenanigans to "set people up for success."<br />Look at a wall of SMA portraits and you'll see how we've started escalating awards like crazy. I'm a logistics SSG with less than ten years and SMA Woolridge stack is as tall as mine. That's just not right.

2014-11-20T18:44:31-05:00 2014-11-20T18:44:31-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 335932

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="415463" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/415463-12a-engineer-officer-367th-en-372nd-en-bde">CPT Private RallyPoint Member</a> no. You know better than most that there are some who do not deserve to wear the rank that they do and some do not even deserve to wear the uniform. They are sucking up taxpayer dollars though just like you and others who work their butt off to improve their units from when they joined the unit. Do they deserve to have an automatic award? No. Unfortunately the FLL who fail to do their job right might put them in for an award instead of a discharge and others might not put those who deserve an award in for one.

2014-11-20T19:40:22-05:00 2014-11-20T19:40:22-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 336061

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think there should be an automatic review at PCS and ETS to see if an award is deserved.<br />Handed out every time? Absolutely not.

2014-11-20T21:24:44-05:00 2014-11-20T21:24:44-05:00 Sgt Jennifer Mohler 336227

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No.

2014-11-20T23:30:30-05:00 2014-11-20T23:30:30-05:00 SPC(P) Jay Heenan 336320

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I also agree with most...PCS awards should not be automatic. Here is my question back though, what constitutes 'over and above'? As an example, if I go to work everyday, do my job as expected, stay out of trouble, do all of those pesky 'other duties as assigned', what would I need to do to consider 'over and above'? Technically, everything that I do for the Army is considered 'doing my job'. How do you quantify 'over and above'? I would wager a bet that if you have a Soldier under your command and after three or four years, he/she has done nothing to 'earn' a PCS award, then you as his/her leader has failed him/her. I think the bigger issue is that senior leadership acts like the awards they give are coming off of their own racks. I am not saying pass them out every morning, but reward your Soldiers...you might be surprised at how much more they put out for you.

2014-11-21T01:11:29-05:00 2014-11-21T01:11:29-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 336529

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What do we mean by 'award'? Is it an ARCOM, AAM etc. or is it a plaque/coin?

2014-11-21T09:59:13-05:00 2014-11-21T09:59:13-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 336745

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Never automatic but its not as black and white as some of you are stating. Here is what really bothers me about the awards process. Like most processes in the military it will never be a perfect one but, senior leaders try to "make it right" by interjecting there own believes and emotions in the process. This only makes it worse. I point to NCOER's and OER's as a perfect example. When I read the comments on this subject I realize the problem is the type of award not the award itself. I don't believe any Soldier regardless of rank deserves a bronze star just for showing up in a combat zone and an MSM is stretching it a bit much also. The ARCOM can be easily justified depending on the MOS. Soldiers that do combat patrols etc.. The Kicker is when I read a comment that an award is for, "above and beyond". This is far from the truth. the AAM by regulation does not have to be for "above and beyond" and can be a great motivational tool to show your Soldiers they will get recognized for doing a great job. I think an AAM at minimum should be awarded to any eligible Soldier who is deployed in a combat zone. I just see the bigger problem being the senior leadership not seeing the bigger picture. Its not just about the Soldier getting the award. Its also about the platoon or unit as a whole seeing that there leadership cares and will recognize the hard work they do. As far as PCS award, if they did there job honorably and helped the organization succeed, (even if was by doing "there job" ) that's the Soldier we want to encourage to stay in the Military and grow. I think an AAM at least is a great way to say thank you for there hard work and dedication to the Military. With the suicide rate, divorce rate and hardships Soldiers go through, It could be the motivating factor to keep that Soldier from going down a road of self destruction. <br />I guess I don't look at award as candy on the uniform. I see them a whole different way.

2014-11-21T12:53:16-05:00 2014-11-21T12:53:16-05:00 CW5 Private RallyPoint Member 336776

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>They should not be automatic. They should also not be tied to a rank or position. All too often, units award all soldiers of a certain rank and below an AAM, all soldiers above that an ARCOM and 1SGs and Company Commanders get an MSM. Awards should be given when someone goes above what is expected for that grade and position.<br /><br />Awards that are given should be given in person. Most of my awards came in the mail long after I left a unit.

2014-11-21T13:10:53-05:00 2014-11-21T13:10:53-05:00 CW5 Sam R. Baker 336798

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>NO, nope, never, nada, negative, and any other word beginning and starting with the letter "N". Lots of threads and strings on awards, having been a adjutant for several years, watching the process and reporting to the command the statues, it is not a positive trend to reward everyone for just doing their job. Above and beyond impact is the way to go versus service and service e should be representative of a career of service, not a tour or especially a 14-30 day jaunt through the woods of a CTC. Just my negative .02...............

2014-11-21T13:27:11-05:00 2014-11-21T13:27:11-05:00 WO1 Private RallyPoint Member 336809

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No, there is nothing wrong with a COA or LOR from the losing unit.

2014-11-21T13:31:53-05:00 2014-11-21T13:31:53-05:00 PO2 Corey Ferretti 336872

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No they should not be automatic. I was in for 10 years i was awarded 2 Navy Achievement medals. I was in a NAVLEAD school and the IT1 that was instructing us had about 12 years in and he had 7 NAM's he admitted 90% came from just doing his job not doing anything. I watched a E4 get a NAM for being a crew member she was nothing special she was a pain in the a$$ honestly but the LT had felt everyone should get an award when they left. Making awards for PCS or end of tour automatic takes away from the award.

2014-11-21T14:08:42-05:00 2014-11-21T14:08:42-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 336926

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Personally, I'm happy receiving a Coin/COA or framed item as a PCS award.

2014-11-21T14:51:57-05:00 2014-11-21T14:51:57-05:00 PO1 Ron Clark 337019

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Not necessarily, end of tour awards should be just like a tip! When you go to a restaurant and the service is lousy, do you give a tip? NO! If that member has performed a job well done and will be a missing component of that unit then yes, he deserves it. Otherwise, the military would have a bunch of people who are getting awards and who have done nothing less than skate the entire tour while putting all the heavy lifting on the other people at his command.

2014-11-21T15:55:16-05:00 2014-11-21T15:55:16-05:00 COL Jean (John) F. B. 337140

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><br />No "award" should be automatic. It should be earned. While the duty performance of most certainly deserve recognition of some type upon their departure from a unit, there are always a few who do not.<br /><br />Leaders need to have the moral courage to look soldiers, NCOs and officers in the eyes and tell them if their performance does not merit an award or an award lower than they think they should be getting.<br /><br />I have had more than one counseling session with subordinate commanders who did not have the moral courage to recommend an appropriate award and, instead, left it up to me to downgrade it when it got to my desk. I guess that allowed them to tell the soldier that he/she had been put in for a higher award but the battalion/brigade commander downgraded it, knowing full well that the person deserved the lower award (or less) than was requested.<br /><br />I do not believe in the idea that the higher the rank, the higher the award, although one does have to consider level of responsibility in the equation.

2014-11-21T17:39:25-05:00 2014-11-21T17:39:25-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 337880

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would say No to PCS, but Yes to ETS (as long as the service was honorable). When you complete your service, whether its 4 years or 40 years, you should be recognized for your service to the United States. The 638 should simply say "honorable service rendered".

2014-11-22T11:12:39-05:00 2014-11-22T11:12:39-05:00 SGM Matthew Quick 337886

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No awards should be "automatic".

2014-11-22T11:16:08-05:00 2014-11-22T11:16:08-05:00 SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee 338719

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not think that PCS/ETS awards should be automatic. I served in a number of leadership position over the course of my military career. I did not receive any awards from 1991 until I left Afghanistan. As an Anti-Armor Infantry Section SGT, my section was the top section in the battalion a number of years in a row. I made sure that the soldiers under my command received appropriate recognition (BN coin, BDE coin, Certificate of Achievement, or AAM). I did not seek out recognition for myself, but focused on doing my duty to the best of my ability. If my immediate supervisor (usually the 1SG or CO) felt like it was worth taking the time to recognize me, great. If not, I still gave my all to ensure that my troops and section was the best trained unit in the 32nd Infantry Brigade. When I left Afghanistan, I was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for my service there. I looked at it as recognizing my service for my whole 23 year military career.

2014-11-23T00:58:23-05:00 2014-11-23T00:58:23-05:00 Capt Richard I P. 339159

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No.

2014-11-23T14:45:29-05:00 2014-11-23T14:45:29-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 339664

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don't think awards should be automatic but I do think writing awards is a good leaders responsibility.

2014-11-23T21:38:12-05:00 2014-11-23T21:38:12-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 339671

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The only award that a soldier should be automatically entitled to is the Purple Heart. End of story.

2014-11-23T21:41:16-05:00 2014-11-23T21:41:16-05:00 PO3 Private RallyPoint Member 402603

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>There should be some sort of review process at the very least for a SM who is PCS/ETSing, especially for those who do more than just show up and do their job.<br /><br />I had 11 collateral duties as an E-4 when I left the Navy. Unfortunately, *I* was the guy who wrote the awards for my division (my Chief did not have a good working relationship with technology, lol) and I had to do the write up for my own "end of tour" award. I ran the award by my Division Officer (O-3) to ensure he felt things were properly worded, etc. and he thought it all sounded great and that I should send it up the chain. I submitted it to my Chief to be routed and it was never heard from again. Other awards submitted at the same time made it through the approval process (including one for my Chief, which was upgraded).<br /><br />I left that command without so much as a handshake. At that point, I was more than glad to be getting out of the Navy. Looking back, I realize it was only the command that failed me and not the service as a whole.

2015-01-05T10:41:25-05:00 2015-01-05T10:41:25-05:00 2014-11-07T11:00:42-05:00