Should there be a ribbon or medal for military members who obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, besides automatic advancement?

AN John Filidoro — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 04:14:54 -0400

Boys who are Eagle Scouts (same for girls in Girl Scouts who get gold star) get advanced to E-3 in the military when they enlist. Do you think that there should be a ribbon or metal awarded to them to distinguish them for their hard work besides just advancement in paygrade?

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Aug 14 at 2019 4:36 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 04:36:56 -0400

Uh, no. Just like ROTC have to leave everything behind when they become big boys. College trophies don't mean squat when you turn pro.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Aug 14 at 2019 4:40 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 04:40:10 -0400

Oh one more thing, you show up with an "eagle scout" award at an infantry regiment...good luck.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Aug 14 at 2019 5:40 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 05:40:26 -0400

No.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Aug 14 at 2019 6:46 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 06:46:47 -0400

If they are already enlisted at the time May be. Other wise I think not. Back in the day many other countries accused America of using The Boy Scouts as Military pre school now we want to give them an award to prove them right? They get an auto promotion I think that is enough.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2019 9:37 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 09:37:08 -0400

No. Holding the rank of Eagle Scout means nothing in the military world. Just like me holding the office of Grand Knight & Faithful Navigator in the Knights of Columbus means nothing to the military world.
A ribbon for this would be just like the ribbon awarded to honor grads in the Air Force - just another thing to maintain on your dress uniform that means absolutely nothing when it comes to further advancement in your career.

Response by SFC Scott Higgins made Aug 14 at 2019 11:50 AM

SFC Scott Higgins — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 11:50:08 -0400

SN John Filidoro:
In a word, no there should not be a ribbon or medal awarded. They already were awarded their Eagle Scout/Gold Star for their efforts. A ribbon or medal is for those actions committed while in the service. Getting advanced to E-3 is quite a bump as it is anyway. By your rationale, someone who graduates High School should get a ribbon or a medal for all their hard work too. It would detract from those awards our female and male soldiers earn in service to their country. At least that is my humble opinion.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 14 at 2019 11:50 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 11:50:46 -0400

We want to wear awards for childhood achievement's? How about band awards? Or debate club awards? Or sports? Perhaps that pottery competition was mighty fierce!
No. Leave childhood for the children. You're an adult. It's time to start collecting adult accomplishments.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2019 1:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:20:46 -0400

They don’t automatically get E-3 in the Army anymore (or I just got screwed) it just gets you to E-2, but I respectably disagree and I don’t think that there should be a award in the military for Eagle or Summet. The rank advancement is good enough, and the Scouts isn’t a para-military organization. And this is coming from a self admitted “Award Whore” since I was in the Scouts.

Response by Maj Neal Jackman made Aug 14 at 2019 1:54 PM

Maj Neal Jackman — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:54:04 -0400

In my opinion, they got their recognition with the advancement. No Ribbon or medal. I was a SM for 15 years, awarded Eagle Badge, Distinguished SM, Silver Beaver, SM at NYLT (youth training), Woodbadge staff. I left when they started changing the program to get the money. I feel that depending on where the boy received the award there is a huge difference in the accomplishment. In theory, a boy could earn the badge at age 12 years 3 months, or 18 years. The project should challenge the boy. In our area, Utah, many of the boys become "Seagull" scouts being promoted based on age, and having a "service" project that amounts to begging for donations at Wal-Mart. The name was created by boys who did all the work to earn their Eagle. Many of the Seagulls can't even wear the uniform correctly. NO, they should not get a ribbon or medal for their BS (take that any way you want) award. John, if you got an Eagle award, congratulations, mine changed my life. Nationally, in the 70's 1% of Scouts earned the award, currently I believe it is 2% and in Utah as high as 5%. If you use # of Eagles in a year to membership it is currently 6%. The 2% number reflects boys who have been in the program and attain the rank including all who dropped out of Scouting.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Aug 14 at 2019 3:44 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 15:44:11 -0400

No! The services have adequate numbers of "been there, done that" ribbons. This would be as useless as a training ribbon. Seriously, I was a Scout Leader for many years. I was always proud of the Scouts that earned Eagle. They were often widely recognized in their local area, school, and within Scouting. Plus, they received a "ribbon" they wore on the Scout uniform and later on the Scout Leader uniform if they became an adult leader. That, plus the opportunity to get an extra stripe, are enough.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2019 4:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 16:18:52 -0400

Absolutely not!!

Response by John H Green Jr made Aug 14 at 2019 4:54 PM

John H Green Jr — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 16:54:58 -0400

I got e2 in 1992. I actually got alot of respect from my drill sergeant. As an officer I wore my eagle scout cuff links with my mess dress. In 2006 the National Eagle Scout association actually published an article with a mini eagle medal saying it was authorized for wear but they neglected to actually get DOD buy in.
I really hate these dumb articles on RP...

Response by SPC Roger Giffen made Aug 14 at 2019 5:01 PM

SPC Roger Giffen — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:01:04 -0400

NO.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2019 5:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:28:39 -0400

NO and NO.

Response by PO1 Michael G. made Aug 14 at 2019 5:30 PM

PO1 Michael G. — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:30:50 -0400

Speaking as an Eagle Scout and NESA life member, no. An invaluable achievement, absolutely, but the purpose of earning the award is in that it instills values that are valuable to the military, namely integrity, sticktoitiveness, and self reliance. And it's nothing to be ashamed of; the people who try to put down others because they had their shot together as a teenager and achieved something are the type of people who either don't understand or know they weren't capable of themselves. But the purpose of earning Eagle Scout is to live the values that were learned while in Scouting.

Response by SPC Paul Hayward made Aug 14 at 2019 5:48 PM

SPC Paul Hayward — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:48:50 -0400

if you didn't earn it through military service, then you shouldn't get a ribbon for it, the military is not a social experiment, there are no participation awards

Response by SFC David Bentley made Aug 14 at 2019 6:12 PM

SFC David Bentley — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 18:12:32 -0400

One of the hard chargers in my PLT in basic brought his JROTC medals to basic. He affixed them to his inspection brass card, didn’t go well. I think E3 is enough of a bump, if you got your shit together it will become evident in time, a ribbon won’t make the difference.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Aug 14 at 2019 6:17 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 18:17:35 -0400

The rank of an E3 is their ‘medal’. I went Enlisted when I joined the Army even though I had a BA Degree. My rank of E2/PFC was the recognition of my civilian education. So I as the promotion to E4 after four months on active duty. Don’t think they need a special medal, their rank is their award for their civilian accomplishment.

Response by SMSgt Mark Gildersleeve made Aug 14 at 2019 10:18 PM

SMSgt Mark Gildersleeve — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 22:18:41 -0400

I think the award itself is being advanced to E3. Also never was a fan of the Good Conduct Medal. Let me get this straight I get an award for not getting in trouble.......

Response by MGySgt Rick Tyrrell made Aug 14 at 2019 10:39 PM

MGySgt Rick Tyrrell — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 22:39:51 -0400

I do not feel an Eagle Scout should be promoted since he has done nothing to earn a promotion in the military. As far as a medal that would be a joke.

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Aug 14 at 2019 10:50 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 22:50:47 -0400

Never heard that eagle scouts getting E3 when they enlisted. That means I should have been an E8 in nam with 2 years in . Where is my back pay? I look at the new breed and can not figure why their dress uniforms, what ever they are called now, don't rip from all the weight. Guess just doing your job does not count anymore? 50 years does mak a difference.

Response by MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2019 11:59 PM

MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 23:59:06 -0400

We had a guy in Boot Camp try to wear his JROTC ribbons at graduation. The DI ripped them off his blouse and he had to sew his uniform back together.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2019 2:00 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 02:00:17 -0400

Heck no.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Aug 15 at 2019 8:01 AM

CPT Tom Monahan — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 08:01:55 -0400

No! What’s next,
A ribbon for 14th place in the July 4th community swim meet at the YMCA? The recognition is higher starting rank and pay.

Response by A1C Stanley Kolakowski made Aug 15 at 2019 11:41 AM

A1C Stanley Kolakowski — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:41:30 -0400

First off, I'd be leery of this, because from what I remember reading while my daughter was in scouts is that Girl Scout Gold Star isn't a "fixed" set of qualifications, it's a fixed set of requirements that can be met in many ways / shapes / forms.

Assuming the same is true for Eagle Scout, I'm not sure you'd want to be seen with a badge that anyone else can make "on the spot decisions" from that you might not be able to uphold - such as the infamous "an Eagle Scout knows how to tie knots / hunt / lead the wilderness survival troop / etc.".

I remember when I was in I was envious of the various fruit salads, but then again I saw one or two people "not live up to their collection" and trust me, that's never good.

IMO, best to leave the extra stuff off the uniform and let your actions show your Eagle Scout / Gold Star background in ways that you CAN back up - that'll score many more "brownie points" with the command and help during boards...

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Aug 15 at 2019 12:40 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 12:40:43 -0400

No. Also, I don't think there should be any kind of automatic advancement either. Why do Boy Scouts get special treatment over any other scouting programs? What about Girl Scouts, or even some of those crazy religious scouting groups who boycotted the BSA because of their policy on homosexuality.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Aug 16 at 2019 10:53 AM

SFC Dennis A. — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 10:53:24 -0400

No, their award was given/earned in the Scouts. Their military award is that advancement to E-3 and the pay that comes with it.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 16 at 2019 4:18 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 16:18:05 -0400

Please John- Look at this, When I first came in as a PFC, I got the NDSM, and that was it for 2 yrs. Why should we AWARD something done in civilian life? Where would it fall- lowest of the low?. The young SM got the promotion to E3, what damn more does he /she need.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2019 6:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 18:38:41 -0400

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2019 8:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 20:57:24 -0400

Enlistment to PFC is a huge incentive enough. It takes an entire bachelor to get the next promotion.

Your young I get it. At the end of the day the weakness of a ribbon rack is just as ray to read as a strong one. Believe me, you do t want to be the guy retiring with an ARCOM as his highest award, and the a Boy Scout award all one the same row.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2019 6:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 18:12:26 -0400

No they get advancement to recognize that achievement. All ribbons and awards worn should be those you earned while performing military duty!

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Aug 18 at 2019 10:25 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 22:25:54 -0400

No, a ribbon for something something prior to the military makes no sense to me.

Response by SSG Scott Smith made Sep 4 at 2019 1:27 AM

SSG Scott Smith — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 01:27:41 -0400

I think its bad enough that people leave boot with all these ribbons now. Used to be just one, the one saying you completed boot. Now, most privates show up to AIT or thier first units with more awards than a butter bar. I'm proud of my Eagle, but I don't wear military awards on my scout uniform so I think the reverse should also be true.

Just me two cents.