What are your requirements or expectations for someone to earn the Soldier Medal?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 08:54:16 -0500

Based on the regulation cited below, what are some examples of actions Soldiers take that you consider worthy of earning the Soldier's Medal?

AR 600-8-22
3–14. Soldier’s Medal
a. The Soldier’s Medal, 10 USC 3750 was established by Act of Congress 2 July 1926 amended 10 USC 3750.
b. The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including reserve component Soldiers not serving in a duty status, as defined in 10 USC 101(d), at the time of the heroic act, who distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The same degree of heroism is required as that of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2015 8:55 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 08:55:54 -0500

We have had several Soldiers awarded the Soldier's Medal for reacting properly in a live hand grenade pit incident, where a Basic Trainee had an errant throw resulting in the grenade dropping inside the pit.
Some have stated this does not "involve[d] personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life."

Your thoughts?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 28 at 2015 12:41 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 12:41:57 -0500

Actual SM situation. Scene is NTC live fire. Two Infantry SFC OC's arrived at a M1 Tank that was on fire. The crew bailed but left the driver. Each OC enters the turret and manually turned the turret, would get overcome by smoke, exit, put out any flames on themselves, and the other would enter and turn the turret. They finally got to the driver, but he did not make it. It was my understanding that the tank was combat loaded.

As with any award, I would have to look at the criteria, look at what the soldier did, and consider the circumstances she/he performed the acts under. I would consider rescues or attempts from:
- fires, including cars/vehicles/enclosed spaces.
- water, especially where currents or extremely cold temperatures are involved.
- structural collapses
- mountaineering type accidents
- fearsome beasts (bears, Sharks, mountain lions, etc)
I would have to consider actions against armed assailant(s) (that do not fall under the actions of foreign terrorists or enemy armed forces) on a case by case basis...don't want soldiers trawling back alleys looking for trouble on purpose. But if trouble found them...

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 28 at 2015 12:57 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 12:57:30 -0500

The one's I have seen involve two things.

1. Clearly a life saving act, in that you saved somebody's life and there is no doubt they would have most likely died without the awardees help.

2. Clear Risk of Life and/or Limb to the awardee (usually life), in that in the course of the act or rescue, the awardee could be injured or killed. More likely, there was a high probability of injury or death to the awardee.

The examples I can remember, are:

1. Desert Storm, a MP NCO rescuing an wounded Soldier from mine field.

2. Several MPs rescuing crash victims from a buring car, and/or a car that went into a body of water.

3. And as a LT several Tank Mechanics, crawling under an M1 Tank that had flipped over in a river, while it was suspended upside down from a M88 Boom (the original one the Hercules version) to rescue the crew in the turret.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2015 3:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 15:09:03 -0500

The one on the ARMY Times a couple of years ago involving two "Golden Knights" was not a justification of the award.

Of course awards will always be undermined by those at the top. There are multiple reasons why.

In my Field there are many disgruntled Soldiers who do not get awards because many Leaders are lazy and then some get stopped by the Command.

I do my best to get awards for the Soldiers who deserve it and there is a ton of red tape to cut before it gets approved. By the time it is all said and done the Award sometimes loses its appeal.

Response by SGT Corey Franks made Mar 12 at 2015 3:47 PM

SGT Corey Franks — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:47:42 -0400

I wish my command knew about this medal.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Mar 12 at 2015 11:58 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:58:31 -0400

I would trade all the ribbons, citations, medals for just one really good night's sleep!

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 18 at 2015 11:31 AM

LTC Bink Romanick — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:31:46 -0400

My old Bn Motor SGT received the SM for pulling the driver out of a gas tanker with a fully loaded 1 1/2t trailer full of gas
cans that had been struck by a civilian semi and caught fire.

MSG Snook pulled the driver and assistant driver from the cab, jumped in the cab and drove the vehicle off the highway to a cleared area where the fire could be extinguished without endangering military or civilian personnel.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Sep 8 at 2015 10:20 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:20:07 -0400

I got one a long time ago but I always wondered how since I was not on orders at the time. I was an active reservist. Does anyone know how that works?

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 27 at 2018 12:48 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 12:48:35 -0500

Friend of mine got one in the 1980's for entering a burning house and rescuing a family at Ft. Ayers Mass. One of my Soldiers got one for entering a burning car and pulling a person to safety on the highway near Fort Lewis 1992 time frame.