Posted on Oct 23, 2016
SSG(P) Drill Sergeant
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
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Don't worry about awards yet, they come to those who excel without the purpose of award and get after it because it is the right thing to do. Most leaders recommend young Soldiers who go above and beyond expectation. It is almost to easy with a motivated Soldier these days given the population. Just doing your MOS/job will not get you there. Doing things with initiative will.
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SSG(P) Drill Sergeant
SSG(P) (Join to see)
8 y
I'm huge on urgency, initiative, teaching others, ldr development. I love teaching subordinates to better themselves.
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SSG(P) Drill Sergeant
SSG(P) (Join to see)
8 y
What about honor grad, dhg, pt award, any ldrship awards?
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
CW5 Sam R. Baker
8 y
Honor Graduate and Commandant's List are always pluses to any career. The PT award brings recognition, but usually is individual. Leadership awards in basic are good, but stay there with you and do not transfer to your unit and other systems recognizing reward/award. Your head and motivation are in the right place.
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
CW5 Sam R. Baker
8 y
SSG(P) (Join to see) - Urgency due to your age? Starting late can be frustrating as I was a PVT when I got to me first unit. One thing about the military, there will be those with rank (SPC-SSG) that will discount your life experiences. You don't have many subordinates at PV2 or PFC to mentor and develop in their eyes as you are still in your own infancy. Be careful at how you approach that part of your career and gain TRUST from your leaders and superiors before you go to training and leading those of your rank or below. I do remember being on the job as a PV2 and offering to help my SSG who was perplexed with some college homework. The SSG upon my offering to assist or look at their work, discounted me, "Private, you don't know anything". Once I gave the book and question a look over, I answered it for the NCO and then said I have lived life besides the military and some of it has value and experiences that folks who join at 18 will never know. Street smarts if you will. Just go easy until you have gained trust.
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SGT Unassigned
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Your blue cord uppon completion.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SGM Mikel Dawson
8 y
SGT (Join to see) - And even when you can no longer wear the blue cord and disk because of the position you've been assigned, they can't take the pride away because it is earned and can never really be taken away.
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SGT Unassigned
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SPC Russell Slocum
SPC Russell Slocum
>1 y
I got a trophy but no cord or certificate for my distinguished honor grad from fort sill back in 1999
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SGT Retired
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
670-1
d. How worn. The beret is worn so that the headband (edge binding) is straight across the forehead, 1 inch above the eyebrows. The flash is positioned over the left eye, and the excess materials is draped over to the right ear, extending to at least the top of the ear, and no lower than the middle of the ear.
But hey, blue cords..
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SPC Member
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Well if you're going Infantry you get your Blue Cord.

If you obtain 300+ PT you can get a COA.
If you score 40/40 on the Range, COA.
If you get selected for the Soldier of the Cycle Board and you get it, you get an AAM.
If you get recognized for something you might get a Challenge Coin.

I did AIT not OSUT so I can't answer that for you, in AIT there were other opportunities for awards or recognition of some sort.

Student SGM/CSM Boards got you a COA and a neat patch.
Highest PT Score got the Iron Soldier Medal and a COA, the Medal doesn't do anything it's a personal achievement.
I did see a Soldier get an AAM for a higher than 300 PT.
DHG got an AAM
HG's got COA's
Values Leader got a COA and a Challenge Coin I believe.

You're tagged 11B so work on that PT, stand out there. You'll have a better chance of going to schools like Airborne and Air Assault. Good luck.
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SPC Erich Guenther
SPC Erich Guenther
8 y
You shouldn't get an AAM for Maxing the PT test because that should be the expectation, however I saw it with at least one Infantry OSUT graduation in 2007 (everyone that MAXED the PT test got an AAM) so I believe what you said above. The highest you should get in OSUT are Regiment Certificates of Achievement, if they want to up the ante from there then DOA Certificate of Achievement. AAM's are meant for exceeding expectations in peacetime or meritorious service in peacetime..........that's just my interpretation though. Other peoples opinions will vary.
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