What awards can you earn during BCT and AIT, and what is the best way to earn them?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:57:19 -0400

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Oct 23 at 2016 1:32 PM

1SG Al Brown — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 13:32:04 -0400

Academic awards for exceptional academic performance. Achievement awards through some type of "extraordinary circumstance or behavior". Achievement awards at the school house are a rarity, because the Chain of Command expects superior performance. Hence the check block that can be earned at future schools that states "superior performance".

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 1:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 13:40:41 -0400

AAM from what I've seen.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 23 at 2016 1:44 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 13:44:55 -0400

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.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Oct 23 at 2016 3:11 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:11:34 -0400

AAM is probably the best you can do and that has to be under some extraordinarly circumstances. When you leave BCT and AIT your will receive the Fort Benning occupation ribbon (ASR) and probably the National Defense Ribbon. Awards will come later. I don't want to cheapen the experience however as time went on and deployments became the norm awards were handed out to everyone for attending. It was more meaningful for myself to get a coin than a citation, just my 2 cents..

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 3:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:31:25 -0400

Your blue cord uppon completion.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 5:06 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 17:06:41 -0400

don't worry about awards in basic... Just earn that cord and start your career

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 6:48 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 18:48:01 -0400

If I were you I would try to focus more on the training opportunities available to motivated soldiers completing OSUT, rather than decorations. If you do well you could have a chance to go to a number of schools (Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger etc) and the skills and experience you pick up in any one of them would be at least as useful to you at this point in your career as an award earned in initial training.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Oct 23 at 2016 8:22 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 20:22:22 -0400

Focus on Maxing the PT Test and getting through the course without injury so you graduate on time. Believe me, if you do those two things the doors will open to other schools and awards will follow and your first unit assignment will be easier.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 9:42 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 21:42:26 -0400

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.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 10:43 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 22:43:07 -0400

Sometimes Battalion Commanders grant the Army Achievement medal for getting 100 points maxing out all 3 events in the APFT/PRT

Response by SGM Jeff Bullard made Oct 23 at 2016 11:05 PM

SGM Jeff Bullard — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:05:51 -0400

Army service ribbon and possibly the national defense ribbon.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 11:14 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:14:58 -0400

One of my classmates has 100% first time go's on all skills, the only one to fire expert (38 if I recall right), and really took the reigns of student leadership positions well. He was given an AAM at graduation and promoted to PFC. But he was by far an exception.

I suggest you just focus on doing your best, and learning the skills of your MOS and being an outstanding soldier. If you develop and polish those skills now, you will likely become the soldier that stands out through your career and will soon fill your chest with awards.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 24 at 2016 1:17 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 01:17:48 -0400

In the stone ages when I went through training you were pretty limited. Everyone got to buy a National Defense ribbon when they joined. The Army Service ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal didn't exist. The only thing that you could actually earn was your weapons qualification badges and all that you actually got was a copy of the orders awarding the badge. It you wanted a badge they sold them at the PX. The same for the blue cord and discs after AIT. In those days, except for some prior service, even college graduates were E1 in basic. Drill sergeants had the option of promoting the top 10% of their platoon to E2 upon graduation but didn't have to. Otherwise you got promoted to E2 after six months time in service. You did get a certificate at the end of AIT but nothing else. What most people got during and after basic and AIT was absolutely nothing. Most people didn't have much more at ETS.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 11:21 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:21:38 -0400

Dont focus on rewards. Focus on being the best soldier you can be. Awards will come

Response by SPC(P) Gildardo Navarro made Oct 24 at 2016 2:20 PM

SPC(P) Gildardo Navarro — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:20:15 -0400

the highest award in the army the 'army participation patch'', :). Just be the best on everything in bct. You'll get a AAM.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 5:47 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 17:47:38 -0400

Focus on the steak (graduation) and not the peas (awards). Do your best and the rest will fall into place.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 7:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:59:52 -0400

Relax man it'll come just focus on learning your job and doing it well before you earn ribbons and all that BS. Quite frankly I've seen a few people all decked out and stuff and they can't do there job. If you are a good soldier and great at your job and motivated the awards will come but for now learn your craft before any of that.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 1:01 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 01:01:59 -0400

You can get a diploma that says you graduated basic training!!!! Why is anyone worried about awards at this point in a career that really hasn't even begun yet? Become part of a team first!! Plus the reward of seeing a smile on your drill sergeants face that your leaving should be enough!!! Haha

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 25 at 2016 7:44 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 07:44:11 -0400

Do not set out to earn badges or medals, this often gets one caught up in that place where most do not wish to go. In stead strive every day to listen and learn, taking on every challenge as if your life depends on it (because it could). If you assert yourself and assist your fellow Soldiers who may be lacking you will be recognized and appropriately rewarded.

This remains the same throughout your career, and life in general.

Good luck.

Response by SSG Shavonde Chase made Oct 26 at 2016 5:26 PM

SSG Shavonde Chase — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 17:26:49 -0400

Everyone is giving advice based on their experiences without asking what are your goals and what are you trying to achieve.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2018 2:53 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 02:53:41 -0400

National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Get them by graduating.