Where can I mail a DA-638 form to get it approved?

SPC Tim K — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 00:49:45 -0500

I have a DA-638 form, to request an AAM medal for my service at one of my bases I was assigned to long ago. At the time, my NCO and chain of command was rather lackadaisical and I wasn't one of their favorites. It always kind of bothered me over the years, so I want to put this wrong right by getting the AAM I fully earned back then.

Only problem is, I can't find an address to mail my form to. One place told me to give it to my congressman, but surely I'd still have to have some sort of address on the envelope. The first time I sent it, I mailed it to:

U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Military Awards Branch
200 Stovall St Suite 3S67
Alexandria, VA, 22332-0471

Attn: AHRC-PDO-PA

And a month later, the post office returned it to me, unopened, with a yellow tag on the envelope, saying "undeliverable as addressed".

Anyone got a good address, or any other advice about submitting my DA-638?

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Jan 17 at 2021 2:33 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 02:33:14 -0500

I understand your disappointment, but "PCS awards" are not a requirement to PCS. No one is entiled to one, regardless of their performance during their time in the unit. I doubt you'll be successfull, but I still wish you luck.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2021 2:22 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 14:22:53 -0500

Here is my question: who is marked down as the recommender? AR 600-8-22 states that the recommender must be senior in rank or someone that has direct personal knowledge of action(s). Or, someone that has direct knowledge of action(s) and provides said knowledge to leadership. That's not the direct quote, but that's the gist.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2021 2:25 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 14:25:02 -0500

And don't forget that there is a statute of limitations in regards to timeline of actions and submission of recommendation. 2 years is the ceiling, I believe. After that, it has to go to a much higher level of review to get a waiver (so to speak).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2021 3:51 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 15:51:52 -0500

I feel your pain on this. I did 10 years in the National Guard before I transitioned back to the Regular Army. I never received a service award for my 10 years. I think it was in poor taste but I can't go back and do anything about it. At some point you just have to move on.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 17 at 2021 6:42 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 18:42:46 -0500

3–5. Who may recommend
a. The Army does not allow self-recognition (including spouses or other Family members), therefore, a Soldier may
not recommend himself or herself for award of a decoration.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 17 at 2021 7:13 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 19:13:53 -0500

Sorry you weren’t recognized.
- AR600-8-22 states the time limit
- A SM can not recommend themselves for an award. Has to be someone else with first hand knowledge.
- because it is more than a year ago , you have to present evidence indicating a list award recommendation , extenuating circumstances, or injustice.

Response by SPC Tim K made Feb 10 at 2021 11:18 PM

SPC Tim K — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 23:18:31 -0500

UPDATE. I finally got around to scanning my DA-638, and also downloading a DA-1559 to request waivers for time and submission by me. A couple weeks ago I called into HRC at Ft. Knox and got a long, convoluted email address to submit my forms to, I'll be amazed if my email doesn't kick it back. But anyway, getting the ball rolling on this.

Response by SPC Tim K made Jul 3 at 2021 8:45 AM

SPC Tim K — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 08:45:53 -0400

UPDATE - Progress! :)
After the previous messages written back and forth in this topic, I was still determined to find a way.
And I did. A bit of Google searching found my old LTC battalion commander, and a phone number! I'll tell you, I was rather nervous making that phone call. But he was cool, seemed happy to hear from one of his old troops, he asked me some things. Was I married, what kind of work do I do, do you remember this or that event happening back in the day, etc. So I spoke with him for a while and felt much better after the call. He had given me an email address, so I forwarded to him my DA-638 forms and a few paragraphs in the email with all the details of what I'd done back in the day, and what I was trying to accomplish.

We had a couple emails go back and forth, he asked to get my old company commander captain involved. I said I had no information on him, but the LTC told me where to look on LinkedIn, and I was able to email the Captain after that. He was also receptive to the idea, and the LTC forwarded all the paperwork to the CPT.

So over the next couple months, I'd get an update now and then, and I was very strategic with my email responses. I didn't want to be emailing them too often asking about this, so when they'd write to me, I'd wait a few days to a week before responding. My thought process was that spreading out the emails would tend to pop it back into their heads and keep the ball rolling, so to speak, as I'm sure they both had many more important things to do than dealing with a request from 30 years ago.

About a month ago the CPT wrote back to me. He said both he and the LTC were trying to get my AAM upgraded to an ARCOM, but the problem became that an O-6 had to be involved to approve an ARCOM (it's in 600-8-22 section 3-5 and Table 3-2). I contacted the Ft. Carson personnel office, who directed me to their Ft. Carson museum department, but no one had any information on who the brigade commander was 30 years ago. Probably just as well, as if I had gotten an ARCOM I'd still have the problem of not having the AAM, then I'd have to start over, maybe with my last duty station as an ETS award or something. And for my last duty station, I haven't got a clue as to the name of the first sergeant or company commander or anyone.

But 2 days ago, the LTC emailed me the final version of my DA-638, all signed and approved, it's as official as it can get! I compared my original version to their finished version and saw differences, but I really didn't know what I was doing, so whatever they think is best.

Now comes the next step. Since it's been over 2 years, 600-8-22 section 1-14 part H says I have to submit it through a member of congress to HRC Command at Ft. Knox to get it approved. So I called up the congressman's local office, and the girl I spoke to on the phone said they had a person there who handles all military requests and would know what to do. So next week after the 4th of July, I'll have to get in touch with them, and get them the paperwork to send on to HRC, and see how that goes.

In thinking back to the question of why wasn't I just submitted for it normally in the first place, my best answer is that my interpersonal skills were poor and I was too immature. Although I did well at the job and all the things I was supposed to do, no one seemed overly upset when I got my PCS orders. I never hung out with anyone after hours, except for a few people, and wasn't as friendly with my local E-5's as other E-1's to E-4's seemed to be. We got along, but nothing beyond the bare minimum, so to speak. So I believe I wasn't submitted for the AAM back then because they just didn't like me, despite my job performance. Who knows, this is only my interpretation of events. But now that wrong can be righted, up to a point.

We'll see what happens with the congressmans office and HRC now. :)