CJ Awards Bias
June 11th, 2008 by CJ
I've been wrestling with this post for a LONG time. The main reason is because to adequately demonstrate my point, I need to use a personal example. It's a very personal example and by sharing it I run the risk of looking like a whiner or self-righteous. So, I'm going to begin by saying that I don't share this story as a way of puffing myself up, wanting sympathy, or to be treated like some sort of hero. As I relate this story, understand that the survival instinct is a strong one. I was motivated strictly by the desire to see my family again. I wrote about this a few years ago when I began to publish my blog, but I heavily edited this post for the reasons I've just mentioned. You'll understand as the post progresses and I'll be honest that I'm still not sure I'm actually going to click the "publish" button on this one. I just don't want to draw attention to myself.
One of my major frustrations in the Army is the politics behind awards. I can't complain for myself because I'm sort of the exception to the rule. I busted my ass as a junior NCO and I was awarded appropriately for it. However, when I got my first PCS award as a Staff Sergeant (E-6), my commander recommended me for a Meritorious Service Medal. Keep in mind that by that time, I had three or four Army Achievement Medals that I had earned by winning Soldier and NCO of the Year competitions. I also had earned the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. All within the first four years of my military service.
When my MSM recommendation went up, it was strong (I say this because my commander said so, not because I'm stuck on myself). I believe in doing the best job possible at EVERYTHING I do in life. If my job is to burn poop, my goal is to be the best, most thorough poop burner ever! If I have to clean the horse stables (I was Cav at the time), my stable will be the cleanest stable in the Army. When we took our trucks to the wash rack, I was always the last one done because of how thorough I was in cleaning it.
My leadership time in the Army started in basic training. Being a JROTC graduate, the Army wasn't very difficult to master. Being a military brat, I understood the quirks. During the first three weeks of basic training, my platoon went through five platoon guides (the Soldier responsible for marching the platoon, passing along orders and information, and ensuring standards were met. I was the sixth and I lasted the remaining five weeks, graduating as the platoon guide by not getting myself fired.
When I got to my first unit, we were so undermanned (it was Clinton's Army) that I was put in charge – as a Private First Class – of a squad. I remained a squad leader until NCOs came along and then I was placed as a Team Leader. Basically what I'm saying is that I've always kind of had more responsibility than my rank dictated. And I didn't mind. I loved the challenge. I still love the challenge.
When my MSM went up (I know, I keep getting sidetracked), someone up at Squadron kicked it back and said that it needed to be written as an Army Commendation Medal because I was a Staff Sergeants and still on my first enlistment. My commander strengthened the award even more and it got kicked back because I didn't even have an ARCOM and now I'm being recommended for a MSM (from lowest to highest rank the medals are: AAM, ARCOM, MSM). The commander came to me and apologized for the politics and asked what I thought about getting an ARCOM. I told him I didn't care what I got, but what did he think I honestly deserved. When he told me he thought I deserved an MSM, I told him that he should submit it as an MSM. There is a reason that the back of the award recommendations have an "approve" and "recommend downgrade to" block. Each level in the award approval process has the opportunity to either concur with the recommendation or recommend that it be downgraded to a lower award.
So, my commander – a brave and noble officer named Scott Hurley – submitted my award as an MSM knowing it was going to be downgraded. When it got to Squadron, we got a call saying that the LTC was going to downgrade it and wanted to give us another shot just to send it up as an ARCOM. "Keep it going," we said. That's why they call them "Intermediate Authorities" and, finally, the "Approval Authority." I now have an MSM that I wear that is signed by a Captain, recommended for downgrade to an ARCOM by a LTC (not a lowly rank), overrided as a MSM by a COL, and finally approved by a Brigadier General as an MSM. Interestingly enough, every command echelon left a comment in the comment block EXCEPT the LTC who recommended downgrade. He left the block blank – because it's technically against regulations to attach rank to an award criteria.
Nothing has changed. As a First Sergeant, I feel like I expend a lot of energy fighting this same system. To be honest, a vast majority of them are because the recommender doesn't write the award very strongly. They use empty statements, vanilla bullets, or poor writing to substantiate their recommendation. Just as a Staff Sergeant or sergeant shouldn't be denied an award by virtue of their rank, neither should a senior NCO or officer get an award because of it. I'm not going to get very specific about my present situation since I don't want to burn any bridges or embarrass anyone.
You may remember a story I wrote in my journal about having to clear a trench line. The background is that after a major firefight outside of Al Hilla, Iraq, I dismounted to survey the battleground and collect intelligence on the unit we had just fought. People talk about being affected by seeing dead bodies or body parts – my job was to search dead bodies! I've seen more dead bodies at varying degrees of decomposition than I ever care to talk about. I've seen, smelled, and done it all with respect to that.
So myself, one of my SGTs, the commander of the armor company I was attached to, our embedded reporter, and two engineers began our mission collecting intelligence and weapons and surveying the battlefield. The area consisted of several irrigation ditches crisscrossing their way through a bunch sparsely populated palm forest. The trees were spread out approximately 15 feet from each other in neat rows – at least the ones that weren't toppled during the firefight. As I was checking the bodies, I looked up to the sound of an M-16 going off and one of the engineers jumping over a ditch that turned out to be a trench. The sounds of AK fire broke the calm, eery silence and a hail of bullets filled the void. All of our support was cut off as their only weapons were their main cannons and they couldn't use them or they'd hit us. It was up to a ragtag group of MI, Engineer, Command and Press to repulse the ambush. Six people, only five of whom are armed, and all of whom are scattered beyond the ability to coordinate. Our weapons consisted of my 9mm pistol (I left my M4 in my track as I completed my mission), the commander's 9mm pistol, the reporter's camera and notepad, and three M16's (one of which had an M203 grenade launcher attached.
For the purposes of this discussion, I'll use the enemy's location in the trench as the 12 o'clock position. I was located approximately 150 meters from the trench at about the five o'clock position. the commander and reporter (Jules Crittendon) were about 200 away at the six o'clock – just behind me and to my left. My SGT was about 25 meters to my left at about the six thirty position. The two engineers were located at the eight o'clock position approximately 200 meters away from me. The commander was yelling for the grenadier to fire his M203 into the trench and upon the explosion we were to bound forward. I relayed the ordered and prepared for the signal. Nothing. Again, I shouted the order as loud as I could over all the gunfire. Nothing.
This is where the survival instinct takes over. We have our basic load of ammunition which is being expended quickly and who knows what they have stashed in that trench. Something had to be done quickly. We were at a terrible terrain disadvantage. I timed my move to coincide with a short lull in 7.62 lead flying our way and bolted for the next cover position to my left about 50 meters away both towards the engineers and the trench line. As I reached the tree I realized it was much too skinny for me to crouch behind and decided to stand profiled behind it. the bark from the tree shattered right where my head was. If the tree hadn't been there, neither would my head.
Okay, I don't want to go into the details anymore. Long story, short: I ended up making my way toward the grenadier who FINALLY lobbed a grenade into the trench so that we could bound forward. The problem was that I was the only one bounding. With only one magazine left, I made the decision that I was just going to take the trench at the next explosion. I'm still alive so I obviously made it out – barely.
A short time later, the commander came up to me very apologetically. He told me that he had submitted me for a Silver Star for saving his life and the others with me. You see now why I don't like telling this story? I don't want anyone to look at me differently. Unfortunately, the command told him to downgrade it to a Bronze Star Medal with V device. He said he fought it, but that I deserved something for my actions that day and if the most they were going to authorize was a BSM(V), he was going to submit it as such. I told him didn't want or expect anything, I just wanted to live through the day. I wasn't being heroic, I was actually being really stupid!! There were a lot of people in that trench and it was luck that I had a full magazine.
Fast forward a few months. Baghdad has fallen and we are supposed to be going home. As part of our preparations, the leaders were supposed to write up the end of deployment awards for our Soldiers. We had been in theater for 9 months, with three of those being involved in heavy force of force combat daily! After the Hilla operation, I was attached to the China Battalion, 3/15 Infantry. My callsign – China Spook. As all the awards are getting submitted, my chief tells me that my BSM(V) was approved, but that I would not be getting an end of deployment award. The reason: I was already getting one! So, at the risk of sounding whiny, nothing I did during combat is reflected in any type of award except that one, hour-long firefight. Nine months boiled down into one hour. Keep in mind, too, that this wasn't the only firefight I was in. As a matter of fact, my team went through more ammo than all the other THTs put together. And we didn't waste any of it. At the height of stupidity, I actually had to write a freakin' memo about why I had used my thermite grenade. Our battalion hadn't quite figured out we were at war yet! They were stuck in the rear where we had cleared a safe passage through the barrel of a gun. So, to avoid the "unfairness" associated with giving out more than one award, they just made it look like my BSM(V) was my end of tour award. I did get an ARCOM for my time in Fallujah, though! I'm sure that made those commanders happy that didn't think I should be wearing an MSM without one.
Believe it or not, I didn't care that I wasn't getting an award. I really didn't think I deserved that BSM(V) either. I'll skip over all the Fallujah stuff since it doesn't further my main point (which is what exactly?).
When we finally got home, the Battalion held an awards ceremony. I was called up with a bunch of other individuals receiving Bronze Stars. All of them were senior NCOs, Warrant Officers, and Officers. The junior Soldiers got ARCOMs or AAMs. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. I had to FIGHT hard just to get my Soldiers AT LEAST a V device on their ARCOMs. They almost died with me on many occasions. And standing up there with these real heroes who deserved better were all the staff officers and NCOs who were safely tucked into their FOBs and at the airport with their shiny Bronze Stars! I wanted to be sick. My Soldiers DESERVED BSMs for their actions, not their rank.
Thankfully, I think the military has gone a long way in awarding combat awards, but there are still problems. However, it's amplified here at home with "peacetime" awards, or PCS awards. Here's the bottom line: If a Soldiers deserves a particular award, write it that way. Make it factual. And if factual doesn't look like the award you were thinking of, downgrade it yourself or reassess your bullets.
I'm not quite sure where I am anymore as I've worked myself into a frenzy here. I've probably got a million grammar mistakes from typing so fast (did you know I can type 80 words per minute?). We just need to do a better job of recognizing our Soldiers. It really boils down to taking care of Soldiers by conducting regular counseling and actively being involved with them. Keep records of the things they do and write down metrics of success. By keeping up with this with each of your Soldiers, writing the right award won't be so difficult. You won't even have to "embellish a little" to make it sound good. The last thing we want is for the awards system to get more inflated with silly recommendations that should never get approved.
If the Soldier is deserving of an MSM, write it as an MSM. If it's deserving of just an AAM or even a simple Certificate of Achievement, write it as such. If that's all a Soldier did, then that's all they deserve. No one is ENTITLED to an end of tour award. But they also shouldn't be denied one because you don't want to go through the pains of actually writing it correctly!! NCO (and officers) need to take their time and write that award as if they were writing it for their best friend or a family member. If you REALLY think they accomplished something, it should reflect in the award.
Simply doing one's job is not a basis for an award. For example, I work my arse off every day. I put in about 12-14 hour days almost daily. An eight-hour day is "coming home early" to my family. But, that's what First Sergeants do. We have a lot of keep track of and very little time to do it all. And I work my admin folks to the bone, so I'm not trying to do it all myself. So, I would understand if I didn't get an award when I leave here because I'm just doing my job. Now, if a Sergeant First Class or Staff Sergeant were doing my job, that would be different because they are accomplishing tasks way above their pay grade. If you honestly believe a Soldier is deserving of a particular award, you've taken into consideration the Command Sergeant Major's guidance (who 99.9% of the time knows what he/she is talking about), and still honestly believe in your recommendation – send it up! Don't downgrade it because someone in the chain is afraid of it getting downgraded.
Keep in mind that you have a history of getting awards downgraded, it looks bad on YOU. No one will ever trust your recommendations and you'll be doing more harm than good in recommending Soldiers for anything. I've NEVER had an award downgraded. I've had them kicked back for corrections and changes, but never downgraded. Because when I write an award, there's a reason I'm doing it. A Soldier is deserving of recognition. Fall on your sword and make them push it through like they're supposed to if you believe that strongly in your write up. If it gets downgraded, you've learned a less hopefully and will incorporate that lesson into future recommendations. Or you'll just be laughed at. Your choice.
Okay, some final notes. I don't want to be patted on the back. I know that some Soldiers read this site because we get a lot of .mil hits each day (probably just big brother keeping tabs on me). My hope is that they get something out of this with respect to awards legitimacy and bias.
All this writing just for that. I'm so longwinded.
Good post, CJ. And, regardless of what awards you do or don't get, your friends and family, and I'm guessing also your colleagues, know that you are a good man, and I guess that's about the best that could be said of anyone. I think we're all lucky to have you around
Remember, this isn't about me. It's not about ME!! It's about the awards process. I just didn't want to use my Soldiers as examples.
CJ, I want to give a big AMEN to this post! It should be required reading at every leadership and command course in the armed forces. Not inflating awards and writing them truthfully is just as important as putting someone in for an award who deserves one. That's how you support your troops; not by putting everyone forward for an award whether they deserve it or not and certainly not by "forgetting" to write an award because you've already written one or because they're leaving, or because it's just too much of a hassle. Leaders take care of their people; and recognizing deserving deeds is just a part of doing just that! Great post from someone who is obviously a great leader.
Top, you are absolutely right. Having just returned from Afghanistan, I saw exactly what you are talking about in action. I saw an LTC submit HIMSELF for a Silver Star, have it refused outright by his boss, and then try to submit himself twice more for BSMV's. He's got political aspirations. Lots of Bronze Stars going to desk jockeys who just did their jobs and were never exposed to serious risk, but don't you dare submit a SSG who was doing an SFC or MSG job as a mentor for a BSM. We submitted our SECFOR guys, who didn't belong to us, for awards only to have them hijacked, downgraded, lost, and under-represented by their real chain of command. Our boys didn't get anything that we submitted them for. I could go on and on, but sometimes it does work out. Some of our guys (mentor team members) got what they deserved. One MAJ who seriously deserved the Silver Star had it downgraded on the front end because of his rank and the fact that the awards board at Phoenix didn't know what to do with a SS recommendation. They were afraid. He got a BSMV, but it was a compromise. He is one of the finest officers I've ever known. LTC's who deserved a spanking go home with a BSM because it's just what they get and nobody wanted to deal with the huge whining sound that would have erupted had they not gotten the "normal" award. I left Afghanistan angry and frustrated with the whole shebang. You are not the lone ranger. The advice about consistently taking care to document your soldiers is the best stuff there. This is particularly hard in combat or in little outposts, but it is what will make a difference at the end of the day and the end of the tour. Thanks for writing this piece.
I saw the same rank-based award system. Not to get all Pshrinky, but it's just FOBbits trying to impose comforting ORDER on what is, by its nature, disordered. Eyeball-to-eyeball combat doesn't fit into nice, sterile categories. "Oh, this is a silver, oh this is a bronze" Absolute studs turn into sniveling wrecks and duds present steel-laced spines. Rank does not correlate to bravery. Awards will ALWAYS be jacked up in our job because it's an orderly process overlayed onto a hash of action and reaction. Not making excuses, Top, just sayin'…
Top,
I agree with you 100%. This kind of stuff happens in the SEAL Teams as well, and our officers are regularly overcompensated in the awards process. Per regs, the BSM is available for either heroic or meritorious achievement in a combat zone. As such, it is very subject to abuse and it is a huge difference if it carries the V. That said, rank does play a role and my BV likely would not have been awarded had I not just made Chief Petty Officer at the time of the write up.
To me, when you are talking about Silver Stars and up, there is absolutely no room for politics and bullshit. The idea that somebody could receive a SS for an end of tour award is disgusting. You get the SS for risking your life in combat to get the job done, not for completing a deployment in overall outstanding fashion. I see the SS as an award that is tied to a specific action and not to cover a series of missions performed well. The Acheivement, COM, MSM, DSM, etc are end of tour awards, not the SS.
I feel your pain, CJ, having 'been there, done that' myself. Long story short, I retired as a 1SG after serving in SpecOps and Abn units for the majority of my career. My retirement award? A big fat nothing! Seems my chain of command couldn't find it in themselves to submit me for anything higher than an MSM (to go with the 5 I already wear); when I told them that I would consider it an insult to my career if they did so they took the easy route and didn't submit anything.
Oh well – C'est la vie, c'est la guerre
FWIW, here is the last list of medal numbers from the Army that I was able to dig out.
northshorejou...ar-on-terror
76,000 BSM
3,000 BSMV
That is what I love about the Army, it never changes ( but should). I had many similar stories from 1966 to retirement.
TOP you and the good CO, will be always hold a place of honor with those who served with you. They know the true story. The strap hangers and star chasers will be remembered by all for what the truly were.
I agree completely with everything that you wrote.
I experienced similar things with our division the last time I was deployed. You can only get so many awards, this guy could only get this award and no higher. Everyone will get an end of tour award (even if they are a dirtbag), random downgrades of awards earned in combat with no explanation from higher as to why…it's infuriating, and baffling.
In an Army that is concerned with retaining soldiers, one of the tools at its disposal is awards. They don't cost anything, they let the soldier know someone appreciates what he has done and it rubs off on others…this is when the award system is done correctly. Making sure everyone gets an award regardless is counterproductive, and produces the opposite of the intended effect.
Now you've got me fired up.
Couldn't agree more! seems many of these BSM awards have confused duty for bravery/courage.
I know of one BSMV awarded to an NCO who, when debriefed after a horrific VBIED attack & firefight, left out the part where he spent 10 minutes of the 11 minute attack huddled in panic in a stairwell while his squad moved assets and defended their position. and the two E4s who were responsible for saving the lives of the squad were told point blank that their battalion didn't give BSM to ranks below E5… after their second deployment to Iraq the soldiers used to joke that the only way to get a Bronze Star was to be an officer (even a non-commissioned one) or dead.
this is from a 2004 Slate article (and I suspect the ratios got worse, not better, through time):
The Air Force awarded 2,425 Bronze Stars and 21 Silver Stars from March 2002 to August 2004 for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Twenty-seven airmen were killed in combat during that time, making the Air Force's ratio of top-level ground-combat medals to fatalities 91-to-1. (This figure doesn't include medals awarded for airborne bravery.)
As of July 31, 2004, the Army had awarded 17,498 Bronze Stars and 133 Silver Stars in Operation Iraqi Freedom, while 636 soldiers have died, an awards ratio of 27-to-1.
And the Marine Corps has awarded just 701 Bronze Stars, 12 Silver Stars, and six Navy Crosses (the Navy's second-highest award) for combat in Iraq, while 264 Marines died%u2014a ratio of less than 3-to-1.
CJ~
Most of that comment I made was intended as commentary for those who think you're "tooting your own horn". My point was, for those that know you, it doesn't take the award to know that you are a good person. I know you don't like a big deal made about what you have done, "just doing your job" as you see it
That being said, those who are deserving should be rewarded solely for their actions, with no connections whatsoever to rank. As I said above: "Good post!"
Top,
Thanks for this great post. You really struck a nerve with this one. It is funny that the organization that defends the American way of life is itself a socialistic nightmare. I can not tell you how sick it made me to see officers getting awards for wiping their asses while those that worked for a living were totally ignored. You hear things like, "I doubt he will get a MoH, because they don't like giving that out to lower enlisted."
I served in peace time. The system kept me at a SP4p in an MOS that had its promotion points at 999 for my enlistment. I could not get promoted and they wouldn't let me switch my MOS. During this same time I would watch incompetent, in my judgment, officers getting their rank due to time served. I am not complaining for myself, but for those now serving.
This is also why I believe the Swift Vets when they say Kerry's medals were never or lightly earned.
Mekan,
To be fair, I recently read the book "Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty." It's a great collection of stories about Medal of Honor recipients. However, if you look at the overall MoH statistics, most recipients were enlisted men.
CJ,
I guess many of us were in the same boat,but I got lucky and rec'd an AAR instead of an AAM, because the NCO I worked for understood that as a B10, no advanced school, my culture and identifying skills were those of a B30 or better. So, you are correct, keep pushing when you know you're right. And, damn, somebody tell those politically punked officers,they should be ashamed of themselves. I give them zero respect. Leading by example is the only way. Good Job, Top!
I think the problem is that these medals are important for promotion, and promotion is necessary for retention (or at least was when I was in the Army).
I spent 12 years in the Army, 8 active duty and 4 DoD civilian. During that entire time, I was locked in a basement with a very big computer and did stuff that I can't really talk about and most folk wouldn't understand. I sat in the dark, drank lots of coffee, and mostly worried about meeting my height-weight requirements.
I didn't care about medals. I didn't care much about getting out in the sunshine at all. I had a couple million dollars worth of hardware, a virtual reality setup, and all the time in the world to play with it. Periodically, someone would come down and tell me I was getting a medal.
I don't know why I got the medals. I don't actually remember what they were. I got a certficate for something I did after 9/11, but that didn't come with a medal — and I don't know why that was, either.
I asked my boss (who was a civilian) why he bothered with these medals. I could care less. I was happy doing what I was doing. Everybody else seemed happy with what I was doing. What was the deal? He told me that if I didn't get them, I wouldn't get promoted. And if I didn't get promoted, I'd get fired. So they gave me the medals.
I always felt guilty, because I knew there were people out there busting their butts and getting shot at. While what I did kept some folk from getting killed, and made sure some of the right people *did* get killed, it certainly didn't put *me* in harm's way.
And, certainly, my medals weren't for combat. But apparently they were necessary for me to keep doing what I did. As long as these things are necessary for that kind of mundane advancement, there will necessarily be gaming of the system about it.
"Don't downgrade it because someone in the chain is afraid of it getting downgraded."
Amen, Top, make them publicly make their mark on the award. It burns me when I see a young NCO or Soldier busting his ass and going above and beyond whether in garrison or combat, and the award write up backs all of that up, but the Head Shed only looks at the rank of the awardee.
Top,
Your point is well taken.
CJ, the Army isn't the only branch that has problems writing up awards. Every thing you said can be echoed on the Marine Corps side of the house.
Just an example from my deployment last year, we had special staff officers and SNCOs getting NavyCom medals and above while the troops who were out pushing up the dirt to make the COP, building the SWA huts for the COP, and providing security were lucky to get a CerCom. I was one of those special staff NCOs who ended up getting squished for awards because the S-1 section "didn't do anything" on the deployment. Yeah, okay. I deployed doing a job that I hadn't even been to the formal school for and still did better than a lot of the people from other units who had been to the formal school! Not complaining about the award I got, but let's use some common sense, folks.
Great post. I've linked back to you here: consul-at-arm...ds-bias.html
Top- great post.
I remember reading the account Jules wrote about the firefight you described. I never made the connection and realized that you and your guys were the ones involved. If I recall correctly, he wrote that that firefight was the one time he wished he was carrying a weapon.
I thin everyone who has been in the military has stories similar to yours. The one of mine that burned me the most was when my battalion put the S1 in for a BSM(V) for "holding the battalion together" in Ramadi after an IED strike killed 3 soldiers from my platoon in Falluja. Meanwhile, two soldiers who performed heroically on the ground had their BSM(V) citations downgraded to an ARCOM(V) and a ARCOM. Go Army.
Top,
I was just promoted on June 1st this year and am in the process of writing my first award for one of my soldiers. He is a SPC and has been recommended for an ARCOM by another unit's CWO3 for bringing in a mission that no one at site could accomplish (we're strategic SATCOM). The award was downgraded to a Certificate of Appreciation, not even a Certificate of Achievement!
For 2 months at the beginning of the year he worked as our STEP NCOIC, a position normally manned by a SSG or higer. He received no recognition for this. Now he is back on shift under myself and he was again pulled to the STEP office because the SSG who normally holds that position had to go out on emergency leave. For the past two weeks he has been pulling double duty working 15 hr. shifts also responsible for STEP and Circuit Actions. I found your entry VERY helpful and just want you to know that you have supplied me with knowledge as to how the system works and what to expect.
Thank You,
SGT Swartz
This very a very good post. I have served for over 13 years. I have list of accomplishments that I have all the documents and evidence from my accomplishments. It is good to know that my previous leadership has been given awards. I have documented that as well.
In peacetime and deployment, I have seen awards go to people with UCMJ actions, investigations, Height/Weight issues, and for doing nothing.
I have never had a UCMJ action and have met the standards.
I have given plenty of awards for my Soldiers. My mentors trained me right. (know your troops)
Yet, I have never received an award.Quite frankly, I don't care for them anyway. INmy opinion, it is results that matter not the awards. This experience has only makes me a stronger leader.
Totally agree with you. I saw this problem myself. As a 1LT I was denied an AAM because "I already had one and LT's should only have one". Funny thing…I busted my arse so much he couldn't get away with doing that again and I got two others before he left command…
Top,
This was posted some time ago. I'm just wondering if you're available to answer a question I have?
I sure am. Just send me an email either to cj[at]soldiersperspective.us or through my AKO.
You know I am fighting this right now with my LT from Viet Nam. I was in a ARP/LRP unit of the 11th ACR..recently We discovered that many of the soldiers didn't even get CIB's even though all had or were involved in 4 or more major contacts where we lost KIA's and many WIA's. I found out recently that the pilots all had DFC's Silver Stars,BSM/V's AM's, Arcoms you name it. Even though the guys were put in for various awards non or few received anything now we are fighting to right the wrongs. We found out that the Awards officer trashed most of ours. For what reasons who knows. One Medic was put in for the MOH heard nothing and was then given a Silver star 10 years later with NO orders.
Presented by a Congressman. This whole deal stinks. Rank has its privilege..
I wish I would have had your first commander. On my last PCS award my first bullet was a year in Kuwait, the next bullet was 3 months in Egypt and the next two were TDY and other missions I accomplished. I never got a tour award for Egypt or Kuwait because they kept telling me they were saving up for an MSM. Well I didn’t worry about it because it’s just an award but in the end the recommender sent it up as an ARCOM.