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Originally Posted by Shek
GG,
There's no doubt that there are units that don't follow the standard or intent of awards, and the rank example you gave is something that has always PO'd me. I was a BN S-1, and my Commander had a rank rule for PCS awards - E-7 & above got MSMs (by exception ARCOM), E-5/6 got ARCOMs, and E-4 and below got AAMs.
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The Corps is just as bad. A Bn Cdr gets 6 NAMs per quarter to award. All too many times I have seen a deserving devildog that deserved one have it shot down towards the first part of the quarter because the Cdr wants to hold on to them.
As a former S-1 guy, you know the medals get awarded to the best write up. An E-3 running a Squad for a FTX gets a Letter of Appreciation and a E-5 that had a good looking salad bar the day the CO went to the Chow Hall gets the NAM.
And most awards go to the HQ personnel.
E-5s and below don't get PCS awards. And during my retirement, I'm in the Admin office going over my paperwork along with a 1stSgt that was retiring also. For our retirement awards I (An E-7) get a Navy Com, The First Sgt (E-8) got a Navy Achievement.
Reason? Div Policy. I retired with 21 years in. He only had 20.
Here is a guy that has gone further in the ranks in less time then me. Had been awarded the Navy/Marine Corps medal for saving someones life , An MSM and 3 NavComs.
You would think that when he retired, his 20 yrs of service was worth more than a NAM.
Navy/Marine Corps medal
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The Navy and Marine Corps Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. For acts of lifesaving, or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at the risk of one's own life.
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Between the 2 of us, He deserved the Navy Com way more than I did. What a way to thank a man for 20 yrs of service
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One thing about the Slate example that gets me is that their benchmark is off IMO. Should we measure against KIA? /QUOTE]
I agree, and was going to mention that. A true benchmark would have looked at "Like" circumstances and the differences between the awards the individuals were put in for.
On the flip side, I looked up the number of DSC/Navy Cross awards
The Army has only awarded 6 DSCs during the GWOT. And one of those was for a Soldier attached to a Marine unit. SO I'm betting the MC put him for that one.
The MC has awarded 17 Navy Crosses to Marines and 1 to a Corpsman serving with a Marine unit.
Now, I don't think Marines are any more heroic than Soldiers .With a larger slice of the pie, I wonder why more Soldiers havn't been awarded DSCs?
And why only 1 to someone under the rank of SSgt? A PFC in the 172d Striker Bde
Links to Full Text Citations for Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross
When it comes down to it, people will always complain about the awards system. You cannot please everyone.