Deployment awards

[INGUARD]

I know this has been a heated topic before. And Vets know that the award system is not fair. By why do some supervisors do not write up an award that is deserving to a subordinate because the section OIC or Command deems fits to overrule and why are awards still being based on rank?

I know the Army gives awards out like candy but everyday I see someone getting cheated. Someone who should of received an MSM; instead receives an ARCOM and the ones not deserving of a Bronze Star, getting them. I guess this problem will never go away.

[MCGYVER]

Inguard, I know your statement is more of a rant than a question and you pretty much answered it yourself but I'll add my two cents.

I knew an E-8 on my last deployment to Iraq who extorted money from the Hajis at the market and almost got court martialed for it but a CSM who he had slobbed the knob of came to his rescue and saved his sorry ass. I'm told he left theater with a BSM. On his first tour to Iraq he was in charge of FOB security and brought a huge UXO (rocket) INTO THE TOC to show the S-2 folks. This guy was an incredibly stupid guy. He got an ARCOM from the first tour as well. This guy should have been chaptered out many, many years ago. Yes, awards are a popularity contest often. I know punk biotches who never left the FOB that got BSMs and know guys that rolled out almost every day that came back with AAMs or ARCOMS. The uppermost chain doesn't know most of the Soldiers well enough to know if they truly deserve the award or not but they sure know the brown nosing ass kissers who suck them off publicly any chance they get. Quite often, integrity is a rare thing. Although the regulation states that there will not be a "quota" or "rank dependanc" put on certain awards we ALL know that it is the standard, not the exception.

[INGUARD]

Inguard, I know your statement is more of a rant than a question and you pretty much answered it yourself but I'll add my two cents.

I knew an E-8 on my last deployment to Iraq who extorted money from the Hajis at the market and almost got court martialed for it but a CSM who he had slobbed the knob of came to his rescue and saved his sorry ass. I'm told he left theater with a BSM. On his first tour to Iraq he was in charge of FOB security and brought a huge UXO (rocket) INTO THE TOC to show the S-2 folks. This guy was an incredibly stupid guy. He got an ARCOM from the first tour as well. This guy should have been chaptered out many, many years ago. Yes, awards are a popularity contest often. I know punk biotches who never left the FOB that got BSMs and know guys that rolled out almost every day that came back with AAMs or ARCOMS. The uppermost chain doesn't know most of the Soldiers well enough to know if they truly deserve the award or not but they sure know the brown nosing ass kissers who suck them off publicly any chance they get. Quite often, integrity is a rare thing. Although the regulation states that there will not be a "quota" or "rank dependanc" put on certain awards we ALL know that it is the standard, not the exception.


MCGYVER, your response is 100 percent. I have seen alot of weird situations as well. But your examples were stunning with the "slob your knob, UXO" troop. That made me laugh brother.

Exactly. I keep seeing this award "guidelines" in Theater (mainly USFOR-A) and its truly a farce.