05-12-2010, 15:06
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 15,370
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On Military Awards and Perceptions of Them
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“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)
“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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Richard is offline
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05-12-2010, 20:49
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#2
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 1,149
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I hate to say this, but as a civilian now, I have come to realize that most people don't give a damn what you did in the military, nor what honors you earned. Unless, of course, you are going to work for the GOV or a contract of the GOV.
The one thing that my Sgt. told me when I went to work for the police department was: "We don't give a damn what you did in the military".
__________________
The question is never simply IF someone is lying, it's WHY. - Lie To Me
We must always fear the wicked. But there is another kind of evil that we must fear the most, and that is the indifference of good men - Boondock Saints
Iraq was never lost and Afghanistan was never quite the easy good war. Those in the media too often pile on and follow the polls rather than offer independent analysis. Campaign rhetoric and politics are one thing - the responsibility of governance is quite another.
- Victor Davis Hanson
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AngelsSix is offline
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05-12-2010, 21:14
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#3
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Asset
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 20
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The author neglected to address how end of tour awards have a simple formula that effectively undermine the credibility of the entire system. E6+ in a leadership position? You will be put in for a BSM, then a percentages gets downgraded until the numbers work out. Everyone else will be put in for an ARCOM. You must provide justification for any deviation. Decent O ... BSM. Less than decent O ... ARCOM. Work as the R&R tour guide in Qatar? ... BSM.
But try to put your guy in for an impact award. One of my guys performed spectacularly one day on a mission and I couldn't even get him a CAB! I had to find a finance related success so I could at least get they guy something I knew would make it through the gauntlet of reviews. I saw the results of a BDE review board recommending a downgrade citing a change in a particular statistic as a bad thing when it was a major improvement! The disconnect absolutely astounds me. I had another guy get downgraded because "an E-5 couldn't possibly have done that." Sorry sir, I guess I shouldn't have trusting one of my studs to excel? I know what I saw, but I guess my account isn't worth jack. Another one got downgraded because it was their first award and "there's no way a first award is going to be a xyz," reality be damned.
Forgive the rant but I just hate seeing guys not being differentiated by performance. ESPECIALLY when their my guys.
Now I know I'm looking through a straw here... but that's what I see
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DisplacedTrojan is offline
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05-12-2010, 21:26
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#4
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Asset
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelsSix
... as a civilian ... most people don't give a damn what you did in the military ...
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I've seen it go both ways. What seemed to make the most difference was how effectively I translated military to civilian. When I put it terms they to which they relate... it sinks in.
On a resume I might put one or two in a section with other recent recognitions. It's an interesting factoid that might spark some a side discussion during an interview. Not something I would bring up but make it available to the interviewer and you can see if they bite. It might help you learn about the interviewer and their organization. I'm still reserve and I'm not hiding that fact from an employer. I want that employee/employer relationship to withstand the future deployments.
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DisplacedTrojan is offline
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05-13-2010, 08:42
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelsSix
... I have come to realize that most people don't give a damn what you did in the military, nor what honors you earned..
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I had figured that out by December of 1970. 
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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05-13-2010, 09:06
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,811
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I don't know.
I have had a lot of people come up to me when I was in uniform and thank me for my service, or ask me what I did in the military.
Recently passed through a couple of USOs, tons of stuff there donated to the troops by both individuals and corporations.
IMHO, the majority of Americans are good people, still love their military, and support it.
Just my .02, YMMV.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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05-13-2010, 09:22
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#7
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Occupied Wokeville
Posts: 4,645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelsSix
I have come to realize that most people don't give a damn what you did in the military, nor what honors you earned..
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Most of the people I know respect what you do.
As for the honors you earned, aside from seeing camper shell decals, license plates, Hats and an occasional Grey Haired Biker with patches on his vest your as a whole a pretty humble lot....My Old Man had a rule, you could thank them for their service, but I wasn't to ask how they got the medal or if they killed bad guys.
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Paslode is offline
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05-13-2010, 13:11
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,530
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I wonder if Mr. Hsia was thinking about the award of a "historic" Silver Star for doing what's expected of a combat arms NCO when he wrote the article.
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Razor is offline
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05-13-2010, 13:55
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#9
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Area Commander
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,465
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I just passed through Penn Station NYC, lots of people thanking and chatting up members of NYNG's 69th Inf Troops for their service.
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Penn is offline
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05-13-2010, 14:36
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#10
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: OK. Thanking Our Brave Soldiers
Posts: 3,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
I don't know.
I have had a lot of people come up to me when I was in uniform and thank me for my service, or ask me what I did in the military.
Recently passed through a couple of USOs, tons of stuff there donated to the troops by both individuals and corporations.
IMHO, the majority of Americans are good people, still love their military, and support it.
Just my .02, YMMV.
TR
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To ALL of you who serve or have served this great nation, please know that there are Real Americans who support you, love you, and cannot thank you enough for serving. My humble self included.
You are the ones who keep Our Nation Great!
Holly
Last edited by echoes; 05-13-2010 at 14:41.
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echoes is offline
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05-13-2010, 15:12
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#11
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 200
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
I don't know.
I have had a lot of people come up to me when I was in uniform and thank me for my service, or ask me what I did in the military.
Recently passed through a couple of USOs, tons of stuff there donated to the troops by both individuals and corporations.
IMHO, the majority of Americans are good people, still love their military, and support it.
Just my .02, YMMV.
TR
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Experienced that yesterday at the BK out at Southern Pines
2 older gentleman came up to thank my husband and shake his hand( 20 mins apart ) ,which blew me away ..Actually ,made me cry a bit .
He was in uniform which is rare for him (when he is out anywhere )
Kind of renewed my faith in ppl a bit
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18DWife is offline
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05-13-2010, 15:37
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#12
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BANNED USER
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 156
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An older man came up to me in Ryan's yesterday and asked me if I was a veteran. I was a bit uncomfortable with the question, seeing as how I'm now a 2LT with about six days time in grade (I don't even think I've come up to my date of rank yet), I told him yes cause I spent a few years in the Navy.
He thanked me for my service and said "Welcome home."
I told him I'd never deployed, and he said "Welcome home," all the same.
I'm grateful for the recognition, and I do realize that to most people who thank me, I am more or less representing the entire military . . . but I don't feel I've yet done anything that's rated their gratitude.
I am gracious and respectful though, all the same.
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the squid is offline
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05-13-2010, 16:51
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ft. Bragg
Posts: 2,938
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the squid
. . . but I don't feel I've yet done anything that's rated their gratitude.
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You stepped up...granted it was initially in the Navy...but you came around. I thank all those that stepped forward and volunteered...even 2LTs.
__________________
"Somebody should put that quote on a T-shirt:
Muslim phrase: "Aloha Snackbar!"
English translation: "Draw, Mother-F*cker!""
-TOMAHAWK9521
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1stindoor is offline
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05-13-2010, 17:42
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#14
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: OK. Thanking Our Brave Soldiers
Posts: 3,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 18DWife
Kind of renewed my faith in ppl a bit
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Ma'am,
We around my camp cannot thank the families of those that serve enough, ever.
You all bear the burden, and I do not think that fact is spoken about enough. Please forgive my tread into any "mushy" waters, but facts are facts....
and Real Americans thank you as well! 
Holly
Last edited by echoes; 05-13-2010 at 17:44.
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echoes is offline
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05-13-2010, 18:05
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#15
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 200
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Quote:
Originally Posted by echoes
Ma'am,
We around my camp cannot thank the families of those that serve enough, ever.
You all bear the burden, and I do not think that fact is spoken about enough. Please forgive my tread into any "mushy" waters, but facts are facts....
and Real Americans thank you as well!
Holly |
AWW <3 Thank you I will just use one heart as to not get to mushy
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18DWife is offline
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