On Military Awards and Perceptions of Them
 

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

On Military Awards and Perceptions of Them
Tim Hsia, NYT, 15 Apr 2010

http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/afghanistan.html

http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/iraq.html

http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/...tions-of-them/

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 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

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.

I had figured that out by December of 1970.;)

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

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.

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.

I just passed through Penn Station NYC, lots of people thanking and chatting up members of NYNG's 69th Inf Troops for their service.

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

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

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.

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.

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!:lifter

Holly

AWW <3 Thank you I will just use one heart as to not get to mushy ;)