[Blender]

I have to say, our awards system is pretty fucked up. Unfortunately that means that when someone does finally get recognized by their command for a job well done, it stirs up resentment among those who didn't.

I don't know how it used to be done, but today awards are pretty much rank and/or profession based. If you're x rank with x time in country you get x award. When I left my last deployment my partner in crime and I had done the exact same things and had the exact same award write up. We both got put in for BSM's. He got a BSM, I got a JSCOM. They flat out told me it was because I was an E-5 and that's the award E-5's get. Commies.

The idea that someone "is just doing their job" also comes into play. If an admin clerk happens to be in a convoy that's ambushed and he/she returns fire, they may get a Bronze Star with V. If a Ranger or 18 series shoots 50 muj in the face, caries his buddies to safety, and saves a puppy on the way out, he may get ARCOM with V, because "he was just doing his job".

Then you add the perception that women may get recognized as an EO ploy of some sort, and it ramps up the bitterness. Unfortunately that bitterness sends the wrong message to our commanders. When they finally pay enough attention to recognize a young soldier and it stirs up resentment among their troops, they will remember that reaction when the next award request is sitting on their desk.