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Originally Posted by J8127
I can see the argument that her story was hyped up because she was an 18 year old girl. What did the soldier that helped her pull the bodies out or who drove the pickup truck to the evac site get? Awards are not always what they should be and it is very unfortunate. She acted with bravery and did her job very well, I don't want to sound like I am taking away from what she did, nor is it her fault. Sometimes people just get turned into something they never asked for.
A soldier I was with in that same province ran into a burning mrap and cut out the driver who was stuck in his seatbelt, he then dragged him out of the seat and carried him back down the ramp. By the time he got out of the truck they were both on fire and he put his driver out, then himself. This occurred while under SAF/IDF attack. He too was an 18 year old PFC, he got an ARCOM-V.
The one soldier who declined an interview because women have no place in combat should be reprimanded for his unprofessional behavior with the media.
I would think it isn't so much that this soldier does not deserve a silver star, as there are way to many other soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors who never get the recognition they deserve for doing their job with honor against an enemy that has none.
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You don't get it, read the post below, Blender get's it.
Had an 11B or any "Combat Arms" soldier done what she had done they might not have received anything but a pat of the back. It's what we do. But you're right when an Air Force type or female does the same thing it would be considered a courageous act well outside their military training and then they should receive an award.
If you wish to bitch about awards go somewhere else and do so your complaints are falling on deaf ears here.
Team Sergeant
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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