Bronze Star Woes.
I have been away from my home computer and will be away for awhile. My internet is spotty at best so I have been lacking in the posting. But I saw this and thought that this needed a post. It all starts with a TSGT being awarded a Bronze Start for here tour in the Stan. Here is the back story found on thelittlep
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — An NCO from the 802nd Comptroller Squadron earned the Bronze Star March 14 for her actions in Afghanistan.
Tech. Sgt. Christina Gamez, a financial analyst in the 802nd CPTS, received the Bronze Star for meritorious service from Brig. Gen. Theresa A. Carter, 502nd Air Base Wing commander, prior to a commander’s call at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
The Bronze Star is the U.S. military’s fourth-highest individual decoration for bravery, heroism or meritorious service.
Gamez distinguished herself by meritorious achievement as the NCO in charge during a 365-day deployment, January 2011 to January 2012. While in Afghanistan, she accurately executed operational funds across eight remote bases, providing commanders with flexibility in support of counterinsurgency efforts. Gamez trained 68 operational fund teams, reviewed 34 projects and funded 280 joint acquisition board packages enabling critical base sustainment.
It seems that the flak behind it was bad enough to have the story pulled from the Air Force’s website. Granted for how many times have we seen the Bronze Star get awarded to Senior level NCOs and Company Grade Officers during deployments but I never remember anything like this happen in the Army. Even the Air Force Times is covering it saying that there was another TSGT that was on the reciving end of harsh words. They even titled it that they were being “bullied”” on the front cover. I tried to find the story but I think that it is too new.
The story drew 70 online comments between March 26 and March 29, mostly from people who were livid because they said Gamez did not deserve to be recognized for doing her job.“I was the camp soccer mom because I was always taking care of people, so that’s the kind of pace I keep, whether it’s here or there,” Gamez said. “I knew that when I was deployed I needed to stay as busy as possible and that’s my normal.” Gamez was shocked that adults could be bullied like this.
“To all those who have gone outside the wire and are going outside the wire wearing 70lbs of gear and return with no more than a thanks for doing your job, I’m sorry you have to see people get BSM that don’t deserve them,” one commenter wrote on the Air Force website before the story was removed.
Anyways. It is not like this has happend before. Or that people in the Military know how the Bronze Star is given out. I mean there were more Bronze Stars given out during OIF 2003-2010 than the Combat Action Badge, by about 30,000. If the Combat Action Badge has a negative image about being just handed out then what does this say about the Bronze Star without Valor?
But honestly for some reason I am not bothered by her getting a BSM. I mean I would rather worry about Admin personal that lie about their awards to rip people off.But what say you?
Category: Veterans Issues, Who knows
If it doesn’t have the Combat V on it, it doesn’t mean jack to me. just my 2 cents. Most of the guys getting a BSM were there for a Year thus a staff medal. I think it should go to the guys on the line outside the wire.
S/F
Taco
I say stop giving promotion points for awards and bullshit like this would stop. And any award over a Achievement medal doesn’t need to be handed out for “Service”.
That’s my take. You want a BSM, with or without “V”, you go outside the wire to earn it. I’ve no doubt she earned some sort of recognition. But not a BSM.
We all know that something like 70% of BSM are basically combat MSMs given to the commanders pet so they can have something really shiny and new to show up and help them with that next promotion. They were Air Force Airmen who showed up and did their job with a basic level of proficiency and got a BSM. Ya, it’s B.S. but it’s the oldest story in the military.
Everyone knows someone that got a BSM that didn’t deserve it or a unit with awards policies that make you want to slap somebody. But most units are smart enough not to try to turn a finance clerks BSM into a feel good news story. Some AF PAO was dumb enough to try and now some dumber PAO thinks that putting this on the cover of the AF Times is going to make things better. I’m sure there was some airman at that base that did something a bit more newsworthy that week.
Friggin’ Zoomies. Just in from the AF Times-The 333rd Toilet Maintenance Squadron has been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for not losing any work days due to volleyball injuries or sunburn during their long 6-month Deployment. LTC Dick Wad, Squadron commander stated”Sometimes it was tough, we had a SSG turn her ankle, but due to our outstanding Medics, she was able to return to her desk without missing a beat.” The 333rd will be leaving their air-conditioned offices soon returning to the States.
hoollllyyyshit. We had more fucking REMFS getting Bronze Stars for the Reg Army unit I was attached to for OIF III than I thought possible. Pretty much anybody E7 or above who didn’t get an Articl 15 would get one. I had some lads I put in for actually doing good shit outside the wire, but since they were only E-4’s, they didn’t get shit. Our “Camp Mayor” , a female E7, who’s job was to take care of camp housing– got one. I guess she never lost any room keys. It got to where it’ donsn’t mean shit.
Had hoped that some of this sort of thing had stopped since my retirement. Evidently it hasn’t.
At the end of Desert Shield/Storm/Shield, the only folks allowed to receive “hero” awards at our location were active duty types, in spite of the fact that it was the Air Guard who pretty much trained and carried the kids through our part of the operation. Originally, each unit commander was instructed to submit x number of personnel for special awards. Then those for Guard members were sent back with instructions to submit only active duty members.
Not that anyone did much more than what we were paid to do. Still, seems that the folks who should be considered for the highest awards should at least be the ones who took the most enemy fire, or did something that distinguishes them from the rest of us who simply did our jobs well.
Personally, I am grateful to have not been in a position to actually earn one of the higher awards. And even more grateful to not have been presented with something which was unearned.
That’s why if a BSM doesn’t have a “V” you know it’s just a fobbit good conduct medal
I put my paralegal NCO (E-6) for a BSM because she did a tremendous job helping soldiers and running a turkish DPW crew and got TB for her hard work. I was asked to down grade it, and refused. I was a CPT and I got a MSM. All the 13A officers in the unit got BSMs, but the rest of us got MSMs. Life ain’t fair, but my NCO did more for soldiers outside her MOS and earned her award. Guys who showed up got BSMs. The award system does not work, mostly because leaders fail in their duty to recognize real work and excellence.
I should add that we were fobbits, and in charge of security for two fobs with no real authority. We had no attacks or fatalities on our fobs during our time. Less IDF, that is. Not true of our predecessors who can claim a significant injury load on a DFAC. Most of the guys deserved the BSM they got, but a few should have received nothing.
What #4 said.
The Bronze Star has been totally ruined by the gimmie culture of O-5 and 0-6’s. That they are handing them out to Remington Raiders for doing their job is no surprise.
Then you fucked up.
Sir.
Unless she’s doing it outside the wire, I don’t give a rats ass if she was Mother Theresa.
I was an OIC of a tenant command in a combat zone from Aug 2001- Sept 2002. We had some issues.
Upon my relief, my Echelon 2 Commander put me in for a BS. I pleaded with him not to follow through with it (I was an 0-4 in zone for 0-5 at the time). My Marine Security detachment would have disowned me. I got a MSM and was glad to have it.
I would later find out that the Army E-7 and the Navy E-8 that both worked for me got a BS, as did the AF E-5 Medical Transportation Clerk (she was there 3 months, 28 days of which was in Sicily). She put herself in for a Sea Service ribbon because she went aboard a minesweeper for more than 8 hours.
I retired on April 1st after 37 years active duty. This is a part of me I’m glad to have behind me.
What kills me about this, is that my son got a severe concussion and lacerations when his MRAP hit an IED. Took the whole front off the frikkin’ vehicle. He was up top in the turret. No one was killed, but all 4 of them spent time in hospital.
My son is still being treated for post-concussion effects, over a year afterward. And yet, he was denied a Purple Heart. His Platoon Leader refused to put in the paperwork for him or the other three guys.
Now, if the Army feels he didn’t meet the criteria, then all well and good. But to see these kinds of awards being handed out like cracker jack prizes just pisses me right the fuck off.
A Bronze Star and NEVER been in combat? They ought to have those awards ripped right off of their uniforms, and then kick the living shit out of whoever put in the paperwork, and whoever authorized it.
Put a nice letter of commendation in their personnel file. Give them a nice plaque with the unit crest. Give ’em an extra week’s leave or something. But stop handing out medals like everyone deserves one.
Doing your job is what you are SUPPOSED to be doing. That’s what you get PAID for.
I’m gonna have a drink now before I get really pissed.
…More shit. I was under the impression in OIF, that those who got a real purple heart, would have normally gotten a CAB. We had several folks fucked up with IEDs and never got a CAB. The whole thing was so fucked up I think I’ll go have a bier and forget.
and for Maj O, I felt those guarding the camps never got a “Thank you.”
If everyone feels so strongly about the BSM, then maybe some definable legislation should be started to make this medal a valor only medal…..otherwise get used to it being used for “attaboys and heroics!
Wow, our enlisted guys that humped a ruck as 11B’s for a year in Vietnam got an Army Commendation Medal. I witnessed a lot of Bronze and Silver Star actions that never got awarded. I met one of my old company commanders last year at a reunion. He told me he was really sorry that more guys did not get Bronze Stars with V’s. He felt that maybe he should have pushed more. Our battalion was not handing them out freely unless of course you were Bn. brass. Oh well, The CIB is all that matters to me.
I’m with AW1 Tim.
Since you’re on the topic of the AF, can someone enlighten me as to why they have tiger stripe uniforms now? In my little opinion, it looks stupid, like they’re trying too hard to be Billy bad ass.
Just one of those things that makes everyone in the office slap their foreheads. It’s not the TSgt’s fault obviously, I doubt she put herself in for it. She must’ve been working pretty high up the chain to have a general write her package. That’s what it’s really all about anyway, it’s no longer what you did, but who’s writing your bullets.
@19 we all took a vote, but it was rigged, first they showed us that horrible blue uniform first (http://www.stripes.com/news/pacaf-s-top-enlisted-man-touts-proposed-blue-bdus-1.23328#) then showed us the ABUs, so of course given the alternate we opted for the digital tiger stripes. I’m also lying.
Honestly we should’ve just stuck with the BDU and gone with the ACU if we were going down range IMO, it would’ve saved money. BUT, big brother Army changed theirs, so we had to follow suit.
@21, Love the sense of humor. I never know what to expect. Maybe shoulda gone with file cabinet/government furniture color BDUs?
TSO,
This got a lot of flack on facebook. US Army Infantry (whichi has 50k followers), US Infantry and F’n Boot etc all posted this and they got 100s of posts complaining about it. I think what we’re seeing is finally the bullshit that is handing out awards is finally coming out in the open. It’s especially atrocious among combat arms soldiers/marines that are junior enlisted or E5/E6. For example, Myself and my buddy I got recalled with spent the majority of our deployment as convoy commanders, QRF commanders, in charge of running OPs etc and led our men out of numerous fire fights in Kunar Province and we did that as E5s (Who got promoted to E5 during the deployment). At the end of the deployment we got Arcoms but senior leadership who never went outside the wire got BSMs for being fucking POGs. I know badges and tabs don’t make the man but that was myself and my partners last rodeos and we wanted something to show the kids when they got older and it’s a travesty.
Just kidding, BTW, about the above mild insult to the AF. My winking emoticon was omitted.
It was pointed out to me on another site (ar15) that the AF Times is independent and my remarks in #5 about PAOs don’t apply in that case. I still maintain that the AF Leadership involved in this thing were idiots. What commander would let his/her airmen be involved in a article that basically says “Help, the internet is being mean to us”?
@Nobunny
Don’t worry you didn’t hurt our collective feelings :P. If I had a dime for every shot taken at the AF on this site, I could afford to get out ;). Honestly though, there are some really high speed airmen out there, some doing dangerous jobs outside the wire, obviously not in the numbers that some of the other services are producing, but they’re there. I’m not one of those people, but I have a lot of respect for those who are. A bronze star shouldn’t have been awarded in this case, maybe a gold star next to her name on a board or plaque somewhere but definitely not a bronze. I’m thinkin’ a commendation would’ve been more appropriate- plus as she’s in the junior NCO tier that’s about par for the course. Is it right? I can’t say, but that’s how it goes. Airmen usually get achievements, junior NCOs get commendations, and SNCOs get MSMs. We’ve worked ourselves into an odd position- who’s gonna fix us?
I was so inspired by the original article I had to do something. Just written and submitted to The Duffel Blog:
Airman awarded bronze star for sweeping 100 miles of flightline
Senior Airmen (SrA) John Snuffy of the 170th Air Expeditionary Wing was recently awarded the Bronze Star on 1 April for his actions in Afghanistan.
SrA Snuffy, while forward deployed to Kandahar Airbase, was responsible for cleaniness of the flight line in front of the VIP terminal. During a 6 month deployment, SrA Snuffy was responsible for a total of 100 miles of flightline being swept.
“It’s a great honor to receive this recognition.” SrA Snuffy told Air Force Times. “I feel like I did my job, kept a very busy pace and made improvements any place I could.”
“He’s the best sweeper we have.” TSgt Smith told Duffel Blog. “Before SrA Snuffy arrived, I was constently getting counseled by my CMSgt about the appearance of our pax terminal. When SrA Snuffy arrived, we knew that we had to put a airman of his caliber to work on such a critical issue.”
SrA Snuffy credits his previous assignment at Thule Air Base, Greenland with his outstanding performance at KAF. “Back at Thule, I was responsible for pumping the septic tanks from C-17’s. When you’re pumping poo at below freezing temperatures in the middle of the night, you learn to do your job right the first time.”
SrA Snuffys next assignment will be even more challanging. The Air Force has recently announced plans to field the R-16 Super Roomba for flightline operations. In prepreation for the transistion, SrA Snuffy has been selected to attend UGV (Unmanned Ground Vacumn) training. The new R-16 will allow Airmen such as SrA Snuffy to maintain flightlines from the comfort of a airconditioned operations center in a undisclosed CONUS location.
J.M.,
Hahahahaha! GASP! Hahahahahaha! Help… Can’t… Breathe…!!!
Airman Snuffy is a legend, I’ve been hearing about that guy since BMT.
I feel sorry for the Tech Sergeant. She’s going to take more crap and be treated terribly for it all because she did a good job and someone put in an award for her. She sounds fairly humble about it from the article.
The awards system is to blame here, not the troops that receive them. Granted there are plenty that put themselves and/or their buddies in for awards they don’t necessarily warrant, but its still the awards system at fault.
I’m sure we all know someone who’s gotten an award and we thought “really?” about it. Then at the same time, we do something similar or what we are proud of and its just a “good job.”
Hopefully this fades away quickly so the Tech Sergeant can continue her career without being reminded 10 times a day about the award she “received” (not “won”).
Here’s something that might encourage you.
I was fortunate enough to have been a primary staff officer for a GO in OIF 07-09. I had two LTCs who worked for me. Both went home with ARCOMS. One of the O5s ripped it up in front of me, he was so disgusted. I wanted to punch him in the face, but better I used a line from long ago that stuck with me forever.
As a company commander, I once heard a battalion commander say to one of my fellow CPTs who was acting like a little bitch and whining that he “only” received an ARCOM for company command; “You get an ARCOM for ARCOM work”. 20 years later, it just rolled off my tongue. My two O5s gave “mediocre” a bad name, They were barely effective.
I had the PAC NCO mail the pieces of the destroyed ARCOM it to the LTCs HOR, just in case he wanted to tape it back together and bring it to the VFW with him. Another little bitch.
My NCOs? I recommended 2x E5, BSM, 3xE7s BSM. My CG saw their work and signed off on it. “You get a BSM for BSM level work”. The analytical work by one of my E5s convinced the CG to stop all 3000 of our vehicles on the roads during a deadly period of Ramadan, most likely saving lives. He put hours of work into it and briefed it to the CG like the pro that he was. No one else saw it coming.
Maybe the beauty of being a Reservist.
These two USAF finance specialists (yes, there were two; see the links cited in other comments to the related article I reference below) getting BSMs don’t concern me as much as seeing some of the gross favoritism I’ve seen in the past regarding the MSM and BSM. I know of cases where HQ types in Kuwait got BSMs while their forward-deployed counterparts in Iraq got both CABs and MSMs.
And the comment above about the BSM without V device being essentially a combat-zone MSM is correct. Fromm the inception of the MSM in Jan 1969 until very recently (approx 2004), that’s historically been exactly the practice. I covered the history a bit here:
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=29487#comment-609698
The distinction today between the BSM and MSM is supposed to be whether the individual’s service can be legitimately considered “noncombat service”. I can’t say I begrudge anyone who served in Iraq and Afghanistan a BSM if they did work that merits BSM/MSM-level recognition, even if they served inside the wire. Many of the bigger bases In Iraq took quite a bit of fire at times, and I understand the same is true in Afghanistan today – and bullets and shrapnel don’t give a damn if you’re on-base or off. But Kuwait/Qatar/Bahrain since 2001? Different story.
Best I can tell, other than maybe along the Kuwait-Iraq border the last hostile fire incidents in any of those countries occurred in 2002 and 2003 – and those 2002 and 2003 incidents were each isolated incidents in Kuwait that were not part of any insurgency or continuing campaign. I thus have a real problem with anyone serving in Kuwait/Qatar/Bahrain since 2001 getting a BSM. Service in those locations, while remote and nasty at times, simply isn’t combat service. In my book, that’s just another remote/hardship short tour – kinda like serving in Korea (or maybe Iceland or Greenland) with sand instead of snow.
The word “bullied” (and variants: “bullying”, etc) is the most overused word of the past two years. It has come to mean “criticize.”
Also, I found that in my time in Iraq, awards such as the Bronze Star were given a little too freely. It really diminished their importance.
There was one NCO I knew who kept her superiors in fear that she was going to file a complaint against them with IG or EO. I honestly believe that the officer who put her in for the Bronze Star did so to keep her happy and essentially to protect himself from the accusation that he was just picking on the poor thing.
She ended up accusing another NCO of raping her while in Iraq, which as you might have guessed, turned out to be a big lie.
She was cerifiable.
I also knew a colonel who nominated himself for the Legion of Merit. When you’ve got that much rank, you write your own awards and…voila! You get them!
This sounds just like the way the schools have determined that in any type of competition, ‘everyone’ gets a trophy – whether they won or lost, came in 1st or last, based on the idea that ‘there are no losers.’ “It might give them low self-esteem if they don’t get a medal when someone else did.” Gee. I thought it was to encourage others to try harder or study harder in order to win NEXT time. Employers now have problems with workers who come from this type of atmosphere not understanding that they don’t get “attaboys” and strokes/awards for just showing up and doing the job they are paid to do. They are so used to being praised for just being there that they get upset when time goes by and they aren’t given some type of recognition for doing an average job. Until things get back to a point where recognition for going “above and beyond” actually means something and is not just handed out to everybody so they won’t feel bad, the type of issues you are describing will get worse, not better.
Silly me, I assumed the military was the place where stars and medals were only given out to recognize outstanding service in a dangerous environment. One can only hope it goes back to the way it used to be. No, the awards process will never be entirely bereft of abuse (due to the asshole factor), but it would be great if it at least went back to where that was the exception rather than the rule.
I came to realize that there are two BSMs. A Bronze Star and a Bronze Service Medal. Just observe the one wearing it for a while, and you can figure out which of the two it is.
This has been the case for a very long time. The SgtMaj of the unit I deployed to Iraq with received a BSM ostensibly for maintaining the morale of our unit and its subordinate units. All he really did was walk around saying “hey, hey, hey” like Fat Albert while eating all our care package candy.
Every squadron commander got a BSM just for deploying and doing their jobs. It is a joke. Don’t think those clowns are above going and getting their BSM license plates to pretend they’re war heroes, either.
This was in the Marine Corps. From what I saw the army is even more of a joke when it comes to awards. I deployed with a friend on an advance party. He ended up getting pulled to a working party on our base where he drove a bus around for a month or so until TCNs could be brought on to do the driving. At the end of that working party, which was run by the army, he received an Army Achievement Medal. For a working party.
I did more than this cooze during my year in Iraq and I got a NAM. Now I’m angry no one put me in for a BSM and wrote a news story about me…
CRassi: That’s nothing new. Since at least Vietnam, the BSM and the various service Commendation Medals have been dual-purpose decorations. (Ditto the Legion of Merit, but that one doesn’t typically seem to cause much discussion.) When awarded for an act of Valor in combat (Army/USAF) or for direct participation in combat (USN/USMC), they’re awarded with the V device. When awarded for combat service only, they’re awarded without. (While either can also be awarded for a specific act not involving valor, that seems to be relatively rare – in combat or not).
For precisely that reason, a Bronze Star or Commendation Medal w/V device is eminently more worthy of respect than one without. But even without a V device, both decorations are legitimate recognition for combat service not involving heroic acts. The same is not true of certain other decorations – e.g., the MSM and Achievement Medals – which by regulation may be awarded for noncombat service only.
Jasper Lake syndrome. Getting valor awards just for doing your job is a fucking disgrace. Shooters have to do some crazy shit to be recognized; a support crew member shouldn’t get one for remembering to fill out their logbook.
I think one of the problems here is the lack of understanding of what a Bronze Star is awaded for.
Pursuant to DoD 134-8.33M, “Manual of Military Awards and Decorations”, Change 1 (September 2006), the following applies –
AP1.1.2.20. Bronze Star
AP1.1.2.20.1. Authorized by Executive Order 9419, “Bronze Star Medal,”
February 4, 1944, superseded by Executive Order 11046 (reference (sss)).
AP1.1.2.20.2. Awarded to any person who, after December 6, 1941, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, under any of the following circumstances:
AP1.1.2.20.2.1. While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
AP1.1.2.20.2.2. While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
AP1.1.2.20.2.3. While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
AP1.1.2.20.3. When the Bronze Star is awarded for heroism, a bronze letter “V” (for valor) is worn on the suspension and service ribbon of that medal.
While I’ll be the first to admit simply doing your job in a combat zone does not warrent a BSM, on the other hand, criteria does say: ” engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force”. Key words there were military operations it does not say combat.
I will also note and agree that in my personal opinion if yah weren’t under actual fire you probabaly shouldn’t get a BSM no matter how good you are/did you job. HOWEVER unless the person put themselves in for the medal, don’t blame the person who received the medal, blame the people who put them in for that high of an award. i.e. this is a leadership failure!
-Ish
Isnala: agreed. Unfortunately, the circa-2004 decision by all the services to allow awards of non-combat decorations in a combat zone has muddied the waters significantly. While that decision was made for the right reasons (as I’ve said repeatedly, service in Kuwait/Bahrain/Qatar just ain’t combat service by any common-sense definition of the term, even if they’re in the “combat zone”) this has given rise to a very different form of abuse that is even more difficult to police.
Guys, I’m not trying to start any shit but it seems to me this is just a continuation of the practice of some branches handing out awards for the least of reasons. A ribbon for graduating boot camp? A ribbon for graduating the NCO academy? A ribbon because a ship or unit was combat ready? Two ribbons for over seas service? A ribbon for marksmanship? A ribbon for longevity? A ribbon for being a top 10% boot camp graduate?
I know these are over simplifications but accurate. When I graduated recruit training I got to put the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on my piss cutter. When I graduated the NCO academy I got a pretty piece of paper that said I was now a leader of Marines and a 72 hour liberty. When the IG came through and Charlie co was rated “C-1” we got bragging rights.
Just my opinion.
Not unusual..I was in Desert Storm…our higher HQ came in country 30 days after the war stayed 60 days to control port etc..17 Bronze Stars awarded to them…my unit was there Oct-May..3 Bronze Stars..
One of the things that finally made me lose my lunch and leave the Coast Guard was that our commander received a Bronze Star. We were there about 11 months (for what was supposed to be a 6 month deployment<= I think that played a role here). This tub drove around in an air conditioned SUV with a soft cover and no body armor. He worked out of an office. The people that did the work wore interceptor vests with plates and Kevlars while on post. While we had some shots fired, we were never in combat; we did FP/AT in Kuwait. I could never understand how he rated a Bronze Star.
Being a former Coastie and present AF Reservist, I’ve only known 2 people personally that were awarded the BSM – A Commander I worked for @ USCG HQ who received the award for commanding an 82 ft patrol boat in Vietnam. The other was an intel Captain in my AF Reserve unit who was working in the vicinity of Fallujah during Desert Storm. I agree with Yat Yas about the AF Training Ribbon. As long as you are wearing a uniform, you obviously made it through military training of some sort. Thankfully, I don’t qualify for that thing anyways and had it removed from my records.
I received a BSM and I guess you could call my job a desk job. But I did go outside the wire and travel to outsites to fix their COMMO problems because I am SME on COMM in the civilian world as well as I still did the S3 and my job as the Battle Captain/Systems Engineer. I was engaged several times, but never fired back. I received BSM for Meritiorious reasons. I’m not going to John Kerry it over the Whitehouse fence. I earned it. Now, those who just did their job in Brigade and never really left Iraq except to go on leave, they received more BSMs that the two Battalions underneath them, combined.
Had a Maj try to deliberatly take one of my convoys thru a mine field so he could get his. Put a stop to that. But its things like that that help you retire as a E-6.
@ Yat Yas,
Sure, there are a lot of ribbons just given out for silly things like you stated, but, none of those are worth anything during promotion either. They simply look pretty. Take the “good boy” ribbon they just got back. You get one for not F’in up? Isn’t that your job to behave?
Am I the only guy who noticed this quote:
“The Bronze Star is the U.S. military’s fourth-highest individual decoration for bravery, heroism or meritorious service.”
Hmmm, really? Let’s count shall we?
1. Medal of Honor
2. DSC
3. Defense DSM
4. Army DSM
5. Silver Star
6. Defense Superior Service Medal
7. LOM
8. Dist Flying Cross
9. Army Soldiers Medal
10. BSM
Seems to me to be a lot of misplaced emotion over a medal that barely broke the Top 10!
I think you left out a few, COB6 – I believe the Navy Cross, AF Cross, Navy DSM, AF DSM, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and the Airman’s Medal all also take precedence over the BSM. And that’s not even counting DOT/PHS/MM awards, which might also be worn under true “corner-case” circumstances.
Puts the BSM at best at #17 on the list.