Army Retirement Medal proposed
No this isn’t The Duffel Blog, it’s the Army Times. Sergeant First Class Steven Janotta has proposed to the Army that it should adopt a medal for reaching the 20-year mark of service in the Army. Of course, SFC Janotta has 25 years in service, an infantryman, and currently is assigned as the chief of operations at the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, KY, so he has lots of time to think about stuff like this.
“Most people are probably going to tell you it’s a waste of time or a waste of money,” Janotta said about the retirement medal.
But Janotta believes in the idea, and is hopeful Big Army is paying attention.
On average, about 18 percent of people who join the military will stay in uniform long enough to retire.
The retirement medal would be something special for those retiring soldiers, who typically receive the Meritorious Service Medal or the Army Commendation Medal at the end of their careers, Janotta said.
Yeah, well, 90% of the people who earn the award won’t wear it, sergeant. “Something Special” isn’t all that special when everyone gets one, is it? I always thought that Army Service Ribbon was stupid, too, just like the Air Force ribbon for completing basic training. It’s like the Cold War Medal – I’m standing here, so give me a medal. I get my retirement award direct deposited on the first of every month.
Thanks to Chief Tango for the link.
Category: Dumbass Bullshit
Let me be the first to say I don’t think we have too many medals. Maybe they could be awarded differently but that’s not my concern. Not like it is to those serving. I think it is a great idea to finally have a medal recognizing a life given in service to our country.
On another not, didn’t we just hear how the Pentagon was reviewing all the medals, thinking there were too many? It’s the whole left hand knowing what the right hand is doing thing I guess.
But I say again I am in staunch favor of a medal for each service to honor faithful life long service to our nation. I say here-here.
P.S. And make the retroactive as well.
@2 Dumb ass meant to write “and make THEM retroactive too”. Darned pain meds.
The Army already gives Retirement Awards. A friend of mine just retired and got his MSM and a nice cake…
I got out with 12 years, and got myself a Lapel Pin and my Honorable Discharge.
Is the expense of creating a new medal worth it when the Army has ways already of recognising al lthose years of service?
@4 rb352th Now that is what I was saying when I said I don’t understand the medals system as guys who have recently served do. Perhaps they already have something. But to me and MSM is something a lot of folks, especially in officer country get well before retirement for many things. That is why I would like to see this. I think it would be even better of it were differentiated in looks between officer and enlisted. I think it takes more to retire enlisted than as an officer. Never having retired as either it was just my experience that the senior enlisted ranks did more to keep the military show on the road than many officers did. By and large and again it is just my opinion. No disrespect to any officers here.
I get a retirement award: it’s deposited in my checking account every month.
It would be more authentic if it included a reflective PT belt.
If they were issue these, how long before posers would be sporting it?
Don’t get me wrong I don’t begrudge recognizing anyone’s service but I think the Army has gone overboard with medals that have nothing to do with achievement, merit or valor but are “awarded” simply for showing up.
My grandfather was a combat vet of WWI. He had a WWI Victory Medal. My father was a WWII vet. He has a GCM, a Army of Occupation Medal and a WWII Victory Medal. I on the other hand left the Army (12 years ago now) with 8 medals and a couple of other ribbons without ever having heard a shot fired in anger. Now it’s pretty common to see fairly junior soldiers with a “General Patton” rack of fruit salad although their highest award might be a ARCOM or AAM.
In my humble opinion it seems too much like giving everyone a trophy in kid’s sports because “we’re all winners here.”
Just my $.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.
Well.. I don’t look at it like a participation trophy.
Not many can make it to 20. It’s not like the Army Service, which everyone gets.
This is different because it really takes a fair amount of perseverance to stick it out for the entire 20.
I think after you hit 20, you should be able to wear the award.. instead of getting it at retirement (some stay 30)
Sparks: Read the print copy version of this earlier today while at a medical apt. My reaction was – eh, ok. Not a huge deal either way.
If I read the article correctly, the proposal would indeed be retroactive. DD214 showing retirement would serve as orders/documentation for eligibility. Mechanics weren’t further addressed.
I did disagree – strongly – with the part of the proposal regarding precedence. Putting the proposed “retirement medal” higher in precedence than anything other than the MoH is IMO bull. It’s a service award, so if it’s approved it should go with the other service awards – after personal decorations.
— break —
ArmyMedical: article says retirement rate is approx 18%, or a bit under 1 in 5.
Problem with allowing wear at 20 is that some people do 20, then leave w/o an honorable discharge. Waiting until they actually retire and receive an honorable discharge avoids the need to “revoke” an award. Besides, it’s an award for honorable retirement – not an award for 20 years’ service per se.
Just quit screwing with my TRICARE and keep the checks dropping every month. Don’t want anything else.
@7 Mike N. I hear you. I did 12 years of service before being medically discharged. I have the Mexican General look going. I got a few awards for things I did such as deployments and hard work, but I have even more “gimme” awards that were given to everybody for just being in the unit at that point in time. It seems like medals and awards are handed out like PEZ. This is just my non humble opinion.
@6 SJ, a reflective belt huh? do you also have to stand around at 1630 on Friday and wait until about 1700 for someone to come out and give you a safety brief before you can spend it? That would be the truly authentic experience.
Like Jonn noted, this guy is a freakin’ Infantry E7 with 25 years in, working a staff job. I’m wondering how long he’s been away from the line? hopefully not as long as this NCO http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/01/former-tradoc-soldier-confused-scared-after-discovering-army-changed/
Hey … I want a US Navy Retirement Medal. I can put it right next to the MRI of my back that is framed in my office.
We need to create some committees, take public surveys, possibly mull a “gay” version and then waste about 20 million or so to decide on a medal that you would be given (pinned) then removed to a box.
Awesome.
In ’73 everyone in USAF basic received the NSDM. We didn’t know what it was and disparingly called it the “I Live And Breathe Award.” Since that time (and switching to the US Army), there are all sorts of “Live And Breathe” ribbons — the “I’m a Rainbow” ribbon (probably popular in SF’s Castro Distric …. if you follow my drift), graduating schools ribbons … etc. I agree we need to get rid of the fluff.
However ~ I do not see a 20 Year Retirement Medal as fluff. It would not be “live and breathe” medal … besides, it will make me look like an Argentine Colonel — another mini to add to my rack.
The British military’s “Long Service and Good Conduct medal” is now awarded for “only” 15 years good service (used to be 18). However, it is awarded to enlisted/NCOs; officers who served 12 years in the ranks can qualify. …. hmmmm ~ I think I just went down a rabbit hole ….
–ghp
#14, GT. “…possibly mull a “gay” version ….”
I recommend the current “Army Service Ribbon”.
I **HATE** that ribbon and refuse to wear it.
–ghp
I do not like awards for “attendance” and lord knows they are given out like candy. I get my award every month in the form of a direct deposit. That is all I need regarding recognition of 20+ years of service. But then, I don’t even have an “I love me” wall!
Don’t we have enough “awards for showing up” already?
Furthermore, there is already a designation on the uniform for years of service, at least for the enlisted grades, its the Service Stripe (or colloquially, “hash marks.”) I was proud to have 7 on my class A jacket before I retired, even though if I’d stuck it out another 6 months I would have had 8.
Jesus, if they keep coming up with any more medals, pretty soon career soldiers are going to look like those North Korean officers with so many medals they had to start putting them on their trousers.
How can someone have 25 years time in service and only be a SFC?
The only award I want when I retire in 113 days is my DD214.
steve14: since 2011, Army promotable SSGs and SFCs have been allowed to serve until 26 YOS before hitting RCP. Promotable SFCs can serve until 29 YOS.
http://www.armyreenlistment.com/Messages/MILPER/RCP_Changes_11_096_20110325.pdf
So let me get this,,, the day you retire and take off your uniform( pretty much to never wear it again, with certain exceptions) they award you a medal to wear on it.
Do they rescind the award when you are called back to active duty?
I normally don’t wade into the debates about medal significance or things like whether Dallas Wittgennfeld is a ranger or not because I feel those are debates reserved for men who have bellied up to the bar. But on this topic, I feel I have to ask: Will this award be included in the I have(d) a pulse tier of awards, the Thanks for showing up tier, or the I did my job OK award tier? 😀
The US Army already issues the Army Lapel Pin for Honorable Service and inversely the Army Retired Lapel Pin for those who retire. 😉 Please see items labelled “g” and “h” in the following link.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title32-vol3/xml/CFR-2007-title32-vol3-sec578-63.xml
What they look like through a commercial retailer:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title32-vol3/xml/CFR-2007-title32-vol3-sec578-63.xml
http://www.acuarmy.com/army-150-retired-lapel-pin-c-5231_1235_1526.html
@18-Nah, they’ll have to wear them down past their belly buttons and up to their collar bones like Soupy Sammich first. And if that doesn’t prove enough, there’s talk the army will expand height and weight restrictions to round marine/William Derek Church levels to create more distance in order to have more space for ribbons 😀
@ #18, I wish the AF had hash marks for time in service. Instead we have, you guessed it, the Air Force Longevity Service Award. One more ribbon for every four years of showing up.
On a somewhat related note, it’s currently possible to graduate from AF basic training with four ribbons. On the rare occasions I have to wear blues, I try to get away with just wearing the shirt so I dont have to wear the whole damn ribbon rack.
Embarrassing, I wish I could edit my stuff after it has been posted, here is the real link to the Army Lapel Pin for Honorable Service/Discharge;
http://www.acuarmy.com/active-duty-army-minute-man-lapel-pin-c-5231_1235_1521.html
Just one more step until some POG looks like one of those Russian WWII vets.
I missed the NDM in 1974 by 15 days.
All I had after 4 years was a GCM.
Made for a streamlined uniform.
Hymie
USMC 1974-1978
The Carter Admin.years.
We already have a freaking participation trophy in the Army (the gay pride ribbon), why do we need a long-term participation trophy too?
@16.
I should get a “star” on my ASR.
I did OSUT and then OBC years later.
Twice the BS should be worth something, should it not?
@31 Green Thumb,
The Army Regulation for subsequent awards of the ASR are denoted by Glitter & Sprinkles!
I’d rather they a) did away with the Rainbow Ribbon and b) authorized the Cold War Victory medal . . . or maybe the long rumored detainee operations service medal . . .
@9 Hondo and @SJ. Thank you for your input. That is what I was looking for was the opinion of retirees. I agree with SJ’s sentiment about the monthly appreciation.
I DID NOT know about the order of precedence Hondo pointed out. That is where I agree with Hondo and say if the medal will go there then let’s not have it at all.
Thanks for all of you guys opinions and education to a guy who is not a retiree or a recently discharged vet. Thank you all for enduring my posts and thoughts. I think having more knowledge now, I am not in favor of it at this point.
Stolen valor turds are licking their chops over this already. Just one more medal to wear.
This is an interesting thought… I think his heart is in the right spot. I can understand both sides of the case for and against a medal or ribbon. I surely don’t need any more color for my chest salad, but something indicating the amount of years someone served I think at least warrants consideration.
@36.
Hash marks already do that.
When I retired in 2012 with 30+ years, I got the highest award the Navy could offer: a blue ID card.
All I want from DoD is to be left alone.
I think you should all be proud to have this Medal. It shows more than just an award it shows pride in service of your country, tho many of you may see it as a duplication of that…whats the harm.
What’s the point? There are awards already that denote honorable service and time served.
I was more in favor of a MSM with a Cross Swords device for being awarded in a Combat zone. This way the E-7 and above could earn a non-combat award awarded for combat. Like taking The Army Commendation a Non-combat medal and sticking a V-device on it for combat! I bet they would then know how it feels to a soldier. They might not like that instead of a Bronze Star. OH GOD !!! I WONDER WHY !!!