Big Army sends out a message about revoking awards

The Army Times reports that Big Army Human Resources sent out a message the other day reminding commanders that they can revoke your awards. It’s nothing new – we’ve seen phonies who didn’t even get National Defense Service Medals after their poor record of service. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 lays out the guidelines for commanders;

1–30. Revocation of personal decorations and suspension of authority to wear a. Once an award has been presented, it may be revoked by the awarding authority if facts subsequently determined would have prevented original approval of the award had they been known at the time. Presentation of a decoration is the physical act of pinning or clipping the medal on a Soldier’s chest or handing the Soldier the medal, certificate or orders. Failure to be reassigned or separated as originally scheduled does not constitute grounds for revocation of an award which has been presented. The decision to revoke an award may not be delegated by the awarding authority. In making the decision, the awarding authority will consider a statement of concurrence or non-concurrence (with comments) from the individual concerned. Upon revocation, the affected individual will be informed that he or she may appeal the revocation action through command channels to Commander, USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471, for final review. When desirable, the awarding authority may refer the revocation request to Commander, USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471, for appropriate action
b. When the Bronze Star Medal has been awarded to an individual based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II, revocation of the Combat Infantryman Badge will result in revocation of the Bronze Star Medal. Revocation will be announced in permanent orders of local commanders citing this paragraph as authority.
c. The authority to wear an award may be suspended by the award approval authority or higher authority. An award will be suspended when an investigation has been initiated by proper authority to determine the validity of the award.
The authority directing the suspension will notify, in writing, the individual concerned and the Commander, USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471, by the most expeditious means possible when suspension is initiated, and when it is terminated, and the reason(s) for termination. Refer to AR 670–1 for wear prohibitions.
1–31. Revocation of badges, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, and Sapper Tab
a. Commanders authorized to award combat and special skill badges are authorized to revoke such awards. An award, once revoked, will not be reinstated except by USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471, when fully justified. When desirable, the awarding authority may refer the revocation request to USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA,
Alexandria, VA 22332–0471, for appropriate action.
b. Revocation of awards of badges will be announced in permanent orders, except that revocations which are automatically effected, as prescribed in this regulation, need not be announced in orders; see paragraphs c(1) through (9), below.
c. Award of badges may be revoked under any of the following conditions:
(1) An award of any combat and special skill badge will be automatically revoked on dismissal, dishonorable discharge, or conviction by courts-martial for desertion in wartime. Wartime is defined in the glossary.
(2) Parachutist Badge. Any Parachutist badge may be revoked when the awardee—
(a) Is punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for refusal to participate in a parachute jump.
(b) Initiates action which results in termination of airborne status or withdrawal of any Career Management Field (CMF) 18 military occupational specialty (MOS), 180A or specialty skill identifier (SSI) 18A before he or she completes 36 cumulative months of airborne duty. Any parachutist badge with bronze star for a combat jump will be retained regardless of time on airborne status. Any parachutist badge will be retained if the Soldier is unable to complete 36 cumulative months of airborne duty through no fault of his or her own, for example, injury or reassignment under favorable conditions.
(3) Parachute Rigger Badge. The Parachute Rigger Badge may be revoked when the awardee—
(a) Has his or her Parachutist Badge revoked.
(b) Refuses an order to make a parachute jump with a parachute they packed.
(c) Initiates action which results in withdrawal of MOS 92R, 401A, or SSI 92D before he or she completes 36 months in a parachute position.
(4) Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge. The Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge and Jumpmaster Badge may be revoked by the approval authority under the conditions listed below. Once revoked, the badges will not be reinstated except by the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, when fully justified.
(a) Automatically, upon dismissal, dishonorable discharge, or conviction by court-martial for desertion in time of
war.
(b) Awardee is punished under UCMJ for refusal to participate in a military free fall jump.

(c) Awardee initiates action which results in the termination of military free fall parachutist, basic or military free fall parachutist, jumpmaster status.
(5) Aviator Badges. Any Aviator Badge may be revoked when HQDA has approved the findings of a Flight Evaluation Board that the awardee was guilty of—
(a) Cowardice, refusal to fly, fear of flying, or fear of combat.
(b) An act constituting a flagrant violation of flying regulations
(6) Aviation Badges. Any Aviation Badge may be revoked by a commander who has authority to make the award upon his or her determination that the awardee was guilty of—
(a) Cowardice, refusal to fly, fear of flying, or fear of combat.
(b) Negligence in the performance of assigned aeronautical duties.
(7) Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badges. Any Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Badge may be revoked when the awardee—
(a) Is convicted by court-martial for refusal to participate in explosive ordnance disposal operations.
(b) Any EOD Badge may be revoked by a commander having authority to award the badge upon his or her determination that the awardee was guilty of gross negligence in the performance of assigned explosive ordnance disposal duties or a flagrant violation of EOD safety procedures or regulation.
(c) Initiates, in his or her initial tour of explosive ordnance disposal duty, action which results in termination of his or her explosive ordnance disposal status prior to the completion of 18 consecutive months of explosive ordnance disposal duty.
(8) Air Assault Badge. Any Air Assault Badge may be revoked by the awarding authority (see para 8–26) based upon the determination that an assigned or attached individual has failed to maintain prescribed standards of personal fitness and readiness to accomplish Air Assault missions. Requests for revocation of an Air Assault Badge awarded to individuals no longer assigned or attached to the awarding authority’s command will be forwarded through command channels to Commander, USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471. These cases will be limited to those where it has been determined that an awardee was guilty of cowardice, refusal to fly in a tactical exercise or gross negligence in the performance of Air Assault duties.
(9) Special Forces Tab. Special Forces Tab may be revoked by the awarding authority (Commander, U.S. Army
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center) if the recipient—
(a) Has his or her Parachutist Badge revoked.
(b) Initiates action which results in termination or withdrawal of the Special Forces specialty or branch code prior to completing 36 months of Special Forces duty. Requests for advanced schooling which may lead to another specialty or branch code being awarded instead of Special Forces will not be used as a basis for revocation of the tab.
(c) Has become permanently medically disqualified from performing Special Forces duty and was found to have become disqualified not in the line of duty.
(d) Has been convicted at a trial by courts-martial or has committed offenses which demonstrate severe professional misconduct,incompetence, or willful dereliction in the performance of Special Forces duties.
(e) Has committed any misconduct which is the subject of an administrative elimination action under the provisions of AR 635–200 or AR 600–8–24.
(f) Has committed any act or engaged in any conduct inconsistent with the integrity, professionalism, and conduct of a Special Forces Soldier, as determined by the Commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
(g) The SF Tab for active and reserve component Soldiers will be reinstated by the Commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), Fort Bragg, NC, when fully justified. Veterans, retirees, or next of kin should
submit request for reinstatement of the SF Tab to the Commander, USAHRC, AHRC–PDO–PA, Alexandria, VA 22332–0471, final review.
(10) Driver and Mechanic Badge. Driver and Mechanic Badge award will be revoked only by a commander authorized to award the badge and/or bar and only for any of the following reasons:
(a) In the event of a moving traffic violation in which life or property was endangered, or an accident which involved either property damage or personal injury wherein the awardee (motor vehicle driver or operator of special
mechanical equipment) was at fault.
(b) In the event of damage to the vehicle for which the awardee (motor vehicle driver or operator of special mechanical equipment) is responsible due to lack of preventive maintenance.
(c) In the event of an unsatisfactory rating of the awardee (motor mechanic) as a driver.
(d) In the event of damage to vehicle or shop equipment as a result of careless or inefficient performance of duty by
the awardee (motor mechanic).
(e) In the event of unsatisfactory shop performance by the awardee (motor mechanic).
(11) Marksmanship Badges. An award for previous marksmanship weapons qualification is revoked automatically whenever an individual, upon completion of firing a record course for which the previous award was made, has not attained the same qualification. In the event a badge is authorized for firing a limited or sub-caliber course, it is automatically revoked if a record service course is subsequently fired. If the bar, which is revoked automatically, is the only one authorized to be worn on the respective basic qualification badge, the award of the badge likewise is revoked automatically. An award once revoked will not be reinstated.
(12) U.S. Competitive Marksmanship Awards. Awards awarded under the U.S. Civilian Marksmanship Program and the President’s Hundred Tab made through error or as a result of fraud, may be revoked only by the USAHRC
(AHRC–PDO–PA).
(13) Ranger Tab. The Ranger Tab may be revoked by the Commander, U.S. Army Infantry School based on the recommendation of the field commander (COL or above) of the individual in question, if in the opinion of that commander the individual has exhibited a pattern of behavior, expertise or duty performance that is inconsistent with expectations of the Army, that is, that Ranger qualified Soldiers continuously demonstrate enhanced degrees of confidence, commitment, competency and discipline. Award of the Ranger Tab may be revoked for the following under any of the following conditions:
(a) Dismissal, dishonorable discharge or conviction by courts-martial for desertion in time of war.
(b) Refusal to accept assignment to a Ranger coded position.
(c) Failure to maintain prescribed standards of personal fitness and readiness to accomplish missions commensurate
with position and rank.
(d) Upon relief or release for cause.
(14) Sapper Tab. See paragraph 8–50c.
(15) Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge. See paragraph 8–40f

I don’t see anything about a retired infantry platoon sergeant running a subversive blog in his retirement, so I guess my highest award, the NDSM, is safe for the time being.

Category: Big Army