Medal Inflation in US Armed Forces (1 Viewer)

[SayMyName]

Medal Inflation. Everyone that ever served has their own story. If there is any singular testimony to the state of true readiness for a throw down fight for survival, surely this is it.

Medal inflation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Not sure when the hoop-la really began. Only, I remember one aspect of the coming change. We were sitting in the DCO's office in JSA along the DMZ on the border with north Korea, sometime early 1980's. Staff were discussing this and that, when a report for medal submissions came up. Units competed. Apparently, one soldier driving a deuce and a half truck from another outfit lost control delivering chow to Guardpost Collier inside the DMZ. Commander of 3rd Brigade was putting him up for an ARCOM with oak leaf cluster and "V."

Our HQ company commander said out loud, "With Oak Leaf cluster."

To which the JSF CO chimed in, "With V."

Our DCO ( years later at higher rank to become one of the architects of "The War on Terror") looked at me and said, "There's such a thing?"

To which I responded, "I'll check, sir."

When comparing the senior officers of WWII to those of today, is there nothing more telling in their character and backgrounds than the medals they earned and wore.

Share your story.

 

[Mycroft]

I don't have any personal stories of medal inflation. I earned every one of my 10 ribbons and all of my devices.

 

[Sweden]

Medal Inflation. Everyone that ever served has their own story. If there is any singular testimony to the state of true readiness for a throw down fight for survival, surely this is it.

Medal inflation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Share your favorite.

Not sure when the hoop-la really began. Only, I remember one aspect of the coming change. We were sitting in the DCO's office in JSA along the DMZ on the border with north Korea, sometime early 1980's. Staff were discussing this and that, when a report for medal submissions came up. Units competed. Apparently, one soldier driving a deuce and a half truck from another outfit lost control delivering chow to Guardpost Collier inside the DMZ. Commander of 3rd Brigade was putting him up for an ARCOM with oak leaf cluster and "V."

Our HQ company commander said out loud, "With Oak Leaf cluster."

To which the JSF CO chimed in, "With V."

Our DCO ( years later at higher rank to become one of the architects of "The War on Terror") looked at me and said, "There's such a thing?"

To which I responded, "I'll check, sir."

When comparing the senior officers of WWII to those of today, is there nothing more telling in their character and backgrounds than the medals they earned and wore.

Share your story.
View attachment 67525911

This certainly seems to be an American thing. I served almost 14 tears in the (British) Royal Navy and have not a single medal. Medal deflation?

 

[VySky]

Everyone gets a trophy?

Served 3 years active and only have Sea Service ribbon, Expert M-16 Rifle badge and the Expeditionary Medal.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

 

[Rexedgar]

Medal Inflation. Everyone that ever served has their own story. If there is any singular testimony to the state of true readiness for a throw down fight for survival, surely this is it.

Medal inflation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Share your favorite.

Not sure when the hoop-la really began. Only, I remember one aspect of the coming change. We were sitting in the DCO's office in JSA along the DMZ on the border with north Korea, sometime early 1980's. Staff were discussing this and that, when a report for medal submissions came up. Units competed. Apparently, one soldier driving a deuce and a half truck from another outfit lost control delivering chow to Guardpost Collier inside the DMZ. Commander of 3rd Brigade was putting him up for an ARCOM with oak leaf cluster and "V."

Our HQ company commander said out loud, "With Oak Leaf cluster."

To which the JSF CO chimed in, "With V."

Our DCO ( years later at higher rank to become one of the architects of "The War on Terror") looked at me and said, "There's such a thing?"

To which I responded, "I'll check, sir."

When comparing the senior officers of WWII to those of today, is there nothing more telling in their character and backgrounds than the medals they earned and wore.

Share your story.
View attachment 67525911

Eisenhower only needed the circle of stars on his epaulets.

I have seen the cheapening of the Bronze Star up close. The BS used to be a combat decoration and now it is an administrative award.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

Miley is wearing 20 medals and it looks like Eisenhower wore 18.

 

[Loulit01]

Miley is wearing 20 medals and it looks like Eisenhower wore 18.

They're not all medals.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

They're not all medals.

Ribbons, then. I thought “ribbon” and “medal” were interchangeable. I left out the CIB and other stuff like that.

 

[BirdinHand]

Have we reached the point where we now criticize the medals received by our men and women in the military?

Why?


Our military pays for crap. Perhaps giving them medals, ribbons, etc is a small recognition of their service and sacrifice.

 

[Tangmo]

Ribbons, then. I thought “ribbon” and “medal” were interchangeable. I left out the CIB and other stuff like that.

Milley has 10 of the Overseas Service Award which is a cloth gold bar worn beginning at the right sleeve. One bar is 6 months in a combat zone. Milley also has the Overseas Service Ribbon which is for any assignment overseas. Milley has three of the CIB and 4 of the Bronze Star Medal.

 

[Rexedgar]

Everyone gets a trophy?

Served 3 years active and only have Sea Service ribbon, Expert M-16 Rifle badge and the Expeditionary Medal.

I’m shocked there is no mention of the Good Conduct Medal!



Disclaimer; don’t have that one either.

 

[Rich2018]

I don't have any personal stories of medal inflation. I earned every one of my 10 ribbons and all of my devices.

Were you in the US Army ?

If so, doesn't the US Army give you a medal just for completing basic training ?

 

[Mycroft]

Were you in the US Army ?

I was.

If so, doesn't the US Army give you a medal just for completing basic training ?

Basic training isn't a walk in the park and it especially wasn't the two times I completed it.

 

[Rich2018]

Basic training isn't a walk in the park and it especially wasn't the two times I completed it.

It was for me...and I never got a medal for it

Do US Marines get a medal for completing basic training ?

 

[Mycroft]

It was for me...and I never got a medal for it

Do US Marines get a medal for completing basic training ?

I don't know. Ask a Marine.

 

[gman]

Were you in the US Army ?

If so, doesn't the US Army give you a medal just for completing basic training ?

The National Defense Service Medal is or was a gimme award after completing training. The Good Conduct Medal was awarded after 3 years continual service. Overseas deployment and in particular in a combat zone authorized you to wear that particular award. Any medals/awards after those in the army are merit/heroism based. Battle stars to hostile fire zone medals are based upon your serving in that zone during declared major campaigns. In my case I am authorized to wear 4 battle stars to my Vietnam campaign medal during the time I was there during 68-69.

 

[SayMyName]

Were you in the US Army ?

If so, doesn't the US Army give you a medal just for completing basic training ?

@Rich2018 ... good point. Should medals and ribbons be awarded simply for participation, not valor or heroism, especially in the case of officers?

For example the Bronze star was originally proposed by General George Marshall in 1944 to recognize those soldiers who actually fought in the frontline, saying, "The fact that the ground troops, infantry in particular, lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort and are the ones who must close in personal combat with the enemy, makes the maintenance of their morale of great importance."

Now, the overwhelming majority of Bronze Stars are awarded for service achievement, not valor related to personal combat.

There is no more glaring testimony to this trend than is exhibited in casualties and Silver Stars. Nearly 60% of casualties in Iraq during the first few years after 2003 were E-1 to E-3 in rank. Yet, 70% of the Silver Stars were awarded to officers and senior NCO's.

When you look at this picture of a National Guard Adjutant General compared to America's most highly decorated soldier of WWII, Audie Murphy, something seems out of whack.

 

[Tangmo]

When I was in the Army many moons ago the chest ribbons on the Class A and dress uniform jackets were called "fruit salad." I don't hear the slang term at this thread, at least so far anyway. In fact I don't hear or see the term used anywhere any more but I'd think it's still in use.

Army General David Petraeus, presently retired

U.S. armed forces ribbons and medals are designed to be colorful and lively. Awards on the left side of the jacket are individual service, merit and achievement awards. Awards on the right side of the jacket above the individual's nameplate are unit award ribbons and also for awards including badges by foreign governments. I wasn't airborne but I know the badge on his right side above the unit citation bar is the Master Parachutist Commander award by the Republic of France.








U.S. Air Force Senior Officer dress uniform cap with its "scrambled eggs' of clouds and lightning AKA "farts & darts."

 

[gman]

The disparity in silver star awards can probably be attributed to the fact that it’s the officers and senior NCO’s (E-6 and E-7) who are leading the charge and ensuring the successful accomplishment of an engagement. Employment of weapons most most suited to its purpose, i.e. machine guns, mines, redistribution of ammo, etc. That’s not to say that there haven’t abuses of the award, but probably 99%+ are legit. The awarding of the Medal of Honor is subject to intense scrutinizing where the difference in rank makes no difference.

 

[gman]

When I was in the Army many moons ago the chest ribbons on the Class A and dress uniform jackets were called "fruit salad." I don't hear the slang term at this thread, at least so far anyway. In fact I don't hear or see the term used anywhere any more but I'd think it's still in use.

Army General David Petraeus, presently retired
View attachment 67526090
U.S. armed forces ribbons and medals are designed to be colorful and lively. Awards on the left side of the jacket are individual service, merit and achievement awards. Awards on the right side of the jacket above the individual's nameplate are unit award ribbons and also for awards including badges by foreign governments. I wasn't airborne but I know the badge on his right side above the unit citation bar is the Master Parachutist Commander award by the Republic of France.



View attachment 67526091




U.S. Air Force Senior Officer dress uniform cap with its "scrambled eggs' of clouds and lightning AKA "farts & darts."
View attachment 67526093

There’s another term which hasn’t been mentioned yet, “been badges”. A term usually identified with overseas service awards/ribbons, “I’ve been here, I’ve been there”.

 

[Tangmo]

There’s another term which hasn’t been mentioned yet, “been badges”. A term usually identified with overseas service awards/ribbons, “I’ve been here, I’ve been there”.

Yeah for sure and as we know there's a multiplicity of military slang and terminology about awards and operations. The US has a Vietnam Era service ribbon and medal.

A "soup sandwich" comes to mind from another thread and which rightfully tags Montgomery's Market Garden operation that was doomed from the start. While Mouthy Monty said it was 90% successful the failed operation had no ribbon or medal to it. There were individual and unit awards in Market Garden, but no award or recognition to the operation itself which was unsuccessful and didn't last two weeks before it was terminated as the failure it was.

 

[Tangmo]

The disparity in silver star awards can probably be attributed to the fact that it’s the officers and senior NCO’s (E-6 and E-7) who are leading the charge and ensuring the successful accomplishment of an engagement. Employment of weapons most most suited to its purpose, i.e. machine guns, mines, redistribution of ammo, etc. That’s not to say that there haven’t abuses of the award, but probably 99%+ are legit. The awarding of the Medal of Honor is subject to intense scrutinizing where the difference in rank makes no difference.

Yes, agreed.


In Vietnam the life expectancy of a second lieutenant of Infantry was two weeks. In a firefight with the enemy it was five seconds.

In Service to My Men

www.army.mil

The enemy in VN could spot an LT, a Captain and an NCO easily by what each was doing and not doing, and by their managerial positioning among their troops and over the engagement. After all, the officer(s) aren't up front firing rifles. So the LT platoon leader and/or the Captain company commander need to shelter themselves immediately behind the troops to command their unit(s) to fire and maneuver advance on the enemy or to hold their position, whichever.

Having radio contact between the LT and his squad leaders is ideal, if not then you have to shout and arm signal. The enemy wants to kill or disable the officers and the NCO's so the officer(s) need to stay put under cover while it's the troops that fire and maneuver. This is while the platoon sergeant(s) move with the troops to keep the firepower going and to identify up close any enemy movements to include sudden enemy weak spots.

Company grade officers, ie, LT's, Captains and of course NCO's get nominated for the Silver Star or the Bronze Star or MoH because their force was overwhelmed by a superior enemy force. So the officers and NCO's themselves had to engage the enemy head on and openly while getting their troops out of the chaos, desperation and certain death. This is the negative circumstance in the extreme when "heroics" occur spontaneously. Without thinking about it.

 

[Rich2018]

@Rich2018 ... good point. Should medals and ribbons be awarded simply for participation, not valor or heroism, especially in the case of officers?

For example the Bronze star was originally proposed by General George Marshall in 1944 to recognize those soldiers who actually fought in the frontline, saying, "The fact that the ground troops, infantry in particular, lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort and are the ones who must close in personal combat with the enemy, makes the maintenance of their morale of great importance."

Now, the overwhelming majority of Bronze Stars are awarded for service achievement, not valor related to personal combat.

There is no more glaring testimony to this trend than is exhibited in casualties and Silver Stars. Nearly 60% of casualties in Iraq during the first few years after 2003 were E-1 to E-3 in rank. Yet, 70% of the Silver Stars were awarded to officers and senior NCO's.

When you look at this picture of a National Guard Adjutant General compared to America's most highly decorated soldier of WWII, Audie Murphy, something seems out of whack.
View attachment 67526094

So called "campaign" medals are valid awards but surely less worthy than gallantry award or those for distinguished achievement.

Maybe there needs to be a discernable "gap" between those medals/ribbons and "campaign" medals when worn on the chest ?
And make "campaign" medals/ribbons more easily distinguishable - like is size and color

Either way, a medal for completing basic is just laughable.

 

[gman]

So called "campaign" medals are valid awards but surely less worthy than gallantry award or those for distinguished achievement.

Maybe there needs to be a discernable "gap" between those medals/ribbons and "campaign" medals when worn on the chest ?
And make "campaign" medals/ribbons more easily distinguishable - like is size and color

Either way, a medal for completing basic is just laughable.

It’s not for completing basic training. There’s only two awards recognized upon graduation, marksmanship badge (either expert, sharpshooter, or marksman) and the other is promotion to PFC from Pvt for leadership.
The National Defense Service Medal is awarded to those who during a time of armed conflict or national emergency. It is awarded at the conclusion of BT, but not for completing BT itself.