Wallpaper
I had the “pleasure” of being assigned the paper pusher of my unit’s awards. Meaning, I sorted and double checked who was getting what award and placed the order in the proper folder. It didn’t seem like such a horrible task (besides having the distinct feeling of being the company lacky) except I soon saw that everyone was awarded a medal. EVERYONE.Â
When you imagine someone getting a medal you assume it’s for being a stellar soldier, right? Someone must have earned it for doing some sort of amazing feat or taking some sort of initiative beyond what is expected of them, yes? Apparently, this isn’t the case anymore.
We are all given five (FIVE!) medals just for being in Iraq. Just for breathing and shitting and eating in this country, we all get five medals. No questions asked. Beyond that, all additional medals are at the discretion of a units command staff. Off hand I can think of at least a dozen or so soliders in my unit who truely do deserve further recognition of their work out here. I’m not saying that my unit is shitty, in fact I think we’re one of the finest groups out here. But to give additional medals to EVERYONE? Come on!
It has completely degraded the whole purpose. The Army Achievment Medal and Army Commendation Medal. They’re given out like candy. On the surface I really don’t give a shit about the getting or giving out of awards. But deep down I know there’s a problem here. After spending a year in the desert, I’ve become a bit bitter about how the army functions. The people who are assigning out these awards are afraid to hurt feelings. Honestly, hurt feelings have no place in the military or in how hard a person works at life in general. We all have to work for what we earn. Coddling people gets them nowhere.Â
It’s all just wallpaper. When you see a soldier in their snazzy Class-A uniform with all the medals gleaming on their chest, it’s just wallpaper. We can’t tell anymore if they actually earned those or if it’s just for decoration. I suppose it’s a shame. Because there will be someone who worked her/his ass off for the award. Unfortunately, we can’t tell the difference.
I’m not saying that I do or don’t deserve further recognition of my work out here. It doesn’t really matter. It’s just a piece of cheap metal. Just to be able to go home is award enough. But I know it does matter to some people. I’m certain they would rather refuse the award rather than accept it in it’s over-used watered down version.
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(pure unedited opinion:)
based on pure person experience: When in the Navy, i also saw how medals were handed out like rocket pops from the ice cream truck. i saw a female get awarded a ‘Nam (A ‘NAM!!!! in 1998!!) for being the personal driver for a three star… i recieved a letter of commendation for guiding cars into a parking lot during another commands change of command ceremony. my brother BOUGHT a marksmen sharpshooter medal at the base exchange and BRAGGED to his friends back home that he earned it (and laughed about it behind everyones back, the joke of it all that is).. i recieved a “good conduct” award simply for following the rules and having “fidelity, zeal and obedience” for which i was later embarassed to discuss simply for the words “zeal and obedience”. i saw people get awards for floating around on boats for 6 months in the middle of the ocean and coming back in one piece…the preposterousness of most of it is laughable. i think some are awarded with the best intentions. medals of TRUE valor and distinguishment, but MOST of the people that recieve the majority of the awards did nothing more than wake up and show up… it was AFTER my enlistment was over, and AFTER i got past my military “swagger” that i realized that people JUST DONT give a FUCK about the good conduct. or the rifle ribbons, or the any of the other medals they award for creative horseshit..invented wars and all… what they ought to be awarding are medals for making it through the day over there. you ought to get an award for waking up everday in this mess. it should be a huge cast bronze turd dangling from brown fabric. and for every subsequent year you serve in this bullshit you should get a bronze corn kernel to add to the ribbon area. THAT would be an award. and i would wear that shit with pride.