By Here is an interesting thought brought courtesy of Thomas Ricks’ blog:
[A]re valor awards potentially counterproductive in a COIN environment? Hypothetically, an officer who does effective clear, hold, build, develops partner capacity, and brings a sector to success will likely receive a BSM, if anything. A lethal focused officer, who shoots his way through his deployment, will get a BSM/V or Sliver Star for one of these combat actions. His sector will often be coming apart, but guess who will get the respect at the next military ball and promotion board?
I’m torn on this as a valor award recipient – we must reinforce those that display heroism but it is not uncommon for someone to go on patrol looking for a fight IOT get that CAB or BSM/V. [The Best Defense]
Personally I didn’t know of anyone chasing medals when I was in Iraq, but I have heard plenty of times from other people about CAB chasers over there. Like I said before this is an interesting thought, but I really don’t see the military stopping the awarding of medals. Maybe the military just needs to look closer at how they are awarded in the first place to prevent things like CAB chasing?
4:09 am on December 24th, 2009 1
On a somewhat related subject…
I was TDY in Iraq a few years ago for a month. One of the soldiers in my group had well over 20 years in and was getting ready to retire soon. He had never deployed before and was just tickled that he now was going to be able to retire with a combat patch.
Thing is…we never left base though…never saw anything remotely resembling combat.
I never said anything about it – but it just didn't seem right that he was getting a combat patch from that.
4:38 am on December 24th, 2009 2
One month? It didn't seem right because it wasn't.
But in 2005, I understand those stationed in Kuwait were getting a CP, while never going north. But they were there for a year.
Then there was that female in Iraq who lost her mind every time we were mortared. She was sent back to Hood after a couple months. I would bet she got a cp and likely all the ribbons they could possibly give her.
I didn't know someone could scream so loud and so long, when not much was going on near by. I was more worried about losing control and "butt stroking" her, than being hit in our concrete shelter!
4:51 am on December 24th, 2009 3
I don't see the reasoning here. Let's look at the hypothetical. This officer would have instructions from higher up to pacify the area. If he starts being a dick and tries to stir up trouble, he is not going to get a valor medal. Instead he's likely to get fired and receive a career ending OER!
From what I've seen, glory hounds fall into two categories. They are either unobtrusive senior leaders who try and place themselves near enough to gunfire to justify getting a little bling bling or they are arrogant SOBs who let everyone know what they are about. Good example would be from a story a Sergeant Major I met while in ROTC told me. He's a grunt in Vietnam and he gets a new platoon leader. The guy calls a formation and gives a Patton-esque speech about how he intends to win a Medal of Honor. The system took care of him. Instead of a CMH, he got a Purple Heart for the 5.56mm round which went through his back and his name on the Vietnam War Memorial! As to the first, they just quietly slink away, get their ribbon and just leave everyone annoyed.
8:22 am on December 24th, 2009 4
The major difference between the V and no V is you can bump up your retirement (75% is is still max)if you have a V. Now the Purple Heart gives you an edge in getting government jobs.
12:09 pm on December 24th, 2009 5
How does someone do that?
12:46 pm on December 24th, 2009 6
Hopefully they will brief you at retirement. If not, you can do a correction of records. Only applies to certain individual medals, not
unit wide like a PUC with V.
2:17 pm on December 24th, 2009 7
The short answer is 'no'. The US has been luckey to have had the edge during the latest conflicts. All well and good. But that may not always be the case.
To the few who have recieved V for valor or silver stars, good for them as well. It is not the end all to a career or promotion for the majority who didn't get one.