Posted: 1/4/2014 7:29:21 AM EDT
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OK, I've had this dilemma nagging me for years; While I was in the USAR, I was recommended for an ARCOM (Army Commendation medal) and subsequently I was "awarded" the medal - my CoC gave me the orders for it, but never got neither the physical medal or the certificate. I have been going through the order (DA Form 638) and it was signed by my Platoon Sgt (the person that recommended me); the 1SG and CO, but the Bn. Cdr never signed on it, even though his name was on it.
With the whole deal with "Stolen Valor"; I was afraid to wear the award on my uniform, so I put the form on my 201 file and forgot about it; FFWD to last week, while cleaning up the file cabinet; I found it and decided to talk to one of my co-workers, who is a major in the Brigade I served under and he told me that I was properly awarded the medal and I could've worn it and add it to my DD-214, I confirmed it with another co-worker, who was an E-6 and she recommended that I should get a DD-215 going to add the ARCOM to my discharge papers. I need so me advice from my fellow members that are still in the service and/or can assist me in the right direction. Thanks. 
EDIT - I was wrong on the award; it was an Army Achievement Medal and NOT an Army Commendation Medal. |
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I could very well be wrong but I thought an arcom required the approval of an O-6 level commander or higher and without the signature and approval of that commander, it is not approved. And I don't think your BN commander would be the final approval authority anyway, it would need to go higher than that.
ETA: found this Who are the final approving authorities for the AAM, ARCOM, MSM, LM and DSM? AAM = Lieutenant Colonel and above
ARCOM = Colonel and above MSM = Major General and above LM = Lieutenant General and above DSM = U.S. Army Chief of Staff |
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Correct. Colonel is the ARCOM approval authority per 600-8-22.
OP, what "orders" did you receive? Either a completely signed 638, all the way through the orders issuing authority or the completed certificate will work for orders. I suppose memo orders will work, but that is unusual for something like an ARCOM. |
| If you have the "orders", like a set of orders that we normally saw, with either the Bn PSNCO or BN commander, or a company commander's signature block, you are covered, regardless if you ever received the actual award or not. Or, if you have your DD 214 or NGB 22 with you, it will list, or should list, all awards gven during that time frame covered on the discharge as well..that will suffice for you to officially wear the award...hope this helps. |
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I did check my 201 file, and I was wrong on two things:
1) It was signed by my Plt. Sgt and my CO; not by my 1SG. 2) It was an AAM, not an ARCOM. Still, I was smart enough to copy the document and I have a copy of the original in my hand (the original is in here somewhere). |