Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 4/7/2010

Question
I am a Specialist (E4) set to ETS from the army in four months. My issue is that my company commander has decided to give me a Certificate of Achievement for  my 4 1/2 years of honorable service, while a Corporal(E4) with 2 years is receiving an ARCOM for PCSing. I feel that I am deserving of a more substantial award, to which my first line NCOs agree. I have had NO disciplinary issues and have been extremely competent in my several assignments. I am almost always the "first in - last out", and have never shied from work. I have been decorated for valor during my first deployment and have been denied even an end of tour award for my current tour due to being overweight.

I am aware that I sound like a whiner, but my sense of self-worth demands that I ask. I am sure there is little I can do, but my question is this:  Is there an appeal process for awards?  and if so is there a process that avoids me being ostracized by my peers? Would this be appropriate or should I just suck it up and allow my record of selfless service to be trampled on?

Answer
Dear Bill --

Unfortunately, there are very specific guidelines about no "positive personnel transactions" for Soldiers that are overweight.  That means someone who is overweight cannot be promoted, or given an award.

Whether your chain of command believes your service warrants an award, is moot, if you are overweight, they cannot give you a Department of the Army level award.  They can give you a unit level award, which would be the Certificate of Achievement.

If you consider an end of service award very important to your self-image, I would recommend meeting the Army weight standards within the next few months.  That way you become eligible for the award your character of service deserves.

Future employers and the VA do not care about the level of your end of term award.  All they will care about is that you completed your tour of service and received an honorable discharge.  Truly the honorable discharge is the reward for your selfless service, because the honorable discharge makes you eligible for the VA housing loans and educational benefits.

Please write back, if you wish to discuss further, or if you have additional information.  Thank you for your service.