How long does it take to award someone an award?

PhoenixRisen · December 25, 2007, 09:24:28 PM

That sums up my question as best as I can. What I'm trying to find out is... What's the average time it takes from the time someone submits someone for an award, 'till the time the awardee recieves it? Does it vary depending on the level of the achievement? (e.g. Commanders Comm vs. DSM or BMV/SMV)

I've never been awarded anything previously mentioned, nor have I been "in the know" on other members recieveing awards. Just a curious Cadet asking a question.

md132 · December 25, 2007, 09:56:55 PM

Depends on the award. From my experience, the ones I recieved was immediate. I have Leadership, Membership, Yeager, and Red Service ribbons. And they were awarded immediately upon submitting the proper paperwork. Others takes time because some may require approval from Group, Wing, Region, or National Levels.

Pace · December 25, 2007, 10:40:33 PM

This is not a thorough response; but the DSM, BMV, and SMV all take an act of the National Board to be awarded. The NB meets twice a year so it could take up to 6 months, assuming there are no road blocks. The MSA and ESA are awarded by region commanders, and wing commanders through the national commander may award the ComCom.

I've seen an MSA and an ESA go through in a day, and I've also seen a ComCom take months. Just depends on who you know, how well you're received, how well you write the award proposal, and the attitude of the awarding authority (whether they like giving awards or hoard them like it's their only child).

Pylon · December 26, 2007, 05:38:33 AM

As dcpacemaker mentioned, it totally depends on a lot of factors including your recommendation packet, how well all parties in your chain of command operate, the type of award being recommended, etc.

One other factor to consider is if your wing has a Awards & Decs review committee/board. If they do, how often this group meets can also determine the speed of a recommendation. For example, if the board meets only once a quarter and you need an award for an upcoming banquet, you had better be sure it gets submitted through the chain and to their "inbox" ahead of their next meeting.

As for the NB-level approvals, your request might get bogged down at the Wing level review boards, then again at region-level before being put into the queue for the next National Board - so even fairly longer than 6 months is possible. It all depends.

jimmydeanno · December 26, 2007, 01:09:34 PM

Quote from: Pylon on December 26, 2007, 05:38:33 AM
recommendation packet...

[off topic] I think that it is absurd the number of awards and decs that get denied because the person who writes the package isn't a skilled writer or didn't write it the way the person receiving it wanted it...then you get people who are awarded multiple commander's comms for recruiting on a saturday...

It isn't the person recieving the award that writes their packages, so why do people go out of their way to deny awards because someone else tried to work through the red tape unsuccessfully...
[/off topic]

RiverAux · December 26, 2007, 02:48:04 PM

If the person making the award recommendation doesn't fully justify why the award is necessary, that is their fault. Its up to them to convince the powers that be that the award matches the action(s).

Now, if the award is denied because the recommendation wasn't formatted the way someone wanted or sometthing like that, I'd agree that that is pretty dumb.

floridacyclist · December 26, 2007, 10:05:09 PM

I think that was the point. If the recommendation gets the point across as to what happened, it should be the potential recipient's actions being judged as worthy or not, not the submitter's writing, grammar, or spelling skills.

James Shaw · December 27, 2007, 04:09:00 AM

My experience:

Commanders Commendation about 2 Months
Meritorious Service Award / Exceptional Service Award 3-4 Months
Distinguished Service Award Quicky maybe 6 months at the earliest (National Board Approval Required)
Bronze Medal of Valor / Silver Medal of Valor earliest I have seen is 10 Months but I do know of one that was done in 3 months (individual was member of National Staff but no Gen Rank) National Board Approval. Mine took 1 year.

I have had a Commanders Commendation in one day during a Wing Conf. I had the paperwork in hand and spoke with the Wing Commander ahead of time. Presented the award that evening.

As mentioned in other replies the writeup is VERY critical. Justification has to be clear and direct.

As a member of Regional Staff I have fewer steps to go through and it takes less time.

JCJ · December 28, 2007, 05:28:00 AM

Our region awards committee will not turn one down becasue of poor grammar or spelling, but good grammar & spelling will make the board able to read it easier. Our board will, however, expect the package to be consistent with the CAPR 39-3 criteria. If it isn't (with good or bad grammar) there may be problems with approval.

Quote from: floridacyclist on December 26, 2007, 10:05:09 PM
I think that was the point. If the recommendation gets the point across as to what happened, it should be the potential recipient's actions being judged as worthy or not, not the submitter's writing, grammar, or spelling skills.

Capt Rivera · December 30, 2007, 05:18:02 AM

Quote from: caphistorian on December 27, 2007, 04:09:00 AM
My experience:

Commanders Commendation about 2 Months
Meritorious Service Award / Exceptional Service Award 3-4 Months
Distinguished Service Award Quicky maybe 6 months at the earliest (National Board Approval Required)
Bronze Medal of Valor / Silver Medal of Valor earliest I have seen is 10 Months but I do know of one that was done in 3 months (individual was member of National Staff but no Gen Rank) National Board Approval. Mine took 1 year.

I have had a Commanders Commendation in one day during a Wing Conf. I had the paperwork in hand and spoke with the Wing Commander ahead of time. Presented the award that evening.

As mentioned in other replies the writeup is VERY critical. Justification has to be clear and direct.

As a member of Regional Staff I have fewer steps to go through and it takes less time.

Do you write your own awards and up channel the paperwork to see if you get a signature or not? [not trying to be disrespectful but I know theres awards that could/should be awarded to people and they don't get them and probably wont unless they write it up themselves]

James Shaw · December 30, 2007, 12:28:01 PM

Quote from: riveraj on December 30, 2007, 05:18:02 AM
Quote from: caphistorian on December 27, 2007, 04:09:00 AM
My experience:

Commanders Commendation about 2 Months
Meritorious Service Award / Exceptional Service Award 3-4 Months
Distinguished Service Award Quicky maybe 6 months at the earliest (National Board Approval Required)
Bronze Medal of Valor / Silver Medal of Valor earliest I have seen is 10 Months but I do know of one that was done in 3 months (individual was member of National Staff but no Gen Rank) National Board Approval. Mine took 1 year.

I have had a Commanders Commendation in one day during a Wing Conf. I had the paperwork in hand and spoke with the Wing Commander ahead of time. Presented the award that evening.

As mentioned in other replies the writeup is VERY critical. Justification has to be clear and direct.

As a member of Regional Staff I have fewer steps to go through and it takes less time.

Do you write your own awards and up channel the paperwork to see if you get a signature or not? [not trying to be disrespectful but I know theres awards that could/should be awarded to people and they don't get them and probably wont unless they write it up themselves]

I have them write their version of the information if I was not part of it. I then write my version of their information. Has worked out well so far. Out of about 20 I have put in I have only had 1 sent back and that was due to signature.