Storm-relief medals authorized

By Jim Tice
Times staff writer

Left: Armed Forces Service Medal; right: Humanitarian Service Medal — File
 
The Joint Staff has authorized the award of the Humanitarian Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal to soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and members of the Coast Guard — active, Guard and Reserve — who participated in relief operations for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Humanitarian Service Medal is authorized for those who supported immediate relief operations in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas — east of 96 degree west longitude — from Aug. 29 to Oct. 13, 2005.

The Armed Forces Service Medal is authorized for those who provided, or are providing, direct support to relief efforts for 30 consecutive days, or 60 nonconsecutive days anywhere in the United States from Aug. 27, 2005, to Feb. 27, 2006.

Service members who are awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal may also qualify for the Armed Forces Service Medal, provided their direct support occurred after the qualifying dates for the HSM.

The military has categorized disaster relief operations for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as one operation.

Army commanders in the grade of colonel and above are authorized to determine award eligibility. Permanent orders are not required to award the medals, but commanders should notify supporting personnel divisions or companies so that soldier personnel qualification records can be updated.

I am in agreement with you as well agonyea but I'm sure the clinton lobby will push for the creation of a seperate Katrina Relief Medal all of it's own as a visible reminder to President Bush of the mismanagment of the New Orleans Mayor and his cronies, yet the media and Clinton supporters continue to blame Bush for everything under the sun. 

 

I'm Surprised Panama's still sea level, after all the Push Ups I did down there.

RJ - SCOUTS OUT!

A.) To recognize the efforts of those called upon for specific or non-specific events that are not common to the soldier

B.)  To recongnize that some soldiers do their jobs better than others.

While this may not always hold true (ie- giving a turd an AAM as a ETS award while giving the same AAM to a standout for ETS) it is the theory behind it.  You will never have a perfect system.

Even actions that warrant a Silver Star/Bronze Star with V etc. aren't always given on the theory that they did something that wouldn't be expected out of the best soldiers.  It is just that circumstance put them in a position to earn it.  That goes double for medals like the Purple Heart.  There is no question that any soldier who takes his job seriously is capable of earning a DSC or a BS or a SS.  It is just that circumstance places some soldiers in the moment to earn such an award.

Much the same with campaign medals.  I have earned three in 5 years of service (KDSM, KCM, ICM) by virtue of circumstance, not because I am "special" in any way.  I was called on, plain and simple, and I answered that call.  Granted, someone who earns a valor award answered a higher call, but the base circumstance remains the same.

A NYC Firefighter said it best right after 9/11 when asked where he found the courage to charge into the burning twin towers.  He was told he was a hero.  He said,

"The first act of heroism is volunteering (joining FDNY), everything else is line of duty".

That being said, I have to ask, why two awards for this?  It would seem to me that this fits neatly into the HSM criteria.  Why is the AFSM necessary.  Single vs. double awards are a whole different story.

As for the Armed Forces Service Medal, this seems to be a Clinton creation...

God Bless the GIs who qualify for both for Hurricane Relief, but it seems like there are getting to be too many gongs out there if you ask me.

5. Background: a. On 2 March 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy) (OASD-RMP) requested that The Institute of Heraldry prepare a medal and ribbon design for the proposed Armed Forces Service Medal. This medal was to be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who participated as members of units involved in military operations of significant numbers with no foreign armed opposition or the threat of imminent hostile action. This medal is intended to meet a void in the criteria between the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. 

        b. Proposed design was forwarded by OASD-FMP to the Services and the Joint Staff. Concurrence in the establishment of the medal from the Services and the Joint Staff was received and the proposal was forwarded to the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) for issuance of an Executive Order. The medal was authorized by Executive Order 12985, dated 11 January 1996.

Gold Class 92-03

The Warrant Officer – an officer appointed by the Secretary of the Army based on a sound level of technical and tactical competence. The Warrant Officer is a highly specialized expert and trainer who by gaining progressive levels of expertise and leadership operates, maintains, administers, and manages the Army’s equipment, support activities, or technical systems for an entire career.

WTF? Who's Mr. Pillow Pants? - Clerks 2

The AFSM was originally awarded to folks in Bosnia, and I don't think a Hurricane JTF has the same degree of risk that IFOR and early SFOR troops had.  ironic, we have had folks in Colombia doing CD support, and they were just recognized with a GWOTEM, but all the pre 9/11 deployments get squat.

RJ - SCOUTS OUT!