I agree and I've seen Joint and AF MSMs on E-4s, who has never been deployed or been overseas. I would to see someone explain that on to me.
Posted on 02/18/2006 4:37:50 PM PST by SandRat
2/17/2006 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Air Force Uniform Board announced Feb. 6 that the Good Conduct Medal will no longer be awarded.
The Air Force director of Airman development and sustainment recently explained the reasons behind this decision.
"The quality of our enlisted personnel today is so high, we expect good conduct from our Airmen," said Brig. Gen Robert R. Allardice. "It begged the question, ‘Why do we have a Good Conduct Medal?’"
"Having a medal for good conduct is almost to say we don't expect Airmen to do well, but if they're good we will give them a medal,” he said. “It's kind of insulting in our Air Force today."
One must look at the history of why the medal was created in the 1960s. The military was using the draft and involved in the Vietnam War. The Air Force didn't have any other method to recognize Airmen. Today, the Air Force Achievement Medal recognizes outstanding Airmanship.
“When we looked at that history it was clear that the Good Conduct Medal has outlived its usefulness," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray. "Today’s all-volunteer force is committed to serving honorably, and good conduct is what we expect from every Airman -- officer and enlisted.”
“We live by our core values,” Chief Murray said. “When members of our service stray from those values, they do themselves and all Airmen a disservice. When that happens, commanders have the tools they need to evaluate the situation and the individual's worthiness for continued service.
"If a commander deems their conduct does not warrant discharge, then they remain a valuable Airman to our Air Force, and we expect them to continue to serve honorably,” he said.
General Allardice said that it is the uniform, not the Good Conduct Medal, that represents what Airmen are all about.
“In today’s Air Force, our Airmen understand that the uniform they wear represents good conduct,” he said.
Airmen who have previously earned the Good Conduct Medal are still authorized to wear it.
If I'm correct the "DUI and still in service" ribbon is only available to officers and all branches not just AF.
The justification for the "Senior Airman for Life" ribbon was that it wasn't fair for Army and Marine Corps guys with a GT score of 40 to get stripes for continuing to re-up when a Air Force enlisted guy can make a six figure income in the civilian world.
The information I have is that the HQ tour ribbon devices are only given to females.
ROFL!!!
Brilliant
I knew a guy who got 3 DUIs and never lost any rank. That ribbon needs multiple devices LoL!
I agree and I've seen Joint and AF MSMs on E-4s, who has never been deployed or been overseas. I would to see someone explain that on to me.
USRA 71-79...Earned Mine,,,The one I'm most proud of though,is Never Kissed A**,,ribbon,,how I got my Good Conduct (2nd Award)beats me..
I have to agree with you. I always thought that the GCM was unnecessary. It's like "congratulations, you're not a total f--k up, here's a medal champ."
When I was in the Marksmanship ribbon was rather meaningless too since we were allowed to score our own targets.
I was awarded the Good Conduct Medal in 1991, I got out in 1992 and still haven't gotten the medal. I never got my National Defense Medal either. The ceremonies kept getting put off and I finally got discharged empty handed.
Hey, AF ribbons look pretty! Heehee
Good to see you again! :-)
Well, that may be the case, but having hardened my stomach on 4 years worth of Army chow, I can tell you I thought I had died and gone to DFAC heaven when I was posted with my Army National Guard unit to Beale AFB for awhile: Orange stars, yellow moons, pink hearts, green clovers! They had it all!
Mine got scored by the range boss. I missed it by two points, but it was the last thing I needed to graduate, so I didn't care at that point.
Officers never got this medal. Was a pretty blue ribbon though (if I remember right)
I got mine with the star. :-)
(M-16 and 38) - showing my age now. LOL!
Was one of the few ribbons that got a star instead of an oak leaf cluster.
I got the Marine Corps good conduct medal during the late sixties despite some article 15's. (My c.o. thought the reason for the 15's were bogus)....
"The Air Force has adopted a new mandatory P.T. program a few years ago. It not the same old Air Force anymore. You now have to be able to run a timed mile and half, push-up and sit-ups. You have to pass. I wished they started 15 years ago but oh, well".
The USAF had this exact program in place when I was in (1975). You also had to meet weight requirements. Officers were exempt. Enlisted requirements only.
Not that I remember. :-)
I was awarded a GCM three times when I was in the army. It was actually green if I remember right. It was just another pain in the ass thing to put on my class A uni.
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