The Air Force Uniform Board recently announced that the Air Force will no longer award good behavior with the Good Conduct Medal.
The decision for eliminating the award is based on the simple idea that airmen should already exercise good behavior, said Brig. Gen Robert R. Allardice, director of development and sustainment.

"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."

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.

http://community.emeraldcoast.com/mi....db.php?a=3410

What a bunch of bunk.....“In today’s Air Force, our Airmen understand that the uniform they wear represents good conduct,” - have you ever heard such drivel?

Since the birth of the first army, good conduct was one of the measuring sticks by which an individual was measured for promotion. Now the Air Force is going to place every individual on the scales and hold their thumbs on one end of the scale so there can be NO visual indicator to show which airman has been on his/her 'best' good behaviour.

I GUESS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER CASE OF BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE MILITARY

.........MUST BE A CIVILIAN THING.......

I don't like it one bit. Sure, they mean good. But it's going to cause a lot of problems in thhe future. Don't worry, they'll bring it back soon enough.

Chief Bones makes a good point.

Taking away the Air Force’s “Good Cookie” medal is not a bright idea.

I always thought the Air Farce was kind of out of step on a lot of things. This just proves it!

I personally don't see a problem with it and I never bothered to wear mine. Why should anyone get a medal for doing exactly what it is they are supposed to do to begin with?

Too much emphasis is put on chest candy in the military these days, I'm surprised to see the reactions of some on this forum in regards to that.

Let's not pretend that these ribbons haven't been given out like candy over the years, and it's not only the AF that does it. The GC ribbon has turned into a "gimme award" and has been for years now, service wide.

I think getting rid of the basic training ribbon would have been a smarter choice, hopefully that will be next.

Since the birth of the first army, good conduct was one of the measuring sticks by which an individual was measured for promotion. Now the Air Force is going to place every individual on the scales and hold their thumbs on one end of the scale so there can be NO visual indicator to show which airman has been on his/her 'best' good behaviour.

Since when is the GC ribbon the sole determining factor in promotions? Your EPRs are far more important than a ribbon, you don't even get promo points for the GC in the AF.

Having the ribbon doesn't necessarily mean you've been on your best behavior, it just means you didn't get caught.

Originally Posted by PJ24

...................Since when is the GC ribbon the sole determining factor in promotions? Your EPRs are far more important than a ribbon, you don't even get promo points for the GC in the AF.

Having the ribbon doesn't necessarily mean you've been on your best behavior, it just means you didn't get caught.

If you had bothered to actually read my post instead of just copying it to your post - you would have seen that I said it was 'ONE' of the measuring sticks by which an individual was measured for promotion.

Try to get your facts straight the next time.........

Originally Posted by Chief Bones

If you had bothered to actually read my post instead of just copying it to your post - you would have seen that I said it was 'ONE' of the measuring sticks by which an individual was measured for promotion.

Try to get your facts straight the next time.........

Why are you so combative there, guy? There's no reason to try to turn the discussions here into anything less than civilized. If you have issue with anything I've said, fire off a PM to me and we can hash it out there.


I bothered to read your post, but you're right, I didn't notice the one. My apologies.

Now the Air Force is going to place every individual on the scales and hold their thumbs on one end of the scale so there can be NO visual indicator to show which airman has been on his/her 'best' good behaviour.

However, you did say the above, which indicates without the GC, we'll have no way to decide "visually" (don't want you to think I didn't read it) who deserves promotion and who doesn't. Your EPRs will indicate your conduct far better and more indepth than a ribbon ever could or would.

Like I said in my previous post, in the AF, it isn't really a factor, you don't get promo points for it like you do in the Navy.

May I ask how long you had to keep out of trouble before you got this award, In the UK it used to be 20 years

Originally Posted by LeEnfield

May I ask how long you had to keep out of trouble before you got this award, In the UK it used to be 20 years

Min. active duty three year period without getting caught during peacetime, and a min of one year during war time.