USAF Eliminates Good Conduct Medal

phoenix80

Banned
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/military/news/article.showarticle.db.php?a=3410
 
Where's The Beef......

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.
 
PJ24 said:
...................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.........
 
Chief Bones said:
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.
 
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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
 
LeEnfield said:
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.
 
I think thats a bunch of crock. It seems the Air Force is full of themselves by saying that everyone adhears to "good conduct."

However, I have seen bad soldiers get the GCM when they did not deserve it one bit.
 
Doody said:
I think thats a bunch of crock. It seems the Air Force is full of themselves by saying that everyone adhears to "good conduct."

However, I have seen bad soldiers get the GCM when they did not deserve it one bit.

It is as far as the AF is concerned, but we are getting a new shiny staff badge.

Either way, I don't see a reason to give "feel good" ribbons and awards anyway, so regardless of how much bunk the excuse is, I don't see it as a bad thing. I would really like for the military to get away from this award craziness.

What I don't get is why this one and not the basic training ribbon. Oh well.
 
I said bunk before - I still say bunk......

PJ24 said:
......................

Either way, I don't see a reason to give "feel good" ribbons and awards anyway, ........................................
I agree about the 'feel good' awards ... what I disagree with is assuming all Soldiers / Sailors / Airmen / Marines being presumed to be on their good behavior because of the wearing of their uniforms ("In today’s Air Force, our Airmen understand that the uniform they wear represents good conduct”) ... your statement ... "What a bunch of bunk" (my statement).

GCMs are ONLY ONE of the yardsticks used to measure the character of our military members. You may call it a feel good medal ... however ... for more years than you have been around, most military members have been very proud to wear their GCMs (your truly included). If you ask most active duty personnel their opinion, I am quite sure that those that feel as you do are in a very very very small minority.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL YOU A KOOK ... I DO NOT ... I JUST THINK YOU ARE WRONG.
 
Chief Bones said:
I agree about the 'feel good' awards ... what I disagree with is assuming all Soldiers / Sailors / Airmen / Marines being presumed to be on their good behavior because of the wearing of their uniforms ("In today’s Air Force, our Airmen understand that the uniform they wear represents good conduct”) ... your statement ... "What a bunch of bunk" (my statement).

GCMs are ONLY ONE of the yardsticks used to measure the character of our military members. You may call it a feel good medal ... however ... for more years than you have been around, most military members have been very proud to wear their GCMs (your truly included). If you ask most active duty personnel their opinion, I am quite sure that those that feel as you do are in a very very very small minority.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL YOU A KOOK ... I DO NOT ... I JUST THINK YOU ARE WRONG.

Have to agree with Chief. There are many military personnel that can not be awarded this ribbon because of punitive punishments. Meaning they have been caught in the act and been NJPd, Courts Martialed, etc.

Just because you wear the same uniform does not automatically make you have the same morals, values and conduct as the next person.

I am proud to say that I have never been in any real trouble and have recieved only 2 written negative counselings in the almost 4 years I have been in the Marine Corps. One was on being late and the other was for. . I have forgotten, both were within the first 6 months of when I first got to Camp Lejeune. My point is that there are those that SHOULD be recognized for their good conduct.

Maybe they should make a reverse medal: Bad Conduct Medal. This way one doesn't have to dive into an SRB to see how that servicemember has conducted themselves.

Have to agree with PJ, the bootcamp ribbon you get for completing bootcamp is a bit overboard. You are in the service and wearing the uniform right?
 
I won't speak for the other services but the Army (according to reg. 600-8-22) doesn't award the GCM just because a soldier stays out of trouble. It's intended to be selectively awarded. The GCM has always been something that soldiers have taken pride in earning and it has set them apart from those not wearing it.
Here is a excerpt from the Army regulation.

"The Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) was established by Executive Order 8809, 28 June 1941 and was amended by Executive Order 9323, 1943 and by Executive Order 10444, 10 April 1953. It is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service, as outlined in this chapter. There is no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander has approved the award and the award has been announced in permanent orders."
 
PJ24 said:
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 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.

It may be a gimme now, but it sure wasn't in the 1960's. It also didn't matter if you glowed in your first years, the Army GCM depended on what last duty station Commander thought you deserved. On an isolated site, you sign in when you report for duty and sign out when you leave out the gate. We had to be within so many minutes away so we could sign in on time in case of a battery recall or you were restricted to the barracks for two weeks. We accounted for our whereabouts 24 hours a day. If the Platoon Sgt, who knew you pretty well, caught some one in formation without a ribbon or badge they had earned, you went to explain to the Top why you were out of uniform.

I guess things have slacked to a point of sloppiness and troops can get away with murder.
 
Chief Bones said:
("In today’s Air Force, our Airmen understand that the uniform they wear represents good conduct”) ... your statement ... "What a bunch of bunk" (my statement).

I hope you weren't claiming I made that statement, because if so, I challenge you to show me exactly where I said those words.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL YOU A KOOK ... I DO NOT ... I JUST THINK YOU ARE WRONG.

What a lameass remark, making it bold, in all caps and underlining it won't make it any less pointless, either. Maybe I've just done better things in my life and career to be up in arms about a medal, more specifically, the GCM, if you haven't, well, I guess it sucks to be you. :p

Have to agree with Chief. There are many military personnel that can not be awarded this ribbon because of punitive punishments. Meaning they have been caught in the act and been NJPd, Courts Martialed, etc.

Not necessarily a disqualifer either, I've seen quite a few on the AF and Army sides of the house awarded the GCM regardless of NJPs.

As I said before, the GCM has turned into a "gimmie" award over the years, it didn't used to be, it wasn't when I started, but now it is and it especially was in the AF. I'm all for getting rid of awards that lose their meaning and turn into chest 'fluff.' If we started handing out the CMoH like candy, I wouldn't complain to see that go either, to continue to give it out on less standards would be an insult to the men that truly had earned it.


 
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Not your words ...

PJ24 said:
I hope you weren't claiming I made that statement, because if so, I challenge you to show me exactly where I said those words.
I never claimed that you made this statement ... remember the 'original' post ............

Phoenix80 said:
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.
This was the area and statement I was referring to.

OK?

As far as times changing ... that is entirely possible ... the military of today is NOT the military of yesterday. I can see where the Good Conduct Medal 'might' be viewed as a 'feel good' award (but ... not by me) ... political correctness really really really sucks.
 
Chief Bones said:
I never claimed that you made this statement ... remember the 'original' post ............

Which is why I said "IF so." :wink:

As far as times changing ... that is entirely possible ... the military of today is NOT the military of yesterday. I can see where the Good Conduct Medal 'might' be viewed as a 'feel good' award (but ... not by me) ... political correctness really really really sucks.

Of course times change, just look at how basic training has changed. Certain rites of passage have officially become against DoD policy to the point where the old practice of "looking the other way" isn't even a safe bet. (blood wings, tacking, shellback ceremony, etc). Thankfully, we still have creative NCOs, but what happens when the new batch of touchy, feely, PC guys get into those ranks?


Things change, that's life, but when we start turning awards and medals into "gimmies" I think it's a good time to DX them. The reason the GCM turned into a feel good award was because the standards for receiving one weren't being adhered to. See: Political Correctness, and I completely agree with you. It capital S U C K S'.

You probably earned yours, I earned mine, but tons of other guys didn't, and that is what brings the value down servicewide.

I do think that since the AF isn't going to award the GCM anymore, those that have already gotten them be not allowed to wear it. What's good for the goose and all of that jazz. Maybe if they did that, the AF would be forced to bring it back AND adhere to the requirements.
 
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