Army publication AR 600-8-22 provides administrative guidance for awarding decorations and awards to members of the Armed Forces of the United States. The regulation also defines the criteria for the award of combat badges and special skill badges.
In its most basic form, Army Pubs AR 600-8-22 (the eponymous) is nothing more than a series of acronyms and acronyms. One of the most important is the Integrated Personnel Pay System-Army (IPPS-A). IPPS-A is a standardized pay and talent management system that combines personnel, pay, and other administrative functions. The best part is that the eponymous is a one-stop shop for a slew of interesting and relevant information. Among the most noteworthy are the official Army list of ranks, the aforementioned IMPS, the latest iteration of the aforementioned, and the dubbed blitzkrieg of the Army.
What is AR 600-8-22?
The awards and decorations that are issued by the Army may be awarded to individuals for various degrees of accomplishment. Degrees include Commander, Legionnaire, Officer, and Chief. In addition, the Army awards a Good Conduct Medal for exemplary behavior in active Federal military service.
The Army Awards Program is responsible for award submissions and reviews each submission for accuracy. A standard of 100% accuracy is expected. During the review process, the program looks for a variety of factors to ensure that all submissions meet the program’s standards. Typically, a submission will be accepted if the recipient meets the performance requirement and passes the required test.
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM) is one of the highest-ranking joint service awards. It is awarded by the Secretary of Defense to an individual who has made a significant contribution to national security.
Another award that is offered by the Department of the Army is the Meritorious Unit Commendation. This is an award that is given to units that have performed exceptionally well for at least six continuous months. However, it is not given to units outside the operation area. If your unit was denied this award, the next step is to discuss the situation with your leader. They should be able to help you resubmit the award.
Other Department of Defense awards and medals include the Purple Heart and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The former is a military award, and the latter is a humanitarian aid and relief award. Each of these awards has a similar appearance and is awarded in four different forms depending on the degree of achievement.
Lastly, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was awarded for qualifying service between 5 December 1992 and 31 March 1995. Operations conducted in support of the United Nations are eligible for this award. For more information on the awards listed above, visit the Army Awards website.