How to Receive an Army Commendation Medal
- 1). Know the official criteria for being awarded an ARCOM (Army Commendation Medal) as stated in Army regulation 600-8-22. According to this regulation, a soldier who is eligible for an ARCOM "distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service."
- 2). Choose to be the best at a specific job during a specific time. An award can only be earned for a certain event, not a general behavior. This means that being a hard worker all the time is not enough to earn an ARCOM. You must demonstrate you performed well above average at a specific job or during a specific event. Examples include successfully taking charge of a job two levels above your own during an entire deployment, or consistently managing inventories in your company which result in a 100% compliance during quarterly inspections.
- 3). Make sure your efforts get noticed. You can be recommended for any award by any other military member. It is best to make sure your direct supervisors take notice of your above-average achievement and don't be shy about asking them to recommend you for an ARCOM.
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