Brown has received two Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals (ARCAMs) he’s probably not qualified for. In all he was awarded 9, two for periods where he did not have the continuous service required.
He was commissioned May 25, 1984. AR 600-8-22 governs award of the ARCAM. Para 4-18 specifies that the qualifying period of service is terminated on the date of commission for soldiers who attended OCS, and they must begin accruing service anew to qualify. It does not address ROTC, which was Brown’s commissioning method. However, his commissioning caused the same kind of break in service as would occur when someone attending OCS receives a commission. Yet he has an ARCAM awarded for the period Dec. 28, 1983-Dec. 27, 1987 It was not actually awarded until April 22, 2010. Delayed awards are acceptable in themselves, but the fact that he received a medal he was ineligible for after being elected to the Senate raises questions of political favoritism.
He was separated from the National Guard and transferred to the retired reserve effective July 1, 2005 (translation: he was out but eligible for retirement pay). That order was revoked on December 1, 2005, leaving a 5 month gap in his service.
On April 22, 2010, he was awarded an ARCAM for the period Mar 28, 2004-Mar 27, 2007. I’m not sure if there’s some special exception to the normal rule for ROTC commissions, but the 5-month break in service definitely should have disqualified him from receiving an ARCAM for that period.
Brown’s military record is available at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/79705261/Scott-Brown-Military-Record
Who’s doing political favors for Brown, and how many of our tax dollars did he spend on some general’s pet project in exchange?
I am wholly unqualified to comment on military matters like this, therefore, if the Army says that everything about Senator Brown’s service is Kosher, then I am willing to accept Senator Brown’s service as Kosher. If Brown did indeed get some sort of favoritism, it seems to me that it is a matter for the Army to sort out.
I would add that this issue probably will not sway one single vote and, even if you are correct, would look like a petty attempt by Warren supporters to sully Senator Brown’s record.
As a hardcore Warren supporter, I am willing to accept that Senator Brown has earned and deserves every Army/military honor he has received, including his rank of Colonel. Additionally, I would respectfully suggest that attacking Senator Brown’s Army record is nothing but a losing strategy for Democrats; if there is impropriety, let the Army straighten it out.
I concur.
Brown’s Senate record, campaign tactics and his stated positions are what we grunts call, “a target rich environment.”
Your headline states “Received Medals He Was Unqualified For” but your first sentence add a qualifier ” he’s probably not qualified for”.
then you state “Para 4-18 …. does not address ROTC, which was Brown’s commissioning method.” and “I’m not sure if there’s some special exception to the normal rule for ROTC commissions”.
Not much reality upon which to base such inferences.