# What IS the second-highest award in the Army during peacetime? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238 "2011-04-21T15:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/1 "2011-04-21T15:08:31Z")
A reality show contestant keeps saying that he earned the second-highest award the Army issues during peacetime. (Apparently for digging latrines.) What _is_ the second-highest award in the Army during peacetime? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/2 "2011-04-21T15:13:10Z")
Just for the record, I have no idea, but I am _so_ glad you have asked. That individual is many bricks short of a load! ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/3 "2011-04-21T15:28:31Z")
I think the Soldier’s Medal. Its given for bravery when not engaged in combat. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/4 "2011-04-21T15:29:24Z")
Being a Federal Agent above and beyond the normal psychoticness. He would have gotten the highest award if he didn’t suffer from dry mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/5 "2011-04-21T15:31:52Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > I think the Soldier’s Medal. Its given for bravery when not engaged in combat. The Soldier’s Medal is the highest peacetime award. The OP is asking for the second highest. I think its the Meritious Service Medal, but I’m not positive. Who is the reality TV star? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/6 "2011-04-21T15:35:55Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Who is the reality TV star? See > **[Survivor: Redemption Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor:_Redemption_Island)** > > Survivor: Redemption Island is the twenty-second season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. It premiered on February 16, 2011. Applications were due in January 2010, and filming lasted from August to September 2010. The season was filmed near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, the same location as the previous season. The season featured returning players Russell Hantz and Rob Mariano, alongside 16 new contestants. > Mariano was named the winner in the final episode on ... > **[CBS Shows - Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night & Classics](https://www.cbs.com/shows/)** > > Watch full episodes and clips of Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night and Classic shows on CBS.com. Talk with other fans, catch up with your favorite shows and more. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/7 "2011-04-21T15:36:11Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The Soldier’s Medal is the highest peacetime award. The OP is asking for the second highest. > > I think its the Meritious Service Medal, but I’m not positive. > > Who is the reality TV star? The highest would be the Distinguished Service Medal. Not to be confused with the Distinguished Service Cross, which is for combat. ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/8 "2011-04-21T15:41:39Z")
The “highest” US Army peacetime medal, in terms of precendence, would be the Army Distinguished Service Medal followed by the Legion of Merit. Then comes the Soldier’s Medal, which is the highest award for heroism during peacetime. > **[Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_military)** > > The United States Armed Forces awards and decorations are primarily the medals, service ribbons, and specific badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments while a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career. > The precedence of particular awards will vary slightly among the different branches of service. All awards and decorations may be awarded to any service member unless otherwise designated ... [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/order\_of\_precedence.aspx](http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/order_of_precedence.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/9 "2011-04-21T15:42:06Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > The highest would be the Distinguished Service Medal. Not to be confused with the Distinguished Service Cross, which is for combat. Ah, your right. Soldier Medal it is. ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/10 "2011-04-21T15:47:18Z")
The Soldiers Medal is the highest medal a soldier can receive for non-combat bravery. A soldier on my base in the 80’s earned one by fending off an armed attacker going after an old lady off base. The highest award that can be earned by a soldier in peacetime is the Distinguished Service Cross, and the second is Distinguished Service Medal. Criteria for the DSM: _The Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to a person serving in any position in the United States Army, who has been recognized by extraordinary meritorious service to the Government while serving in a duty of great responsibility. The act justifying the award must warrant recognition for service which is noticeably exceptional. Exceptional performance during the normal course of duty will not alone validate an award of the Distinguished Service Medal. The term “duty of a great responsibility” relates to limited range of positions when not in service associated to actual war, and requires confirmation of obviously significant achievement. The award may be earned by a series of exceptionally meritorious service while in performance of high positions of great importance._ In my experience, this medal is typically awarded to high-level commanding officers and often upon retirement. Given what an odd-ball this guy is I have my doubts that he was awarded that. The fact that he will not state what medal he earned makes me question the legitimacy of his claim. He could have earned a Soldiers Medal or a Legion of Merit–that would make more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/11 "2011-04-21T15:50:28Z")
Fubaya is correct. The DSC is for combat. So for peacetime it is DSM, Legion Of Merit, Soldiers Medal. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/12 "2011-04-21T17:21:15Z")
This individual makes much of his award. At one point he makes a comment that makes it sound as if his job was to dig latrines. I don’t see the Legion Of Merit or Soldiers Medal being warranted for such work. (It’s possible that the apparent link was a false assumption caused by the juxtaposition of two different ideas being stated.) I beg forgiveness from our solder and former-soldier Dopers, but many soldiers I’ve met IRL seem to be somewhat… unsophisticated. I’ve met many people (including ones that have not been in the military) who have a sense of importance belied by their social situations. I think it’s possible that this individual received some sort of award, and that he was either told or assumed that the award was higher than it actually was. I don’t suppose it’s possible to make an educated guess as to what it may have been? FTR, I asked Roomie the same question I posted in the OP. She said, ‘Probably the Good Conduct Medal that everyone gets if they stay out of trouble for six months.’ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/13 "2011-04-21T17:22:45Z")
Maybe he was digging latrines in South Central or something. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/14 "2011-04-21T17:29:30Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > FTR, I asked Roomie the same question I posted in the OP. She said, ‘Probably the Good Conduct Medal that everyone gets if they stay out of trouble for six months.’ 😛 That’s what I told the wife when she asked. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/15 "2011-04-21T22:05:30Z")
From his [linkedin account.](http://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipsheppard) > [@](#): > > Special Agent Defence Investigative Service DIS > Government Agency; Government Administration industry > > 1986 – 1989 (3 years) > > The Defense Security Service (DSS) oversees the protection of US and foreign classified information in the hands of industry, administers the National Industrial Security Program for DoD to include issuance of security clearances to industry, supports the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in the conduct of personnel security investigations for DoD, provides security education and training in core security disciplines to the DoD Community and provides information technology services that support the industrial and personnel security missions of DoD and its partner agencies. > > Specilaist 4 US Army > Government Agency; USA; Military industry > > 1982 – 1986 (4 years) > > US Army solider stationed in Germany and around the United States and \*\*was Awarded Medals of Service \*\*and Honorable Discharged. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/16 "2011-04-21T22:37:22Z")
I linked the above thinking that ‘Medals of Service’ was a particular medal, but it now realize it probably just means he received unspecified medals. Does anybody know what his job description really means? Would someone in his position have been trained to “spot someone lying” as he has often bragged, (or have any special training at all) or was he just some kind of clerk? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/17 "2011-04-21T22:46:47Z")
> [@RedSwinglineOne](#): > > Does anybody know what his job description really means? Would someone in his position have been trained to “spot someone lying” as he has often bragged, (or have any special training at all) or was he just some kind of clerk? At the risk of turning this into a Phil thread, I believe he was one of those guys who went around investigating people who were getting security clearances. The agency used to be called the Defense Investigative Service (DIS). A couple of them scared my apartment manager one day. She thought I was in trouble with the Feds. (Yes, I was DIS-approved. 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/18 "2011-04-21T23:14:21Z")
I told Roomie Phil was a Spec 4. She was like, ‘Is that all? After four years? Most people make Sargeant!’ (She was WO-2.) ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-second-highest-award-in-the-army-during-peacetime/579238/19 "2011-04-21T23:27:19Z")
Well, the part where he got Army awards would be from 1982-1986 when he was a Specialist 4 in the Army. Specialist is the highest enlisted rank which comes automatically after 26 months (in his day there was a spec 5 and 6 but not anymore). I wonder… the Soldier’s Medal can be awarded during peacetime but it’s a heroism award which is given for bravery. He might not be counting that, which means the next award is the Commendation Medal, but he wouldn’t be eligible since he was a Specislist, so the next one would be the Army Achievement Medal. Not to take anything away from anyone who has one, but I doubt many people brag about them.