It is routed up to the chain of command for review. At any point it can be down graded if the commander feels the award isn't merited. The recommendations that do reach the highest levels are assigned an independent review board that is tasked with verifying the information in the proposed award citation and/or recommendation. There has been a raising of standards of awards in the last decade. The number of valor awards per capita is dramatically lower than in all previous modern wars (since WWII). Some feel that is is also a result that there have been fewer sustained campaigns where pitched battles last weeks or months and there are fewer opportunities to "earn" a valor award of any sort. There has also been debate that in order to receive one of the big three (MoH, DSC, or SS) that you have to have a "clean" background.
This who ideology surrounding awards stems from the 1991 Gulf War and the conflict involving the Rangers in Somalia where many felt that too many awards were given out in comparison to the short duration of the operation. This has led to elevating awards to such a high level as to make them virtually unattainable beyond the Bronze Star level. Case in point, 242 Medals of Honor were issued in Vietnam and only 6 have been given out since 9/11 all posthumously.
the awarding of the MOH has extremely high standards. things really have to be above and beyond the call of duty.
that or have your friendly fire death covered up by commanding general.What is the process for awarding the medal of honor?
It's extremely hard. In Iraq, a Marine Lance Corporal was on patrol when his convoy got ambushed. The Marines dismounted their vehicles and engaged the enemy (which was about 75 yards away, hiding behind a mound of dirt). This lance corporal's Sergeant pursued the enemy and about halfway to the dirt burm they were hiding behind, he got shot. The Lance Corporal hopped off of his vehicle and ran about 40 yards to get his Sergeant. He got there, pick him up and started running. While running with his seargeant, he was shot in the side and he dropped his sergeant. He picked him up again and kept running with him. He then got shot in the neck and dropped his Sgt. again. He picked him up AGAIN and finally made it to safety and when the medic began looking at him, he yelled for the medic to look at his sergeant first.
This Marine survived and was rewarded the Silver Star. Now, if that doesn't warrant a Medal of Honor, I don't know what does.
Just to add a note to the other excellent answers. There has been many articles written and a few web sites started concerning the appearance that the MOH has become a posthumous award. Many believe that certain people are afraid to have a living hero. You only have to look at the Silver Stars that have been issued in the current conflict and compare them to earlier MOH write ups to realize there is a disparity. Many of our heroes are not today getting the recognition they deserve.What is the process for awarding the medal of honor?
The first thing in most cases you have to get killed
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