Frustrating. When a Soldier is recommended for an award, the Soldier receives comments from her chain of command of "influences and motivates subordinates to accomplish any task," "an asset to any team", "excellent performance", and "brilliant NCO!" and then the award is downgrated from an MSM to an ARCOM.

Happens time and again, Soldiers perform above and beyond their paygrade, exemplary in all areas, and then when you can present them with an award appropriate for their performance they receive a lesser award -- a more common award given to average performers.