Block 1. Fill in the office information of the next office above the recommender in the Chain of Command. This is the office with approval authority.
Block 2. Enter the recommender's office information.
Blocks 3-7. Self Explanatory
Block 8. Fill in the individual's previous achievement awards. The Army Service Ribbon (ASR), Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM), Kuwait Liberation Medal (KULIBM), Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) are service medals and should not be listed.
Block 9. For Soldiers in the U.S. Army, leave this block blank. Make an entry only if recommending someone from another service or a foreign military member for an award. For members of the other U.S. Armed Forces, enter the Service (for example, U.S. Air Force). For foreign military personnel enter the country (for example, Federal Republic of Germany). See AR 600-8-22 Table 3-2.
Block 10. Enter the award being recommended to include number of award/oak leaf cluster
Block 11-19. Self Explanatory
Block 20. For the AAM, ARCOM, or MSM, using the space provided in the DA 638, fill in the Soldier's achievements or meritorous service using bullet format. For the BSM and above, type up a separate narrative (see below).
Narratives for valor must contain a description of the following elements:
a. Terrain and weather of the area in which the action took place
b. Enemy conditions, to include morale, proximity, firepower, casualties and the circumstances before, during, and after the act
c. The effect of the act on the enemy
d. The action of comrades in the immediate vicinity of the act and the degree of their participation
e. If the act occurred in flight, the type and position of the aircraft and the individual's crew position
f. The degree to which the act was voluntary
g. The degree to which the act was outstanding and exceeded what was normally expected of the individual
h. All unusual circumstances and overall effects or results of the act
Recommendations for awards for heroism or valor must contain witness statements, preferably in the form of affidavits or sworn statements. If possible recommendations should be supported by official records, maps, photographs, etc.
Block 21. For an AAM, ARCOM, or MSM, enter the citation. For a BSM/AM or higher, write the appropriate citation (see below).
Block 22. Staff Section Admin Clerk should sign and date verifying individual is eligible for the recommended award.
Block 23-25. Fill in intermediate commanders' as appropriate.
Block 26.
a. ORDERS ISSUING AUTHORITY
b. CDR, MNC-I APO AE 09999
e. JOHN Q. PUBLIC
f. COL
g. COMMANDING
Block 27.
a. HQ, MNC-I APO AE 09999
Block 28.
a. JOSEPH M. BLOW
b. MSG
c. Chief, CJ1 Personnel Actions
Block 29-30. Leave blank
Block 31.
1-SOLDIER
1-UNIT
1-FILE
1-OMPF
FRONT of DA Form 638, Recommendation For Award (AAM, ARCOM, ARCOM with "V", and MSM)
For valor, the citation should begin and end as follows:
For valorous achievement as (position title and section) ...
...his/her heroic action reflects credit upon him/herself, this command, and the United States Army.
Note: Citation cannot exceed six lines.
SEPARATE NARRATIVE (only required for BSM and Above)
(1 inch margins all around)
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF
(1 Space)
TYPE OF AWARD (BSM AND ABOVE)
(1 Space)
TO
(1 Space)
MSG SHAWN P. NOBLE
(2 spaces)
MANDATORY OPENING SENTENCE:
Master Sergeant Shawn P. Noble, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as (duty position), (organization), (duty station), from (to date) to (ending date) during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION:
Master Sergeant Noble demonstrated outstanding professional skill, knowledge, and leadership in maintaining and deploying over $3M worth of armored vehicles vital to the sustained progress of efforts to pacify the Basrah region of Iraq... add more information... the total number of lines, including the Mandatory Opening Sentence and the Mandatory Closing Sentence, cannot exceed one page, single spaced...
MANDATORY CLOSING SENTENCE:
His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, this Command, and the United States Army.
For Awards for valor, instead of using the above template, use the following opening and closing sentences.
MANDATORY OPENING SENTENCE:
Master Sergeant Shawn P. Noble, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States as (duty position), (organization), (duty station), from (to date) to (ending date) during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
MANDATORY CLOSING SENTENCE:
His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, this Command, and the United States Army.
*limited to one double spaced typewritten page except for recommendations of the Distinguished Service Medal and above.
SEPARATE CITATION (only required for BSM and Above)
(1 inch margins all around)
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF
(1 Space)
TYPE OF AWARD (BSM AND ABOVE)
(1 Space)
TO
(1 Space)
MSG SHAWN P. NOBLE
(2 spaces)
FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. HIS OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO DUTY DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF THE COMMAND'S MISSION...
...HIS ACTIONS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT DISTINCT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THIS COMMAND AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
For Valor the citation should read:
FOR EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS ACHIEVEMENT DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. HIS/HER HEROIC ACTIONS DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF THE COMMAND'S MISSION...
...HIS/HER BRAVERY IS IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY HEROISM AND REFLECT DISTINCT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THIS COMMAND, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
* Limited to 18 lines and 12 font.
