This is a really tough issue. Some people are just plain better at controlling remote assets than others.
How do we retain and incentivize these people?
If a man kills 10,000 enemy from thousands of miles away how much has he contributed to the war effort? How many purple hearts has he prevented? How many combat deaths did we just avoid?
How many World Trade Center attacks have we prevented?
John Kerry got a Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts while being a coward from his head to his toes and doing nothing very worthy of mention. One of his wounds was so bad he needed a whole band-aid.
And, if you think our drone control centers are not considered high-value targets by our enemies, just wait until one of them blows up.
I’m fine with awarding a ribbon to guys who are really good at their craft and make a contribution to the war effort, but equating that with putting yourself in harm’s way on a battlefield? Gimme a break.
(( ping ))
Personally, the zoomie drone medal ought to rate just above the National Defense Service Medal. What's the most serious thing that can happen to a drone controller? He/she crashes the drone or carpal tunnel syndrome?
“Rep. Duncan Hunter, D-Calif” should read: “Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Calif.” Hunter represents the 52nd District (now 50th) in California. He succeeded his father Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-52) in 2009. Duncan D. Hunter is a former Marine officer with service in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now, now! Everyone needs to be aware that self-esteem can be had by winning prizes or medals.
Sitting in a building, completely safe from everything, becomes boring and the worst part of it for a serviceman, servicewoman, or a serviceit is the fact that you can’t go out and earn a medal to enhance your SELF-ESTEEM.
Now the military has become aware that fact and wish to give everyone some type of medal to increase their warm and fuzzy feeling of self-esteem so they came up with this one for the military that watch computer screens in a safe environment while playing drone games on their screens.
This is the new sensitive military and it is here to stay.
Nice - a participation medal for the armed forces...
I agree with the poster that says possibly a Paper award or even Letters of Commendation.
Even a Medal that depicts what they are doing BUT you know they are probably claiming PTSD etc....
Before long (If they already don’t) the Civilians under contract to the CIA, FBI, DOD that are serving in Indian Country will be getting the same awards as the Grunt is -
The excuse they will use is “Well, it is a Voluntary Army so you can’t complain you are making 1/3 of what the Contract employee is making...so then ‘they’ will be eligible for FULL VA services (If they already aren’t).
A lot of this started back when the occupants of the WH, Congress etal started treating the Military like ‘useful tools, when needed - put back in box after use’ and started telling the GS in the Pentagon that they were doing the same thing the ‘troops’ were doing, one of the early forerunners of the Class Warfare that has beset us.
Remember the ‘hue and cry’ trying to get the WWII Merchant Marine the same status as Vets?
Right, they did they same job (for the most part) did navigate unfriendly waters BUT were doing so at 2-4 times the money of the average Sailor, were more than likely Union Represented AND if their ship ever hit a friendly port, they could sign off - granted anyone that ‘ran’ from the MM probably went high up on the draft list but, they had that option.
Great example of CIV vs MIL is when the RR’s were going to strike and Truman gave them a day or so to decide if they wanted to work for the RR as Union Employees OR as PVT’s in the US Army.
The STRIKE ended rather quickly...after all you don’t really mess with a guy that had no problem giving the order that resulted in disintegrating a few people.