Posted on 04/15/2013 6:06:00 PM PDT by South40
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has demoted the controversial military award for drone operators from a medal to a device, in response to criticism from veterans that the new Distinguished Warfare Medal shouldn't rank about the Bronze Star with V or Purple Heart – awards that require troops to put their lives on the line.
In a memo released Monday, Hagel announced that he is scrapping the medal introduced in February by his predecessor, Leon Panetta.
(Excerpt) Read more at utsandiego.com ...
Good move. Surprisingly.
Good plan. A Commendation Medal is sufficient.
I think the Commendation Medal is too high. An Achievement Medal would be appropriate.
And in Vietnam we didn’t even get a ribbon for flying surveillance unless we had completed 30 missions.
I would write up an Achievement Medal IF the individual did a noteworthy job of piloting the drone. Good decision by Hagel.
It should be a ribbon and not a medal. There’s a big difference. As a matter of fact there should be no recognition for sitting on your ass and directing where a drone is going to be sent.
This is a move in the appropriate direction.
If the article is correct, rather than a medal, a device would be attached to an existing medal awarded at the level appropriate to the action. Further, there appears to be concerted scrutiny that the device be restricted from attachment to medals specifically requiring valor in the face of the enemy (combat).
So not only is the Nintendo Medal being scrapped, but serious work is being accomplished on a meaningful device. Surprising sanity from DOD!
We’ll see what develops.
I don’t know the whole details, but the Air Medal is just as dubious. It was given out repeatedly for non valorous action. Many wearers had numerals on the medal to specify the number of Air Medals won. I remember one officer had “34” on his Air Medal.
It doesn’t matter. Most awards are given out based on rank.
I think that the men and women operating these drones are going to undergo a rigorous selection process that may make it as exclusive as the Navy Seals. That is my opinion even though my knowledge of military issues is somewhat limited.
Just give them a commendation ribbon for winning the Battle of the Chowline.
I saw a headstone at Arlington of a man killed in Vietnam. Said he’d been awarded an arcom posthumously. A f*****g arcom.
20 years ago I got an arcom just for doing my job. Medal inflation was an issue then... I expect its worse now.
“Medal inflation was an issue then... I expect its worse now”
PFCs run around now with as much fruit cocktail on their chests as Patton.
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