VFW Wants New Medal Ranked Lower

[OIFer]

yeah i agree that the ranking of this medal is pretty lame. I dont mind them giving these drone operators some sort of award to recognise their service, but these guys arent by any stretch of the imagination put in harms way. i would hardly say they are even inconvenienced all that much in their work.

These folks are doing a great job and im proud to have them serving our country, but I think people are more impressed with the technology than anything else.

 

[OIFer]

Shit, nowadays a private with 1 year of service comes out with many more medals than I did after 4 years.

I think I heard of a "Never Late for Mess" medal being considered.

yeah, this is true - if the private went overseas that is - I looked like a mexican general when i got out, loads of "you went here and there" medals

 

[Colt Delta Elite]

In the day and age of everyone's a winner and everyone gets a participation trophy, These new medals do not surprise me in the least.

 

[OB1Kenobi]

yeah, this is true - if the private went overseas that is - I looked like a mexican general when i got out, loads of "you went here and there" medals

this thread got me thinking, so I looked up Military Awards (on the Army side). it's nothing new, every war, conflict, occupation or whatever you call it has a unique service or expeditionary medal attached to it. Korea, Antartica, even humanitarian missions.... we are also doing more with less troops, so it's only expected that a PFC with 2 tours under his belt will have 3 rows of ribbons if he's squared away / motivated. anywho, back on-topic....

 

[Pilgrims Pride]

I felt the same; but, **** it.

I hope the recipients of this medal feel real ****ing proud. After all, the grunts who gave their lives aren't that important.

I think that about some it up to me.
An award like that should come just before say ..........the I knew how to clean the head ribbon.
The grunts, the real boots who get up close and personal should be awarded (& REWARDED!)
appropriately. Never mind some xbox hero.

 

[07Mustang]

I've never served and do not want to be disrespectful to anyone who did but I don't see how this award ranks above the two Purple Hearts my uncle earned in World War II, one which he earned being KIA 18 June 44 on Saipan.

 

[Dench]

How can killing someone by remote control from a safe zone be considered
distinguished ?

it should be the medal of shame.

 

[appraiser]

not do be disrespectful to any military member, but this new medal is a effn medal for playing a glorified video game.

I could put a typical 12 year old boy in that same seat, in front of that same console, and if he didn't know he was killing actual people, he would sit there all day and play it until he had to stop to pee or eat.

Everybody gets a trophy I guess

 

[Nectaris]

Some of those drone pilots are not even close to the combat zone, some of them are flown from air conditioned building in Nevada.

 

[OB1Kenobi]

The military has stopped production of a new medal for remote warfare troops -- drone operators and cyber warfighters -- as it considers complaints from veterans and lawmakers over the award, a government official said Tuesday. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a review of the Distinguished Warfare Medal, which was to be awarded to troops who operate drones and use other technological skills to fight America's wars from afar. Announcement of the review is expected at a Pentagon news conference later Tuesday. Lawmakers and veterans groups have complained that although troops can get the new medal for work far from the battlefield, it has been ranked above medals for those who served on the front line in harm's way, such as the Purple Heart given to wounded troops. ​

Read more: Pentagon halts production of drone, cyberwarfare medal amid backlash | Fox News​

Pentagon halts production of drone, cyberwarfare medal amid backlash | Fox News

 

[hurley431]

THANK GOD!

 

[Gidge]

Read more: Pentagon halts production of drone, cyberwarfare medal amid backlash | Fox News[/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT]


Pentagon halts production of drone, cyberwarfare medal amid backlash | Fox News

 

[FPrice]

Hagel Repeals Drone Service Medal

Hagel Repeals Drone Service Medal

Finally.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has repealed a medal created just two months ago to recognize the achievements of drone pilots and cyber specialists, ordering that a separate "distinguishing device" be used instead.

Then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Feb. 13 announced the Distinguished Warfare Medal for pilots of unmanned aircraft and cybersecurity operators who had "an extraordinary impact on combat operations" even though they did not serve on the battlefield.

Veterans groups complained that the medal would unfairly be ranked above the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart, two medals designed to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of troops who served in combat.

Hagel Repeals Drone Service Medal | Military.com