New Drone Pilot Medal higher than Bronze Star with "V" device?????

[Diana Alan]

From the Marine Corps Times. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2013/02/military-new-medal-for-drone-pilots-outranks-bronze-star-021313/?fb_comment_id=fbc_394082764021210_62163371_394201930675960#f1f690e34

New medal for drone pilots outranks Bronze Star

By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 13, 2013 16:37:27 EST

The Pentagon is creating a new high-level military medal that will recognize drone pilots and, in a controversial twist, giving it added clout by placing it above some traditional combat valor medals in the military’s “order of precedence.”

The Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded to pilots of unmanned aircraft, offensive cyber war experts or others who are directly involved in combat operations but who are not physically in theater and facing the physical risks that warfare historically entails.
Related reading

Pentagon creates medal for cyber, drone wars (2/13)

The new medal will rank just below the Distinguished Flying Cross. It will have precedence over — and be worn on a uniform above — the Bronze Star with Valor device, a medal awarded to troops for specific heroic acts performed under fire in combat.

The new medal is a brass pendant, nearly two inches tall, with a laurel wreath that circles a globe. An eagle is in the center. The ribbon has blue, red and white stripes.

“This award recognizes the reality of the kind of technological warfare we are engaged in the 21st century,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.

The new medal will be awarded for specific acts, such as the successful targeting of a particular individual at a critical time.

“Our military reserves its highest decorations obviously for those who display gallantry and valor in actions when their lives are on the line and we will continue to do so,” Panetta said.

“But we should also have the ability to honor the extraordinary actions that make a true difference in combat operations,” Panetta said. “The contribution they make does contribute to the success of combat operations, particularly when they remove the enemy from the field of battle, even if those actions are physically removed from the fight.”

The service secretaries will make the final determination for awarding the Distinguished Warfare Medal.

The order of precedence came as a surprise to Doug Sterner, a military medals expert and the curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor, the largest database of military medal recipients.

“It’s got me puzzled,” Sterner said in an interview Wednesday. “I understand the need to recognize the guys at the console who are doing some pretty important things. But to see it ranking above the Bronze Star [with] V?”

[Richard o]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/7/coming-to-a-sky-near-you/?page=all

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/05/politics/obama-drones-cia/index.html

Interesting read   http://droneswatch.org/

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[Diana Alan]

Yes but would you consider it appropriate for a medal awarded to someone sitting in a room playing what are essentially video games many thousands of K away from any conflict zone with no actual risk to life or limb to be worthy of a medal almost as high as the Military Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Victoria Cross ?

[aussiegregmac]

"not physically in theater and facing the physical risks that warfare historically entails."

That's the bit that I like.   The so called "awardee" doesn't even have to be there.
That just takes the cake.     
The face of new warfare ...  Rain destruction from afar,  treat POW's like dogs, etc etc. The list goes on.

[Chazza]

Thank heavens this is happening in the US and not in any sensible country!

Goodness knows how the service men and women who are getting shot at right now, feel about it!

[Richard o]

Personally, I do not think the award should have the distinction that is proposed. Operators are sitting pretty in the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and other locations used by Uncle Sam. They are not at risk of the loss of life or injury. They sit in Airconed trailers or building, where the only risk of damage comes from the ring pull on a coke can.  Apart from people at FOB’s in various theaters, these personal are very much protected as opposed to the boots on the ground.

The technology involved here is amazing and apart from the odd situation (like the Iranians bringing one down), they are extremely robust platforms. Used to protect personal in a defined theater of operations, I have no issue with and support the use of these technologies. 

Where I get concerned is that the CIA runs most of these assets and lets face it, the boys aren’t always on the money. The other thing is the oversight of where these things are used and on whom is a joke. We are living is a period where the lethality that can be bought to bare in not only a theater of war but anywhere is advancing rapidly.  Its scary stuff….

I suppose for all the online gamers out there, that do nothing other than MW3 and Battle field there lives away it is a good career pathway, and you get a real gong for it…

I think this award is more a step to “educating” the public to embrace the brave new world, where drones are not only used in a war like fashion but also in the domestic realm.

At least we can trust that the US politicians, the people that make the kit and the black op’s community to act with the greatest of integrity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M

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[Richard o]

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/16/u-s-defense-secretary-cancels-new-military-medal-for-drone-and-cyber-warriors/

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[Chazza]

Ah! The power of the people with a pen!

[Diana Alan]

Ah! The power of the people with a pen!

Today the Congress has announced a new medal for citizens who participate in democracy, it will be a civilian award with a military equivalent.  Awardees will receive the medal for successful letter writing campaigns and it will have a precedence equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honour, however military personnel who receive the award will also be put before a court marshall because political activity is contrary to the UCMJ.  

Just kidding

[Joe Daly]

that is incredible, perhaps it should be a cyber medal for cyber combat. Just advise the recipients that they can download their medal, with great pomp and ceremony of course. Worse still they may wake up one morning and find their medal has been 'hacked' into a purple heart.......

unbelievable...

[Diana Alan]

Unbelievable as it may seem the US Congress and Dept of Defence saw the light and canned the gong!

[Minikeg]

Unbelievable as it may seem the US Congress and Dept of Defence saw the light and canned the gong!

Thats more believable than going ahead with it in my mind..

For it to get that far it was probably a case of 'sign these papers' and someone did without anyone reading it haha.

[Diana Alan]

The comment was more directed at the US Congress making any decision at all, such is their ability to filibuster, procrastinate and manipulate the legislative process.