Secetary of Defense Chuck Hagel cancels the Distinguished Warfare Medal. - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Under pressure, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has canceled the creation of a new military medal for drone operators and cyberwarriors, instead ordering military leaders to develop a pin or device that would be attached to existing medals or ribbons. Mr. Hagel’s predecessor, Leon E. Panetta, created the Distinguished Warfare Medal for service members like drone operators and cyberwarriors who have a major effect on a military operation but never set foot in the combat zone. Some veterans and lawmakers complained that it should not be ranked higher than traditional combat medals like the Bronze Star. On Monday, Mr. Hagel said that while those troops’ achievements should be recognized, the award should not be a stand-alone medal. [/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/us/politics/medals-for-drone-warriors-canceled.html?_r=0"]NYT[/URL]

Very good. Drone operators play a major role modern warfare but they shouldn't be getting awards that rank higher than the ones soldiers who actually put their lives on the line during their service receive.

Soldiers that are behind computers doing ops would never take precedence over the soldiers that are actually out there receiving direct fire.

To get an example of how bullshit this medal was, it was higher than the Bronze star with VALOR. You go, drag your buddies out of a burning vehicle and patch them up while under fire, and manage to subdue the enemy? Congrats, a guy in an air conditioned venue is seen as more virtuous.

[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;40305344]To get an example of how bullshit this medal was, it was higher than the Bronze star with VALOR. You go, drag your buddies out of a burning vehicle and patch them up while under fire, and manage to subdue the enemy? Congrats, a guy in an air conditioned venue is seen as more virtuous.[/QUOTE] Well, teeechnically, he probably [I]is[/I] doing a more effective job for the war effort as a whole. But by that logic, carrier captains and C-5 pilots should be wearing so many medals they'd be unable to walk. I do believe drone operators should recieve medals too, don't get me wrong. But yeah, that it's higher than the Bronze Star with valor is bullshit. Unless the drone operator in question dropped a Hellfire on a Talibob with an RPG aimed at a bus full of orphrans or something. Even then, it's questionable.

I don't mind if they have a medal and all for what they do. It just shouldn't be the fucking third or forth highest in all services.

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;40305492]When we heard about this in my clinic, a co-worker of mine literally threw a table across the room. THATS how bullshit this medal was.[/QUOTE] Hey guys i dont want to rain on the anti drone hate parade that i'm a part of but i think if medals are this important theres some priorities mixed up somewhere along the line. Could we shift a bit of it to throwing tables at drone operators who call in missile strikes on civilians because it might be a terrorist.

I am pretty sure Drone Operators will settle with a killcounter and online achievements tracker.

[QUOTE=Mattk50;40306180]Hey guys i dont want to rain on the anti drone hate parade that i'm a part of but i think if medals are this important theres some priorities mixed up somewhere along the line. Could we shift a bit of it to throwing tables at drone operators who call in missile strikes on civilians because it might be a terrorist.[/QUOTE] It's a matter of principle. It being so high downplays a lot of sacrifices made.

This is great, I think it honours the veterans and serving soldiers who actively put their lives on the line.

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;40306262]I am pretty sure Drone Operators will settle with a killcounter and online achievements tracker.[/QUOTE] A Battlelog for drone operators. Buy Premium to do Iran missions.

[img]http://terminallance.com/comics/2013-02-22-Strip_253_Distinguished_Service_web.gif[/img]

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;40305492]When we heard about this in my clinic, a co-worker of mine literally threw a table across the room. THATS how bullshit this medal was.[/QUOTE] Maybe he knew about a secret table throwing medal?