Capt. Ryan Jodoi flies an MQ-9 Reaper as Airman 1st Class Patrick Snyder controls a full-motion video camera at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, March 13, 2009.U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr. 
Posted on 07/05/2017 8:40:22 AM PDT by KeyLargo
The Air Force is updating its awards to recognize drone pilots and hackers
Christopher Woody
Jun. 23, 2017
US airmen tasked with jobs like surveillance and cyber operations have a growing role on the battlefield, even though they are often physically distant from it.
To ensure that kind of work is recognized, the Air Force has introduced new hardware for its service men and women.
"As the impact of remote operations on combat continues to increase, the necessity of ensuring those actions are distinctly recognized grows," Defense Department officials said in a memo published on January 7, 2016.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Capt. Ryan Jodoi flies an MQ-9 Reaper as Airman 1st Class Patrick Snyder controls a full-motion video camera at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, March 13, 2009.U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.
Lovely. Play video games in Nevada, get a war medal.
Nothing wrong with specific recognition for excellence. As long as no one tries to equate it to being in harm’s way.
The Blue Hax.
“As long as no one tries to equate it to being in harm’s way.”
That’s actually my beef with this.
It seems likely it will. And that is a disservice to the airmen who risk it all.
Get the "V" or "C" device. The drone operators etc. get the "R" device.
Now ... why do drone operators wear flight suits? They're not flying ...
Um when has their life been on the line? I know many, many military that. Get zero recognition for being in a particular firefight because that’s part of the darned job. These guys in their air conditioned, comfy chairs with the highest tech gear should have to carry a rifle inside a cave in Afghanistan if the want some recognition.
I don't know, but I like these pilot flight suits... 
I had an NCOIC who was a drone.
He deserves a medal.
Some of you can snicker at this all you want, but C4I2 – Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, and Interoperability is critical to how our armed forces operate. Trust me, none of these people equate themselves with someone under direct fire. Incidentally, the people who broke Enigma, Japanese Navy codes, and Manhattan Project personnel were the rear echelon geeks of their era. They were indispensable to ending that terrible war.
While the wearers are charming, both of those outfits would make poor flight suits ... the one on the right catastrophically so.
Horrible Idea!!! Obama gave out all the names of the Seal Team 6, and then they were shot down in a helicopter!!!
Well, at least they aren’t shoveling sh*t in Louisiana.
“While the wearers are charming, both of those outfits would make poor flight suits ... the one on the right catastrophically so.”
OK, sorry I meant drone pilot flight suit examples that would prevent boredom inside one of those Las Vegas drone pilot trailers............ not real aviator flight suits.
Hmmmm ... yes, I see your point ... but it does very much still depend on the wearer.
Isn’t this why the Air Force has the appreciation and meritorious service medals for non-direct combat awards given for excellence above the norm?
There are entries in this article I find distressing:
The “R” device “was established to distinguish that an award was earned for direct hands-on employment of a weapon system that had a direct and immediate impact on a combat or military operation. This refers to work done anywhere, as long as it doesn’t expose the service member to personal danger or put them at significant risk of personal danger
Does that mean that the guy who packed it in a crate to get it there is eligible? Or the guy who invented it? That’s direct hands on employment.
_____________________________________________
The “V” device denotes “unambiguous and distinctive recognition of distinguished acts of “combat heroism,”” while the “C” device was created to award airmen and women who perform “meritoriously under the most difficult combat conditions.”
The most difficult situation in combat is the duty commitment even though there is a chance of death and dismembering. Sitting at a computer in Tampa, Florida doesn’t signify combat.
_________________________________________________
Despite their distance from the battlefield, drone pilots’ duties in US campaigns throughout the Middle East and elsewhere has put them under some of the same strain faced by personnel who are forward deployed.
Yeah, they might have to use the latrine or be late getting to their kids little league game.
Some pilots have spoken of the “psychological gymnastics” they adopt to deal with the mental and emotional impact of killing remotely.
Hate to tell you this cupcake, but that is the military’s job, to capture it, kill it, or blow it up. If you are unable to handle that task, then go section 8 which is used for a service member judged mentally unfit for service. You made the claim, not the military. They just provide the way to get it done. You’ll go before an MEB and be judged for discharge. Win/win.
This whole thing is a bad joke and should be an embarrassment for the government to compare those that gave their all to those that can get Jimmie John at lunch when their only worry should be if their coffee might get cold. Can you imagine using one of these people identified with what they did in a Wounded Warrior commercial. I bet they don’t have the rocks to do it.
rwood
Been there - Done that at Fort 'Puke' Louisiana. 
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.