I guess the pentagon has medal envy...
Posted on 02/13/2013 1:14:39 PM PST by Mad Dawgg
WASHINGTON (AP) — They fight the war from computer consoles and video screens.
But the troops that launch the drone strikes and direct the cyberattacks that can kill or disable an enemy may never set foot in the combat zone. Now their battlefield contributions may be recognized.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Wednesday that for the first time the Pentagon is creating a medal that can be awarded to troops who have a direct impact on combat operations, but do it from afar.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Let’s call it the “Useless REMF”!
Perhaps the medal should be in the shape of a chair.
You posted a few seconds faster than me, I will ask to have it pulled. My comment was my son just upgraded his Vector last night to diamond, is he entitled to a medal now too?
My buddy had sent me a joke about this around Christmas. It was about the first drone pilot getting an Air Medal and a Purple Heart for carpal tunnel syndrome.
I guess the pentagon has medal envy...
My understanding is that medals are for acts of bravery. Recognition of the contributions made by the tech guys is appropriate but aren’t there other ways to do it?
I got no problem at all giving people medals who are piloting multi-million dollar remote aircraft and kicking ass while doing it. Nothing wrong with giving props for a job well Done.
But Rating it higher than a Bronze Star for which one usually must risk life and limb to get, is a slap in the face to people who have risked it all to serve their country and received such.
The Order of the Game Controller.
If a person can take out a terrorist camp from 8,000 miles away, run to the store at during lunch, come back to work and do it again, and then finish the day with a round of golf, I’d call that a RE Bad-ass MF...
Bronze Star can be awarded for valor OR merit. It isn’t necessarily a combat award.
Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto medal?
They’ve also come up with some brand new disorders caused by operating these drones.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-woes-of-an-american-drone-operator/5315869
“Let’s call it the “Useless REMF”!”
with Caramel Cluster
That is what bothers me most, no way it should ever be higher than a medal earned in combat.
Locally I know several guys who are in the Coast Guard (One is a rescue swimmer which is one of the most dangerous jobs in all of the Armed forces.) They were home a few years back (they are all related) and we remarked on the many Medals they were sporting. The spoke up and said that literally many of them are awarded for things like Not falling off the boat or tying your shoes right. But none of them ranked above or even close to the Several Awards the Rescue Swimmer got for risking his life to save people.
They also get combat flight pay for the missions they "fly."
And you,sir are awarded the Golden Drone Award!
Does that make me an official REMF?
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