New Drone Medal's Rank 'Degrading', Say Veterans

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The Pentagon's new medal for drone operators has sparked a backlash from veterans whose medals were earned on the battlefield but are ranked lower than the Distinguished Warfare Medal, the Military Times reports. The new medal is higher in the military's "order of precedence" than the Bronze Star, awarded for heroic conduct on the battlefield, and the Purple Heart, for troops injured in battle. "To rank what is basically an award for meritorious service higher than any award for heroism is degrading and insulting to every American combat soldier, airman, sailor, or Marine who risks his or her life and endures the daily rigors of combat in a hostile environment," the Military Order of the Purple Heart said in a statement.

Other veterans' groups have also criticized the new medal's rank and a petition urging the White House to demote it has been signed by nearly 6,000 people. "Under no circumstance should a medal that is designed to honor a pilot, that is controlling a drone via remote control, thousands of miles away from the theater of operation, rank above a medal that involves a soldier being in the line of fire on the ground," the petition states. "This is an injustice to those who have served and risked their lives." Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the medal "recognizes the reality of the kind of technological warfare we are engaged in the 21st century."

New Drone Medal's Rank 'Degrading', Say Veterans - Award for remote control operators outranks combat medals like Bronze Star



Just an absolute disgrace. fukk Obama, Panetta and whoever else thought this was a good idea.

 

[88m3]

someones mad his shiny thing isnt as cool as the next guys

 

[newarkhiphop]

someones mad his shiny thing isnt as cool as the next guys

same thing i thought , mad cause they xbox achievement didn't unlock or something

No disrespect to da troops and all that , had no idea having a metal to show off was that important

 

[tru_m.a.c]

same thing i thought , mad cause they xbox achievement didn't unlock or something

No disrespect to da troops and all that , had no idea having a metal to show off was that important

dude you have to read up on the conflicts regarding the medal of honor

the medal is symbolic....its not the actual physical property itself, its what it represents

it looks like washington has made the push button soldier equivalent equal in stature to those on the front

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

Gotta incentivize achievement somehow

 

[Serious]

interesting to say the least...

Reason #23883021 why I couldn't be soldier, especially on the frontlines...

 

[Box Cutta]

I understand the anger at face value, it certainly sounds stupid, but to play devils advocate a bit, and to ask a question that others may have an answer to : Isn't it likely that the people operating these drones are by and large far more valuable, rare, and accomplished than your average ground soldier?

I just always thought that these people who launch drones and calculate missiles and such were like these ultra-intelligent super genius dudes...I could see the argument that this deserves it's own type of respect.

Of course, there probably is little to no actual bravery involved...

Also, this isn't a bad argument :

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the medal "recognizes the reality of the kind of technological warfare we are engaged in the 21st century."

If we are going to evolve at all militarily, we need to get over the idea that one style of warfare is "more righteous" than another. In fact, no style is righteous. But some are more efficient than others. If giving these dudes medals changes viewpoints in some manner...maybe it's what needs to be done.

Still, it does sound extremely silly. Looks bad. Looks like some bureaucrats who were completely out of touch with the lives of soldiers came up with some hair brained scheme to propagandize drone strikes.

 

[Brown_Pride]

I understand the anger at face value, it certainly sounds stupid, but to play devils advocate a bit, and to ask a question that others may have an answer to : Isn't it likely that the people operating these drones are by and large far more valuable, rare, and accomplished than your average ground soldier?

I just always thought that these people who launch drones and calculate missiles and such were like these ultra-intelligent super genius dudes...I could see the argument that this deserves it's own type of respect.

Of course, there probably is little to no actual bravery involved...

Also, this isn't a bad argument :



If we are going to evolve at all militarily, we need to get over the idea that one style of warfare is "more righteous" than another. In fact, no style is righteous. But some are more efficient than others. If giving these dudes medals changes viewpoints in some manner...maybe it's what needs to be done.

Still, it does sound extremely silly. Looks bad. Looks like some bureaucrats who were completely out of touch with the lives of soldiers came up with some hair brained scheme to propagandize drone strikes.

i have an uncle who was in vietnam.
His platoon was ambushed and all but wiped out, he survived after the battle, having been shot in the leg by laying in a ditch and covering himself. The VC stayed patrolling in ear shot of my uncle for about 12 hours, sorta like they set up camp. All the while my uncle was getting chewed on by ants, his legs, arms and back have all these bite marks and shyt on them because had he moved or screamed or did much of anything they'd have shot him. 12 hours later he was able to get away after they enemy left. He got a purple heart.

THAT is not the same as playing airplane fighter man

Dudes throw themselves on grenades
THAT is not the same as playing airplane fighter man

Dudes risk life and limb protecting one another, dying for one another and those dudes get LESS respect than someone, who for all intents and purposes is PLAYING A VIDEO GAME.

This is in no way shape or form "fair" or right, in fact it's disgraceful. It is however how things go.

 

[Box Cutta]

i have an uncle who was in vietnam.
His platoon was ambushed and all but wiped out, he survived after the battle, having been shot in the leg by laying in a ditch and covering himself. The VC stayed patrolling in ear shot of my uncle for about 12 hours, sorta like they set up camp. All the while my uncle was getting chewed on by ants, his legs, arms and back have all these bite marks and shyt on them because had he moved or screamed or did much of anything they'd have shot him. 12 hours later he was able to get away after they enemy left. He got a purple heart.

THAT is not the same as playing airplane fighter man

Dudes throw themselves on grenades
THAT is not the same as playing airplane fighter man

Dudes risk life and limb protecting one another, dying for one another and those dudes get LESS respect than someone, who for all intents and purposes is PLAYING A VIDEO GAME.

This is in no way shape or form "fair" or right, in fact it's disgraceful. It is however how things go.

This some deep shyt breh....

 

[Master Teacher]

at the end of the day it's what they signed up for, ain't saying its right or wrong,

just imagine if a hacker manages to seize control of these droids from a remote location

one thing I learned about machines, anything with cpu, can be hijacked from another computer

 

[Shogun]

New Drone Medal's Rank 'Degrading', Say Veterans - Award for remote control operators outranks combat medals like Bronze Star



Just an absolute disgrace. fukk Obama, Panetta and whoever else thought this was a good idea.

As if the CAB wasn't bad enough

 

[Fillerguy]

We getting medals for pushing buttons out chea

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

someones mad his shiny thing isnt as cool as the next guys

Your a stupid piece of shyt. I hope you realize that. Many people gave their lives for you to be able to type this bullshyt online and all their families have to remember them by is this "shiny thing" you so easily dismiss. Your a disgrace friend.

 

[88m3]

Your a stupid piece of shyt. I hope you realize that. Many people gave their lives for you to be able to type this bullshyt online and all their families have to remember them by is this "shiny thing" you so easily dismiss. Your a disgrace friend.

Did you see the pawn making the sad face?

 

[Broke Wave]

America is becoming a parody... giving out medals to drone pilots? Why not give out medals to the President for his bravery in ordering the drone strikes on American citizens? Why not to his donors? Why not a medal to the defense contractors, after all they built some of this stuff?