SEFEGeorge Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Just what the fuck is this? An award that's higher than the Bronze Star for people that never leave the warmth, comfort, and coffee of their office. Nothing like slapping the face of the vets who actually did something in actual combat to get the award, other than sitting there playing Microsoft simulator. Whats next, those that play COD, etc? This really pisses me off. The only way for some lame officers to get some medals? 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, defense officials say, their battlefield contributions may be recognized. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce 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. The Associated Press has learned that the new blue, red and white-ribboned Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded to individuals for "extraordinary achievement" related to a military operation that occurred after Sept. 11, 2001. But unlike other combat medals, it does not require the recipient risk his or her life to get it. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made. A recognition of the evolving 21st Century warfare, the medal will be considered a bit higher in ranking than the Bronze Star, but is lower than the Silver Star, defense officials said. ... According to the Pentagon criteria, the medal gives the military a way to recognize a single act that directly affects a combat operation, doesn't involve an act of valor, and warrants an award higher than the Bronze Star. http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-creat...-politics.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railrunner130 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 While I'll agree that they should get some form of recognition, I don't agree with the ranking of it above a Bronze Star. I was thinking something slightly higher than the National Defense Ribbon would be more appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 Maybe, at best, a Commendation Medal. Or at least some other medal with an X Box device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 The way I see it, is that their job is just their AFSC. Just how in hell has anybody managed to come up with a medal for what they do? I have always assumed that to deserve a medal for something, you have to had done something extra ordinary in the line of duty. Maybe there is some degree of difficulty for each mission? that they perform. I think some explanation would be necessary before I signed on to any type of medal for them!! I know I never expected nor did I receive any medals for personally being in a combat zone where real people were shooting real bullets at me!! I could go on for days about this but until I see a real reason for them to receive more than the National Defense or Good Conduct medal, they deserve no extra recognition!! Just my $.02 worth, Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Exactly, chief............Of course now you even get a ribbon for completing BASIC, for Christ's sake. They just hang all kinds of fruitsalad on their shirts now.................When the 316th had their reunion at Wright-Pat two years ago, and one of the speakers as, if I remember right, a Msgt, probably no more than 3o years old, had ten rows, TEN!!!!!! You could tell by the arrangement of them that many were blanket awards or like for NCO school and stuff, but damn she looked like she had every award ever given......... And look at the badges now, you crew chief guys, back then had no badge of any kind to show what you did, shoulda though. Now everybody has one, and most, at a distance look like jump wings......All I can remember from my ancient days, for enlisted swine anyway, we had aircrew wings,( which now anyone who flies, not necessarily essential to aircraft operation , gets them, ) jump wings, CCT and PJ's mostly, some riggers had them as well, cop and firefighter, and missile guys, and that was it.......I did a little exercise a couple years ago and determined that, had I stayed in for twenty, not counting any air medals, etc, I would have had an additional nine ribbons.. to me that sorta cheapens the whole concept, and these essentially desk jockies gettin' a medal for flyin' drones???? From what I understand, it ranks above the Bronze Star, which nowadays is almost given for just about anything......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xzoomie32065 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I can see these units competeing for an "Outstanding Unit Award" and some individuals possibly being awarded a "Commendation Medal" or "Legion of Merit" but it is BS of the highest order that this award outranks combat and significant hazardous flying awards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Seems to me that flying a desk is similar to playing video games in the safety of your own home. Granted, these guys are doing a necessary job but to equate it with actually putting their lives on the line....no way !!!! The Air Force already has the acheivment medal that ranks behind the commendation medal. If we must create a new medal for joy stick operators, rank it between the acheivement and commendation medals. I mean no disrespect to those "flying" drones, but this new warfighting deserves as much respect as the guys firing the big guns off the navy battlewagons or the triggerman behind a cruise missle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC10FE Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Check out the Pentago Network on TV sometime. Some of the newsreaders with 2 & 3 stripes have more decorations on their chest that I did when I retired after more than 23 years! Don R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xzoomie32065 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Seen This? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=543119865721169&l=817f6711df Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/ Sign the petition against either creation of this medal or downgrading the presedence. Use the above link. You will have to create an account but that is pretty painless. View the petitions by clicking on search and typing in "medal". There are some thing still worth fighting for... Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Wilson Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) but this new warfighting deserves as much respect as the guys firing the big guns off the navy battlewagons At least the guys on Battleships had Kamikazes to worry about These drone assholes have been trying to get some goodie medals ever since they kicked the enlisted off of the joysticks, last time they were getting friggin air medals for gods sake. Okay fine, they can have their medal and rate it at 3 points, ONLY if they crash it or get shot down we get to drag their butts out of the booth and light them on fire, hows that sound guys Edited February 23, 2013 by Dan Wilson Kant spel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark18mwm Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I think they should get their medal, war is hell. After all every day they face the life threatening hazards of their type of warfare, ie, traffic to and from base (I believe a lot of these things are actually controlled out of Nellis) ,the ever present threat of a nasal infection from spending too much time in the air conditioning. Not to mention they may on occasion have to work late and miss a home cooked meal forcing them to eat fast food witch may cause future health concerns. I hope this is recognized as light hearted sarcasm, but what these guys do is important and helps save lives (like most military jobs), but they are not any special sort of hero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted February 23, 2013 Author Share Posted February 23, 2013 A picture of the new medal has just been published.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted February 23, 2013 Author Share Posted February 23, 2013 Just signed the petition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Seems appropriate Bob The absurd news release about the drone aircrews being awarded a "I was there" medal which is rated above the Bronze Star w/valor device has revitalized the below list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I want my ' I survived LTC. Leake" medal with four OLC's Giz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinwhistle Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I think Casey should award me a medal for surviving "in person" meeting and greeting two forum brothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Hey, Ken, ya see this??? Survived he says....................... well, just wait.............................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I want my ' I survived LTC. Leake" medal with four OLC's Giz Giz, Was this guy the dingbat that removed all the single troops from seperate rations without considering what that would do to morale. Talk about a flawed decision making process. Am I right in thinking this guy was the CO? Scarey!!!! On the plus side consider how much money he saved theAF. I want my medal too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Will the mostly junior enlisted sensor operator sitting next to the pilot (puke) be eligible for this medal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Giz, Was this guy the dingbat that removed all the single troops from seperate rations without considering what that would do to morale. Talk about a flawed decision making process. Am I right in thinking this guy was the CO? Scarey!!!! On the plus side consider how much money he saved theAF. I want my medal too. Naw. I don't think so, Larry. but it would not surprise me. He was the 36th OpsOff, real ass. He DID say once that he didn't think first termers should be on flyin' status or something to that effect. He is also the, well let me save my comments about his canine ancestry, that gave me hell for needin' a haircut( even though it did meet regs, almost) after, and please don't take this as braggin', essentially saved an airplane and six people, basically by doin' my job. My AC at the time told him this, and he just ignored it........And truth be known, it was people like him that pretty much made my decision to be a one termer, a decision I regret today, but then............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Wilson Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Could be worse, it could be I survived LTC Hanley medal:mad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted February 26, 2013 Author Share Posted February 26, 2013 One my first rote to Moldy-hole we had a LC named Livingston. Pretty decent guy. After a briefing for the next days mission, we were standing around BSing, etc., and one of the FEs, Ole Bill Shoffner, called his AC by his first name, Jim. LC overheard this and had a "chat" with them both. Bill, be the southern boy that he is, took it in stride and said, "well I could have called him asshole" and walked off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Could be worse, it could be I survived LTC Hanley medal:mad: It seems every outfit had a LtCol Leake/Hanley. Proof the officer promoton system wasn't perfect. But then neither was ours. Fortunately, in reality, these guys were few and far between. And at least we didn't have requirement for a picture. That would have been the kiss of death for me.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 It seems every outfit had a LtCol Leake/Hanley. Proof the officer promoton system wasn't perfect. But then neither was ours. Fortunately, in reality, these guys were few and far between. And at least we didn't have requirement for a picture. That would have been the kiss of death for me. You are exactly right, Larry, it seems like about a one toeight ratio. If everyone woulda been a Leake (slowleak) I doubt if I coulda survived four years, same for the NCO's. my first NCOIC was, beyond a doubt, the best man I ever worked for. My last one was a total jerk........a legend in his own damn Equadoran-born mind. He even treated our E-5's and 6's like two stripers and when I made E-5, he had nothin' to say................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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