Medal for Drone Pilots

silver-eagle

silver-eagle

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See USA Today for the story but one has to think someone has his priorities all screwed up! I agree that a Mil drone pilot has contributed to the effort and deserves recognition, but really....
 
silver-eagle said:
See USA Today for the story but one has to think someone has his priorities all screwed up! I agree that a Mil drone pilot has contributed to the effort and deserves recognition, but really....
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No risk, all reward! Here's a medal for your joystick abilities!
 
This is a vicious topic of discussion in the various military/Air Force fora

:mad2:
 
I've got a buddy who flew B-52's and U-2's. Then he got to supervise some reservists down in the SW flying UAVs. Flight pay is one thing but these people think they ought to get hazardous duty pay. He bristles about 12 hour missions (and in the U-2, in a flight suit where he couldn't hardly move) where these guys just walk back to coffee pot or bathroom and go home at the end of the day. If they screw up or get shot down, they just out another quarter in the machine and have another go.
 
Getting whatever sort of medal the USAF gives out for "good job" is one thing, and may be deserved. But not a combat decoration.
 
At any gathering of military types you always scan the ribbons worn by the members. Your rack is your resume, and anyone can read your service history at a glance. EXCEPT for the USAF. I swear I have seen E-4s with three rows of ribbons who have never been outside CONUS. A friend of mine claimed, (half jokingly) that the AF has ribbons for "shiniest shoes two quarters running" and "outstanding mess hall attendance". I cannot refute this claim.
 
The Purple Heart for carpal tunnel.
 
They had a blurb on TV today about drone pilots..... One pic showed three of them sitting at a console flying UAV's and the drone pilots had on Nomex flight suits ...:rofl::lol::mad2:.

They must be required to wear fireproof uniforms in case they spill hot coffee on themselves...:redface:
 
The first thing I thought was "participation medal" like for little kid's soccer.

I may be totally off on that, but that is the first thing that crossed my mind.
 
The problem is the medal's rank, not its existence.

Many military medals are dubious. A few of them once adorned my own chest -- and I'd be hard pressed to recall exactly what I did to deserve them. At least the medal in this case would reward actual, individual accomplishments.

But to rank it above medals awarded for valor, at risk of life and limb, is an insult.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
The problem is the medal's rank, not its existence.

Many military medals are dubious. A few of them once adorned my own chest -- and I'd be hard pressed to recall exactly what I did to deserve them. At least the medal in this case would reward actual, individual accomplishments.

But to rank it above medals awarded for valor, at risk of life and limb, is an insult.

-Rich
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Couldn't put it better myself.
 
The UAV operators that I know are not the types to be for any medals. They're like us and love aviation but got crammed into the UAV role because thats what was available to them for various reasons (medical/manning etc)

It's usually the higher ups trying to cram this stuff down their throats so they can pad their own performance reports.

"How come no one in your unit has a Bronze Star??" Great question...lets start making them eligible. More groans from the line crew soon follow.
 
Threefingeredjack said:
At any gathering of military types you always scan the ribbons worn by the members. Your rack is your resume, and anyone can read your service history at a glance. EXCEPT for the USAF. I swear I have seen E-4s with three rows of ribbons who have never been outside CONUS. A friend of mine claimed, (half jokingly) that the AF has ribbons for "shiniest shoes two quarters running" and "outstanding mess hall attendance". I cannot refute this claim.
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Check the starting salary for civilian drone pilots (about $100,000) and compare it to starting regional airline pilots (south of $25,000).

They've got to reward the military drone pilots or they'll go civilian as soon as their time is up.
 
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tinerj said:
Check the starting salary for civilian drone pilots (about $100,000) and compare it to starting regional airline pilots (south of $25,000).

They've got to reward the military drone pilots are they'll go civilian as soon as their time is up.
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:rofl::lol::rofl::lol::hairraise::mad2:
 
Threefingeredjack said:
At any gathering of military types you always scan the ribbons worn by the members. Your rack is your resume, and anyone can read your service history at a glance. EXCEPT for the USAF. I swear I have seen E-4s with three rows of ribbons who have never been outside CONUS. A friend of mine claimed, (half jokingly) that the AF has ribbons for "shiniest shoes two quarters running" and "outstanding mess hall attendance". I cannot refute this claim.
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Joke relayed to me by retired GS-12 (or 13) who worked at the DOD IG office....in the Pentagon, there are 3 military services and a corporation.
 
Initial pictures of the medal have been released:
 

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This was on the front page of the Stars & Stripes yesterday...

http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripe...ops-use-humor-to-disparage-new-medal-1.208114

Troops use humor to disparage new medal
By Jennifer Hlad

The Distinguished Warfare Medal was established to acknowledge the most modern technology, but servicemembers and veterans are responding to the award’s creation in a decidedly old-school way: Mocking it mercilessly.

Along with an avalanche of Whiskey Tango Foxtrots and a tsunami of outrage, troops are circulating a photo of a gold-plated X-Box controller and the skull-emblazoned “Call of Duty” medal as “prototypes” of the new award, which honors servicemembers like drone pilots and computer hackers who impact combat operations from afar. The medal is being called the Chairborne Medal, the Distant Warfare Medal and the Purple Buttocks, among other names.

The Onion-esque military website “The Duffel Blog” poked fun at the new medal by posting two related stories: “Drone Pilot To Receive First Air Force Medal of Honor Since Vietnam” and “Heroic Predator Drone Is First Recipient of Distinguished Warfare Medal.”

“Doctrine Man,” an Army officer and purveyor of military humor, referred to the medal as a “pledge pin” and drew a comic suggesting that some drone pilots could earn the medal by flying a mission from the safety of the head. Then, drawing parallels to “A Few Good Men’s” Col. Jessup, he posted the comic in mouse pad form with the quote, “You need me on that joystick!”

So while the first servicemember to earn the medal will need to be an exceptional drone pilot or cyber whiz, he or she may also need a thick skin to wear it in public.
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When I was in the Air Force I had the great good fortunate of getting to work closely with both the British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy while I was stationed in England.

A few times we had to give briefings to senior people, for which occasions we wore our class A uniforms.

I was totally embarressed to be in the U.S. Air Force because I had I think 3 rows of ribbons. The thing was, every darn ribbon I had basically for showing up and not PO'ing my end of tour commander. Oh, and marksmanship. Don't forget that. I got marksmanship not because of my incredible skill with the F-111 weapons delivery system or the EF-111A jamming system, or the F-4G radar targeting system. I got it because the local national civilian security guard next to me on the range in PACAF shot my target as often as he hit his.

I'd never seen a shot fired in anger, never landed a burning airplane after my pilot died of VD, never dashed in to a burning building and brought out a whole family of undocumented workers. Never invented the cure for cancer or faster than light travel.

I just did the same stuff millions of 'Joe Bag'0 Donuts' did before me during the cold war.

In the British system, if you have even one ribbon you've probably done some thing to actually stand out in some way. Even the 'Coronation Ribbon' isn't given to everyone who happened to be standing around during a coronation.

I don't know the details of the British system, but it's a fracking embarrassment that we have airmen with 2 years of service wearing two rows of ribbons, while the fracking chief mucky-muck of the whole fracking Royal Air Force has only one full row!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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weilke said:
But does the airman have the 'the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath' ? :D

Do you HAVE to wear all your ribbons ?
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ha.... If he doesn't wear all his ribbons the high command issues him MORE ribbons...:D:mad2:
 
flyingron said:
I've got a buddy who flew B-52's and U-2's. Then he got to supervise some reservists down in the SW flying UAVs. Flight pay is one thing but these people think they ought to get hazardous duty pay. He bristles about 12 hour missions (and in the U-2, in a flight suit where he couldn't hardly move) where these guys just walk back to coffee pot or bathroom and go home at the end of the day. If they screw up or get shot down, they just out another quarter in the machine and have another go.
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If they screw up they can go to jail the rest of their lives....their could be emotional issues after all killing is killing when the conscience alerts to this it has to be dealt with. No they are not in the line of fire like a grunt on partol but they are not meter maids either.

While their might be instances of remote control from safe places there probably are some remotes with some level of risk as well.
 
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Tony_Scarpelli said:
While their might be instances of remote control from safe places there probably are some remotes with some level of risk as well.
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Same level of risk as a cook or an accountant. And any member of the military can go to jail if they screw up badly enough.
 
Tony_Scarpelli said:
If they screw up they can go to jail the rest of their lives....their could be emotional issues after all killing is killing when the conscience alerts to this it has to be dealt with. No they are not in the line of fire like a grunt on partol but they are not meter maids either.

While their might be instances of remote control from safe places there probably are some remotes with some level of risk as well.
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The U-2 pilot goes to be dead for the rest of his life or some stinking eastern hole for a long time. He had a $1M bounty on his head from the Iraqi leadership. He says he got an air medal and at least had the opportunity to actually fly the plane unlike the X-box operators.
 
Conus Comando's Distinguished Warfare Medal Citation:

On 18 Jan 2013 Captian Conus while operating a unmanned aerial vehicle over Helmand Provence Afganistan from Nellis AFB, Nevada faced a systems failure which threatened to jeopardize the health and well being of fellow airmen. As a result of his actions Captain Conus is awarded the Distinguished Warfare Medal, citation follows:

At approximately 14:30 18 January 2013 Captain Conus heard several airmen calling for help as they returned to the facility after attending the Winged Warriors charity golf tournament. Although Captain Conus was occupied flying night surveillance, he could not ignore the repeated cries for help from his felllow airmen. Putting the unmanned aerial vehicle on autopilot Captian Conus rushed to aid his fellow airmen. Shocked by the horror and magnitude of the systems failure, his quick thinking and actions resulted in the preservation of the facility and health of many fellow airmen. Captain Conus' decision to quickly evacuate the facility, turn off the water, and call a plumber resulted in a minimal loss of mission resources when faced with an overflowing toilet. Captian Conus' actions are a fine example of the combat tested reflexes and quick decision making of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron and a credit to the Air Force.
 
It's even worse than I first thought!

The damn thing ranks just below the Silver Star!! Above a Bronze Star with combat V!!!!!!!

Above a CIB!!!!!!!

I don't know why this upsets this non-combat veteran so much. After all, how could a dog faced WWII GI like my Dad who got his CIB in Italy compare to a UAV operator??? All Dad did was enter Italy as a Lieutenant and in just a couple of months found himself a company commander because all the officers above him in his company were killed or severely wounded!

The Air Force really needs to promote a few generals who haven't had lobotomys!!!!!!! What the heck happens to a guy when puts a star on? Why do so many of them become idiots!!!!!!

Sign the petition!!!!!

Strong message follows.
 
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Apparently this hasn't hit the mainstream press just yet, but it looks the the Drone Medal is dead now. Instead, folks will get a "device" to acknowledge their service.

http://www.stripes.com/news/hagel-eliminates-drone-medal-creates-device-for-existing-medals-1.216722

Hagel eliminates ‘drone medal,’ creates device for existing medals

By Chris Carroll
Stars and Stripes

Published: April 15, 2013

WASHINGTON — The so-called “drone medal” is no more.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Monday he would follow the advice of a review overseen by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey and replace the medal intended to recognize drone operators and cyber warriors with a “new distinguishing device that can be affixed to existing medals to recognize the extraordinary actions of this small number of men and women.”

The Distinguished Warfare Medal, announced in February by then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, created a firestorm of controversy when it was ranked above some that require servicemembers to risk life and limb to be eligible, such as the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, which are frequently rewarded for valor in combat.

Legislators and veterans groups derided the medal, and it also was mocked by some in the ranks, who suggested the award could be a gold-plated Xbox controller, among other things.

The medal “undermines all other valor awards,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who introduced legislation to rank the medal below the Purple Heart. Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander John E. Hamilton meanwhile said “medals that can only be earned in direct combat must mean more than medals awarded in the rear.”

Hagel last month ordered Dempsey to lead a review of the medal. The result is that combat medals will continue to be awarded only to those who risk all, he wrote in a memo to military leaders.

“Utilizing a distinguishing device to recognize impacts on combat operations reserves our existing combat medals for those Service members who incur the physical risk and hardship of combat, perform valorous acts, are wounded in combat, or as a result of combat give their last full measure for our Nation,” Hagel said in a letter dated Monday.

In an earlier letter to veterans organizations sent prior to his ordering of the review, Hagel said it was important to recognize the changing face of warfare with the new medal.

“Since Sept. 11, 2001, technological advancements have, in some cases dramatically changed how we conduct and support combat and other military operations. Accordingly the [Distinguished Warfare Medal] award criteria intentionally does not include a geographic limitation on the award, as it is intended for use as a means to recognize all servicemembers who meet the criteria, regardless of the domain used or the member’s physical location,” Hagel wrote.

Veterans groups applauded Hagel’s decision.

“The VFW is appreciative of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for their review, and commends Secretary Hagel for taking this issue on so early in his tenure,” said VFW’s Hamilton. “This decision will clearly keep medals that can only be earned in combat in their high order of precedence, while providing proper recognition to all who support our warfighters regardless of their distance from the fight.”

American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz said replacing the medal with a device puts the valuable contributions of drone operators and cyber warriors in the proper perspective.

“Cyber and drone warfare have become part of the equation for 21st-century warfare, and those who fight such battles with distinction certainly deserve to be recognized,” he said. “But The American Legion still believes there’s a fundamental difference between those who fight remotely, or via computer, and those fighting against an enemy who is trying to kill them.”

Defense leaders and veterans organizations will confer on the nature of the new device, as well as “a clear definition of the eligibility criteria for award of the device,” Hagel said.

Hagel said he wanted the design and criteria for the new device to review within 90 days.

[email protected]
Twitter: @ChrisCarroll_
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And that, folks, is what happens when you get a combat veteran as Sec Def and not a professional bureaucrat. Bravo Zulu to Secretary Hagel.
 
Good job and BZ. It is troubling that this was even an issue in the first place.
 
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