Fierce Reaction to Drone, Cyber Warrior Medal
While people show concern about the placement of drones in the U.S. -- to do what -- Obama hasn't said?; military drone pilots get new medal. Sec. of Defense Leon Penetta has authorized a new Distinguished Warfare Medal for those not on the front lines of war or even behind enemy lines. Not a big deal except for the fact that Mr. Secretary and his staff "screwed up" the ordered placement of the medal. He set this arm chair (see photo below) medal ahead of the Bronze Star with Valor the Purple Heart. Since the military can't complain, the VFW and hopefully others are doing it. Story below.
Military.com | by Bryant Jordan: Barely 24 hours after the Pentagon announced its new medal for cyber warriors and drone pilots, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is demanding the decoration's ranking be lowered.
The Distinguished Warfare Medal is ranked above both the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart – medals typically awarded for combat in which the servicemember's life is at risk.
"The VFW fully concurs that those far from the fight are having an immediate impact on the battlefield in real-time, but medals that can only be earned in direct combat must mean more than medals awarded in the rear," VFW National Commander John E. Hamilton said in a statement released Thursday. "The VFW urges the Department of Defense to reconsider the new medal's placement in the military order of precedence."
The Distinguished Warfare Medal is ranked above both the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart – medals typically awarded for combat in which the servicemember's life is at risk.
"The VFW fully concurs that those far from the fight are having an immediate impact on the battlefield in real-time, but medals that can only be earned in direct combat must mean more than medals awarded in the rear," VFW National Commander John E. Hamilton said in a statement released Thursday. "The VFW urges the Department of Defense to reconsider the new medal's placement in the military order of precedence."
. . . Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who previously served as CIA director, said in a statement that he had "seen first-hand how modern tools like remotely-piloted platforms and cyber systems have changed the way wars can be fought, changed the course of battle even from afar . . . "For that reason, I formally approved establishing the Distinguished Warfare Medal," Panetta said. . . . . 
Tags: military medals, drone drivers, cyber warrior medal, VFW, SOD, Leon Penetta To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Tags: military medals, drone drivers, cyber warrior medal, VFW, SOD, Leon Penetta To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 5:26 PM - Post Link
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