New medal for drone pilots out ranks Bronze Star

[tmleadr03]

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/02/military-new-medal-for-drone-pilots-outranks-bronze-star-021313/

Well, screw that.[Rant1]

[Dingo]

Just the Ministry Of Information's attempt to give some good PR to the drones. If they say it takes more courage to fly a remote-controlled airplane than fight on a battlefield, it must be so.

[JMBD2112]

congatulations, you're good at playing video games

[HBARleatherneck]

and here I am thinking you guys were a bunch of geeks, playing games all day in moms basement.
I didnt know you could get a medal for it.

the big question DEVIL DOG, is why are you reading the Army news?

[tmleadr03]

and here I am thinking you guys were a bunch or geeks, playing games all day in moms basement.
I didnt know you could get a metal for it.

the big question DEVIL DOG, is why are you reading the Army news?

[facepalm]

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2013/02/mct-new-medal-for-drone-pilots-outranks-bronze-star-021313/

[TAR31]

For those that haven't been in in a while the bronze star is not what it used to be. It's now a campaign medal for senior enlisted and officers.

[JMBD2112]

For those that haven't been in in a while the bronze star is not what it used to be. It's now a campaign medal for senior enlisted and officers.

I came off active in '06 and it wasn't like that, I saw three given out posthumously when I was in Bayji, that was it.

[TAR31]

I came off active in '06 and it wasn't like that, I saw three given out posthumously when I was in Bayji, that was it.
I got out in 06 also and it was given to platoon sergeant and above in my unit, most of them never left the fob.

[muddywings]

I got out in 06 also and it was given to platoon sergeant and above in my unit, most of them never left the fob.

The "V" makes all the difference. Agree a lot of REMFs have them but a lot of dudes who were in the shit have them too....with a "V."

As for the drone crap....what tmleader03 said, "screw that."

[Inconel710]

I saw a crap load of Bronze Stars handed out in Iraq, but the "V" still meant something. This new award is bogus. We've got more medals and ribbons than a third world dictator now.

[Rucker61]

I saw a crap load of Bronze Stars handed out in Iraq, but the "V" still meant something. This new award is bogus. We've got more medals and ribbons than a third world dictator now.

I couldn't have said it better. Without the "V", it's a nicer ARCOM.

[Singlestack]

Just what we need, a "participation award". In the book "predator", written by a mission pilot, the mission pilots are all in the continental US (Las Vegas area?). The in-theatre guys just took off and landed the drone.

[Fmedges]

Fucking pathetic.

[TheBelly]

I guess my 4 medals for serving my country in Iraq and Afghanistan don't mean jack then.

Not my call, but it really lets me know some things.

[Fmedges]

Just wait, soon their drone trailer will be tax free because it an imminent danger zone.

[griebel303]

Was just having a conversation at work about this today. I personally have never served, but have the upmost respect for our soldiers and for those who have been on the front line and the sacrifice they make. I think it is a slap in the face to say someone, who from a remote location that was never in danger, deserves a higher award than someone on the ground dealing with ied's and mortar fire.

[Fmedges]

Just another day in bizzaro world.

[silentshooter]

Just wait they will give a valor device to one of these new medals to some drone pilot that sacafices his drone during a mission.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[JMBD2112]

I got out in 06 also and it was given to platoon sergeant and above in my unit, most of them never left the fob.

Really?! unbelievable[facepalm]
But for some reason it doesn't surprise meeither....where were you, which rotation?

[clublights]

THis came about because guys "stuck" on UAV tours instead of being in the cockpit of their fighters threw fits .....


Whiney ass fighter Jocks.

[Fmedges]

THis came about because guys "stuck" on UAV tours instead of being in the cockpit of their fighters threw fits .....


Whiney ass fighter Jocks.

They can do FAC deployments for awards instead.

[Singlestack]

Just wait they will give a valor device to one of these new medals to some drone pilot that sacafices his drone during a mission.


Wierder yet - they give one of these medals to a drone, not the pilot....[facepalm]

[clublights]

They can do FAC deployments for awards instead.


+1

Well I know the Air Force Uses "real' pilots for UAV's .. is the Navy/Marines doing the same thing ?

[BushMasterBoy]

Drone pilots train here in Pueblo. They actually have to fly a real aircraft. I met a few at the Weisbrod Museum. They train at Doss Aviation. I dunno about medals...I never got any.

[Hoser]

RNZZaQpu_HU

[275RLTW]

Since when do little pieces of colored cloth mean shit anyways? Either I have or I know someone who has every medal out there, even a CMOH, and none of those medals are wanted nor valued more than the box it comes in. The only appreciation that matters is the respect of those that were there with you. No piece of paper or $.50 ribbon is worth more than a beer from your brothers. I say lat them have whatever awards they want. None of them mean shit and are only flaunted by those who didn't do shit.

[Fmedges]

Since when do little pieces of colored cloth mean shit anyways? Either I have or I know someone who has every medal out there, even a CMOH, and none of those medals are wanted nor valued more than the box it comes in. The only appreciation that matters is the respect of those that were there with you. No piece of paper or $.50 ribbon is worth more than a beer from your brothers. I say lat them have whatever awards they want. None of them mean shit and are only flaunted by those who didn't do shit.

Judge me if you must. Mine are on my wall at home and that is where they stay. I am proud of them however. I put a lot of hard work and effort into those pieces of cloth and they represent my life's story for 4 years of my life. I do value them but not in a way that anyone else would. I rarely mention that I am a veteran because I am terrified of getting thanked, but to me my awards at home on my wall for me to look at and remember or think of times past mean the world to me.

[tmleadr03]

THis came about because guys "stuck" on UAV tours instead of being in the cockpit of their fighters threw fits .....


Whiney ass fighter Jocks.

I think it is actually enlisted who do the drone piloting.

[sniper7]

I think it is actually enlisted who do the drone piloting.


it depends. some of the drones are contract guys. I think only the surveillance ones though, not combat-ish (hard to say combat drone with a straight face) ones.

[wyome]

I think it is actually enlisted who do the drone piloting.

enlisted are usually the drone sensor's operators. pilots are usually officers, or contracted pilots.

the smaller tactical drones can be operated by enlisted , these are usually army or marine drones.

[TEAMRICO]

I couldn't have said it better. Without the "V", it's a nicer ARCOM.
Please point to mine and ask me how I got mine.
I will point out the three men who died that day and why it reminds me of how lucky I was and that medal is for them.

or I will tell you to go fuck yourself.

[griebel303]

Looks like the Medal is getting its deserved criticism/opposition. Hopefully the petition gains some steam and they drop the ranking of it down where it belongs

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/02/15/opposition-grows-to-new-medals-ranking.html?comp=1198882887570&rank=1

[KevDen2005]

You know, I was offered a huge re-enlistment bonus to leave the infantry and become a UAV operator in 2004. I turned it down and said, that looks lame. Now, it seems like business is booming.

[Melvin]

We've got more medals and ribbons than a third world dictator now.

Maybe??

http://thisainthell.us/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/North-Korean-Generals.jpg

[TheBelly]

Since when do little pieces of colored cloth mean shit anyways? Either I have or I know someone who has every medal out there, even a CMOH, and none of those medals are wanted nor valued more than the box it comes in. The only appreciation that matters is the respect of those that were there with you. No piece of paper or $.50 ribbon is worth more than a beer from your brothers. I say lat them have whatever awards they want. None of them mean shit and are only flaunted by those who didn't do shit.

There is truth in this. It's awesome that you know all those people, btw.

I wear mine with pride. I earned them by walking the walk.

[TheBelly]

Please point to mine and ask me how I got mine.
I will point out the three men who died that day and why it reminds me of how lucky I was and that medal is for them.

or I will tell you to go fuck yourself.

Worst days of my life, I'm with you there.

[Byte Stryke]

the sad part is that the Bronze star has been overly-gifted for so long that in many cases (NOT ALL) it is meaningless.
CIP: E7 Goes to Kuwait, Supervises a bunch of paperwork, does little, spends most of his time goofing. He goes on ONE trip with another Lower Enlisted to Liberty in Iraq to fix a MUX, gets a Bronze star with "V"
He never even touched the equipment. I remember this person asking what the MUX did.

"For professional expertise ... critical thinking skills .... the field of mission essential telecommunication ... exemplifying high standards of bla bla bla ...credit to his unit, the United States Army"

I seriously could not decide whether to vomit or punch him.

this wasn't the first or last instance of such douchebaggery

am I jealous?
No... I Served as a 62B (Construction equipment Mechanic) I sat in the motorpool, did my job. No one shot at me, I did nothing more exciting than towing a truck or fixing an oil leak.
I got the medals I EARNED.

[Hoser]

Since when do little pieces of colored cloth mean shit anyways? Either I have or I know someone who has every medal out there, even a CMOH, and none of those medals are wanted nor valued more than the box it comes in. The only appreciation that matters is the respect of those that were there with you. No piece of paper or $.50 ribbon is worth more than a beer from your brothers. I say lat them have whatever awards they want. None of them mean shit and are only flaunted by those who didn't do shit.

A few years ago I agreed with you 100%.

One night after flying a bunch of us were sitting around waving our arms and the subject of Awards and Decs came up. All of us felt the same way.

One highly experienced and respected E-8 spoke up after listening to us vent.

He informed us that "Those Medals are not for you. You know what you did, you were there. The medals are for your family. Maybe now, maybe after you are long gone."

It got a little quiet.

I look at them differently now.

I still despise how they are awarded.

[Fmedges]

A few years ago I agreed with you 100%.

One night after flying a bunch of us were sitting around waving our arms and the subject of Awards and Decs came up. All of us felt the same way.

One highly experienced and respected E-8 spoke up after listening to us vent.

He informed us that "Those Medals are not for you. You know what you did, you were there. The medals are for your family. Maybe now, maybe after you are long gone."

It got a little quiet.

I look at them differently now.

I still despise how they are awarded.

I think we all do.

[Sharpienads]

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/04/air-force-tech-sergeants-take-heat-bronze-stars-041612/

'Nuff said.