Air Force Chaplain Awarded Bronze Star for....PowerPoint presentation - not a joke

Luigi59

Luigi59

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I'm nonplussed.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/local/local-chaplain-played-vital-role-in-war/nWhTm/

After the accidental burning last year of Qurans by U.S. troops in Afghanistan sparked deadly rioting, an Air National Guard chaplain from Springfield stepped in and potentially saved countless American lives.

For his effort, Lt. Col. Jon Trainer received the prestigious Bronze Star — a medal given for heroic or meritorious achievement in connection with operations against an armed enemy.

And he did it with a PowerPoint presentation.

Trainer, who’s now in the running to be named Chaplain of the Year for the entire Air Guard, was in the third month of his voluntary deployment to Afghanistan last February when U.S. troops at Bagram Airfield mistakenly burned copies of the Muslim holy book.

The ensuing outrage claimed more than 30 lives, including two U.S. troops and two U.S. military advisers.

Within 48 hours, Trainer developed a PowerPoint presentation on the proper handling and disposal of Islamic religious material that was seen by every American — military and civilian alike — in Afghanistan. The presentation then was distributed to the U.S. for use in all pre-deployment training.
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From CDR Salamander:

We all have stories of, "They got a Bronze Star for what?"

9.9 times out of 10 it isn't that you don't think what they did was good or great - but just that one has an idea what a Bronze Star should be for, and that ain't it.

That boat sailed a long time ago, but this almost gets a shark jumping award.
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My thoughts on this...

He was deployed for a typical ANG/AFRC deployment of 120 days, if I read the article correctly. He is an 0-5 (considered in some locales as a senior officer) and my "guess" is that he was the "command chaplain" at his location or that area. (When the citation says "...36,000 personnel..." he's the head guy).

IF all that is so...it's NOT very unusual for an 0-5 in such a role to be nominated for a "Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)" for actions, great responsibilities, etc...etc...etc...

The "catch" is that if one is in a "combat theater/zone" then that MSM is shifted to a Bronze Star (BSM). I can't tell you how many young Captains - Colonels I've seen being awarded their "1st - Xth" BSM's after a deployment. It's become the medal "you need to get" if you're a field-grade (Major-Colonel) officer looking for higher rank and position.

To me? Unless it has the combat delineating "V" device, it's a "I was there in a command or more involved supporting role" medal. If I had four stars, I'd redo the medal; change the statement on the back that currently reads: "Heroic or Meritorious Achievement" to simply say: "For Heroic Service" or something similar.

And then I'd change the rules/protocol back to allow the MSM to be awarded in a combat zone. The "star" should be for combat heroism, nothing else.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Nah just award him the Distinguished Warfare Medal for his meritorious contributions
 
BSM? DWM maybe but not probably. This new medal is getting ridiculous.
 
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flieger83 said:
My thoughts on this...

He was deployed for a typical ANG/AFRC deployment of 120 days, if I read the article correctly. He is an 0-5 (considered in some locales as a senior officer) and my "guess" is that he was the "command chaplain" at his location or that area. (When the citation says "...36,000 personnel..." he's the head guy).

IF all that is so...it's NOT very unusual for an 0-5 in such a role to be nominated for a "Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)" for actions, great responsibilities, etc...etc...etc...

The "catch" is that if one is in a "combat theater/zone" then that MSM is shifted to a Bronze Star (BSM). I can't tell you how many young Captains - Colonels I've seen being awarded their "1st - Xth" BSM's after a deployment. It's become the medal "you need to get" if you're a field-grade (Major-Colonel) officer looking for higher rank and position.

To me? Unless it has the combat delineating "V" device, it's a "I was there in a command or more involved supporting role" medal. If I had four stars, I'd redo the medal; change the statement on the back that currently reads: "Heroic or Meritorious Achievement" to simply say: "For Heroic Service" or something similar.

And then I'd change the rules/protocol back to allow the MSM to be awarded in a combat zone. The "star" should be for combat heroism, nothing else.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
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I concur, especially with the caveat concerning the MSM switching to a BSM if the meritorious service did occur in a combat zone. Pretty much all of the cadre in my batt had a BSM (or 2) and most seemed pretty keen on the stark differences between a BSM and a BSM w/ V.

I don't think awarding the standard BSM for acts such as this takes anything away from the BSM earned with valor.
 
Aglahad said:
I don't think awarding the standard BSM for acts such as this takes anything away from the BSM earned with valor.
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I agree with regards to the Army. Army guys know because they're receiving them. Maybe Marines are too? I don't know.

I can say, having served in a branch that doesn't have too many BSM recipients, and doesn't seen many, seeing one is "different".

"Wow, he has a bronze star."

We didn't look for a V. Honestly, while I was in, I knew direct commission aviators (especially from the Army) because they had bronze stars.

And that's from someone in a service. Imagine how the general public (you know, the 90% who didn't serve) view the medal. Honestly, I would guess the vast majority think it's a huge deal.
 
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