New Medal Recognizes Changing Face of Conflict, Official Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2013 – The new Distinguished Warfare Medal recognizes the changing face of conflict in the 21st century, said Juliet Beyler, the acting director of officer and enlisted personnel management in the Pentagon.
Beyler said in an interview that technological developments on the battlefield have changed the way service members fight.
“The services all came forward and said there are people … who are doing incredible things and we wanted the ability to recognize them for those things,” she said.
There are no existing awards that adequately recognize the contributions these service members make. Examples of the actions that would be recognized by the new medal include a service member who is involved in a cyber attack on a specific military target.
“That would be someone possibly who would be eligible for this award,” Beyler said.
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The vast majority of Bronze Star Medals are not awarded for valor, she said. Only 2.4 percent of Bronze Stars are given with a V device connoting a valor award. Depending on the service, the V-device can also be awarded with commendation medals.
The secretary of defense created the Distinguished Warfare Medal and can set the order of precedence.
Beyler said the award is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, and the service secretaries will detail how to recognize earlier acts.