The USAF Lobby strikes again

You have to wonder, with all the controversy this seems to be stirring up how the recipients of this medal may feel wearing it in "mixed" company (i.e. not just within their specialized unit).

I would think they might be a bit conflicted, but I'm not sure and I don't want to pretend to be them.

People talk about medals given for lesser contributions. This one might be considered obviously in that category...
 
Sign the petition and spread the word

Go sign the whitehouse petition to change the precedence:

Change the Precedence Petition


Well at least it will be plainly obvious who flies aircraft personally in combat and who flies aircraft from home when you see an air medal vice this award.
 
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119312

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.

....

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.
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I'm trying to cheer myself up with the good comedy riffs on this but this makes me sick. I guess I shouldn't care? But see Napoleon on "bits of ribbon." In the meantime I've got a repeating loop in my mind's eyes of the guys in my company who came away with Navy Coms with Vs for some serious s---.
 
usnabgo08 said:
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119312
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Spin it anyway you want but consider these numbers: The number of days away from home, much less in a hostile environment spent by these technotwerps=0. The number of winners of this "award" who have actually become casualties while executing their duties= 0. The number of BSM w/V winners (you know those 2.4% that this twerp references) whose devices are now lower in precedence than these "Sheldon Cooper" clones= all of them.

This is baloney- if they have done something meritorious- give them the LOM or the DSM- or hang another little scroll underneath their Expert Marksmanship badge- but don't try and justify this nonsense.
Unit patch:
chairborne.jpg
 
As I've said before, there is very much so a growing back-lash within the AF, and even within the ranks of the RPA pilots, on the precedence of this medal in comparison to others. Higher than a DFC or an Air Medal? Ludicrous, and we SHOULD be ashamed as a service (and most I know ARE) for this.

But I will say I have seen the numbers, and the videos, of the fantastic work these have done, both in the number of insurgents they have helped fulfill their wish to get their 72 virgins, and the number of American troops on the ground that they have provided invaluable support for, often ensuring THEY return home safely. Great work that derserved a way to be recognized> The problem was this recognition was for work that was much less in risk than those actually in the thick of it, so the medal SHOULD be different than what those actually in combat were getting. Making that recognition higher? Shameful.

BTW, I earned that patch a while back, but my PowerPoint ribbon supercedes it, so I rarely wear it anymore.... :biggrin:
 
bruno said:
Spin it anyway you want but consider these numbers: The number of days away from home, much less in a hostile environment spent by these technotwerps=0. The number of winners of this "award" who have actually become casualties while executing their duties= 0. The number of BSM w/V winners (you know those 2.4% that this twerp references) whose devices are now lower in precedence than these "Sheldon Cooper" clones= all of them.

This is baloney- if they have done something meritorious- give them the LOM or the DSM- or hang another little scroll underneath their Expert Marksmanship badge- but don't try and justify this nonsense.
Unit patch:
chairborne.jpg
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While I agree with your and everybody elses point about the placement of this award this post seems a bit personal. The so called twerps are US service men and women doing their jobs and in doing so are helping the war effort and reducing US casualties on the ground. I don't think they asked for this award and according to Bullet are not exactly happy about it. You can and should be unhappy with the Secretary of Defense, possibly the AF brass and maybe even the Commander in Chief but this post has a tone that is disrespectful to the men and women serving our country in the RPA/Cyber communities.

If I misunderstood your tone, I apologize.
 
I think everyone here agrees that the notion of presenting this award to drone operators with the gravity of a BSN with V is nonsense. However, I don't see how calling these guys "chairborne" does anything except belittle their service. As we all know drones are fast becoming an important part of battlefield surveillance brigades and the modern war theatre. It's not like these guys are out there on the streets calling for an award, if you want to blame anyone just keep your eyes fixed on those sycophants and Panetta.
 
Aglahad said:
I think everyone here agrees that the notion of presenting this award to drone operators with the gravity of a BSN with V is nonsense. However, I don't see how calling these guys "chairborne" does anything except belittle their service. As we all know drones are fast becoming an important part of battlefield surveillance brigades and the modern war theatre. It's not like these guys are out there on the streets calling for an award, if you want to blame anyone just keep your eyes fixed on those sycophants and Panetta.
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Tossing out the chairborne term is the birthright of combat arms soldiers.

We all chose our jobs. Wanna be a hero? We have those MOS's.
 
scoutpilot said:
Tossing out the chairborne term is the birthright of combat arms soldiers.
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As it is the birthright of every AF guy who hears the continual whine from our Army brethren about how nice our lifestyle is compared to them to reply, "Don't blame us for your poor life choices." :wink:

scoutpilot said:
We all chose our jobs.
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Yeah, us AF guys heard about how Army guys choose: Army recruiter: "You want A or B?". Army Recruit: "5". :yllol:

scoutpilot said:
Wanna be a hero? We have those MOS's.
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I didn't know you guys flew fighters! :thumb:
 
Bullet said:
As it is the birthright of every AF guy who hears the continual whine from our Army brethren about how nice our lifestyle is compared to them to reply, "Don't blame us for your poor life choices." :wink:



Yeah, us AF guys heard about how Army guys choose: Army recruiter: "You want A or B?". Army Recruit: "5". :yllol:



I didn't know you guys flew fighters! :thumb:
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Fighters? I thought those were just for air shows these days.
 
scoutpilot said:
Tossing out the chairborne term is the birthright of combat arms soldiers.

We all chose our jobs. Wanna be a hero? We have those MOS's.
Click to expand...

Nah I'm good, content with the medical side of things.
 
scoutpilot said:
Tossing out the chairborne term is the birthright of combat arms soldiers.

We all chose our jobs. Wanna be a hero? We have those MOS's.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever heard of an airman referring to himself as a hero. The few RPA dudes I know are all content just to know that their efforts helped out some of the grunts on the ground. I don't know where the big push for this new medal came from. But as far as I know it didnt come from the guys at Creech.
 
http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/02/top-drone-pilots-battle-at-elite-training-school/
The Duffelblog nailed it with this spoof on "Top Drone"- (theme music: "Highway to the NonDanger Zone" -my apologies to Kenny Loggins)

..." Ghostbuster’s command eventually recognized his talent and sent him to Top Ground Command and Control Station School (GCCSS) in Coronado—the so-called “Top Drone” program that produces the military’s elite drone pilots.

“I knew right away that I was facing some stiff competition,” Ghostbuster said. “As soon as I walked in the building, there were all these pilots who were overweight and soft and pale, and their faces were covered in acne. You don’t get that kind of body without hours and hours in the cockpit [sic], away from the light of the day. These guys were the real deal.”
Ghostbuster was soon paired up with A1C Jeremy Rodriguez, a Pilot Supply Specialist who goes by the call sign “Pidgey,” after the Pokémon creature. (It is common for Drone pilots to take call signs of flying Pokémon.)
Pidgey’s job was to make sure that Ghostbuster stayed well-stocked with snacks and soda during long training missions.

“I feel the need,” the two were known to say in unison, “the need to feed.” Then Pidgey would drive out to Taco Bell and bring back an order of Nachos Bell Grande and a large Pepsi.

If Top Drone had the best of the best drone pilots, then Ghostbuster and Pidgey were the best of the best of the best. They outperformed every other team in the program, except for one: SrA Ted “Ice Tea” Kazinsky and his partner, A1C Frederick “Cheesesteak” Hawkins..."
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OK, I've figured out why they created the medal...

We've all heard that these guys in Nevada are engaging in significant combat missions without exposing themselves to significant risk.

You all have missed the point of this medal.... The risk!

You see, when the first cybergeek manages to get the Iranian nuke to self-destruct in place, he will be the first recipient of the medal. When his name is announced, s/he will be at risk of the Iranian spy organizations for the remainder of his/her life.

We've now brought them into the world of the rest of the recipients of combat medals.

Problem solved???
 
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