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Tech Tuesday, March 12th 2013 at 7:30 pm

After Protests, Military May Nix Proposed Cyber Warfare Medal

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A while back, we brought you the news that the Pentagon was considering awarding a new medal — the Distinguished Warfare Medal — to soldiers who may have never set foot on a battlefield. That idea didn’t set well with some lawmakers and plenty of veterans, though. In the face of these protests, newly minted Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has ordered a halt to the production of the medals pending a review of the new award.

Most of the complaints over the medal haven’t come over it being issued to soldiers who aren’t in the thick of combat, but over where the medal is ranked — its “order of precedence,” in military speak. While drone pilots being eligible for a medal is largely non-controversial, that award being ranked more highly than the Purple Heart issued to soldiers wounded in combat left a bad taste in many mouths. Hagel has ordered Patrick Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to review the rank of the medal and report back on whether or not it is appropriate.

If it’s found not to be, that wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of awards for drone pilots and computer geeks serving the military remotely, but it could spell the end of the Distinguished Warfare Medal. If the original rank is judged inappropriate, any new medal would have to be renamed and redesigned. The AP reports that the review should take place within 30 days, so we’ll know more then.

(via TPM)

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  • Anonymous

    I respect the job older vets did but they really have no clue how today’s military works and how the men and woman who don’t enter direct combat have just as am important job as them. When Chinese hackers disable all our military hardware maybe there will be an appreciation for people who serve remotely.

  • Anonymous

    That’s right.

  • http://www.facebook.com/troyldailey Troy Dailey

    It isn’t about an older vet not “knowing how the modern world works.” Medals are there to honor those who put themselves at risk. Commendations are there for those who do their jobs well. Give them all the commendations and “atta-boys” you want. But the only lives they are risking are those on the actual field of operations. They aren’t directing battles…they are not Generals or other officers, they are directing drones. There is a large difference. As for those who are protecting our electronic frontiers…I have no issue with that. Just remember the hierarchy. A Bronze Star can be awarded for defeating a concerted attack on the military’s infrastructure, no problem. Above that, though, and there should be some personal risk involved.