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Tech Thursday, February 14th 2013 at 8:34 am

Modern Warfare: New Medal Announced For Drone Pilots, Military Computer Wonks

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On Wednesday afternoon, outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced a new medal would be added to the roster of decorations for American soldiers — the Distinguished Warfare Medal. Like most other medals, this one will be awarded to soldiers whose actions had a heroic impact on the battlefield. Unlike other medals, though, it won’t require that the soldier have actually been on the battlefield, as the Distinguished Warfare Medal is meant to honor cyberwarriors, drone pilots, and others who serve their country remotely, sometimes without ever being involved in traditional combat. Learn more and get a look at the new medal below.

According to an announcement from the Defense Department, the red, white, and blue ribboned medal will be awarded not for “valorous acts” but for achievements that directly impacted combat operations. That could mean a particularly timely and well-placed strike by a drone pilot, or a successful defense of military secrets from a cyberattack, both of which contribute to national defense without requiring the person behind them to risk life and limb. In a statement, Panetta said:

“The medal provides distinct, departmentwide recognition for the extraordinary achievements that directly impact on combat operations, but that do not involve acts of valor or physical risk that combat entails.”

Since the DOD is notoriously tight-lipped about things like drone strikes and hacks, it’s not entirely clear how transparent the process of awarding this new medal — the first one introduced since the Bronze Star in 1944 — will be.

We’re inclined to say good on the the DOD for recognizing the contributions of new kinds of soldiers on new kinds of battlefields, especially considering that while drone pilots, for example, dont’ put their necks on the line like troops on the ground, studies have shown that many don’t come away from their service untouched by it. Respect should be paid.

What do you think, though? Should there be a medal in place for the men and women who pilot the nation’s drones? Is it keeping your country safe that makes you worthy of a medal, or putting your life on the line? Especially interested to hear from veterans on this one. Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or @Geekosystem.

(via Politico, image courtesy of flickr)

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  • Anonymous

    Respectfully, I do not think this is the question we should be asking. I think the real question we should be asking is why we are using drones in the manner that we are. The casualness with which we take lives denotes the value we put on on those lives. When death is a button press away, when we can afford to be removed from any of the imminent danger that the majority of past warfare involved, it is easy to become a monster.

    I wonder what it must be like to be offered money from the American government after having one of your relatives blown apart by a drone strike. I can only imagine that this is the type of activity that inspires one to become a “terrorist”.

  • Ron G

    The drone is only the delivery platform; it is the bomb and its location that is relevant for discussion. Would it be any different were the bomb delivered by a cruise missile, a covert ground operation, an in-aircraft piloted vehicle, or a space-based kinetic weapon? Whether you agree or disagree with the governments objectives and justification, acknowledging the extraordinary achievements by the individual soldier or airman is always appropriate.
    In the combat theater Bronze Star medals are routinely given for extraordinary achievements even though the individual was not in imminent danger; however, for Bronze Stars given under circumstances of valor, the medal is awarded with a V device. (A big bronze V in the middle of the ribbon holding the medal) A mission planning officer might get a bronze star while safely in the headquarters near Kabul; a marine caught in a fire fight might get a Bronze Star but with a V device — big difference! This new medal is essentially a non-V device bronze star for extraordinary combat-related achievement while not in theater.

  • Dippy

    Any wonder why it’s called the Air FARCE

  • Michael Clifford

    I support the establishment of a medal to acknowledge the work of drone pilots. However I am outraged that it will rank above the Bronze star and the Purple Heart. The person who is awarded this medal is in no physical danger from the enemy. It is obvious that who ever made the decision with regard to the seniority of the award was never a combat veteran or serve in combat with real hero’s. The US military is becoming very European in that they are given out medals to anyone for anything. Our military members are beginning to look like the general in the ‘pirates of penzance’.