USMC,

I was pointing out that your post asking whether the analyst and Mendez should get the same award also pointed to the fact that perhaps a separate award for separate contributions was appropriate.

My take is the new medal is appropriate and needed and the relative value is worthy of discussion (though, let's be realistic about what the BS really means as you infer in your post). I think the RPA driver in my scenario above deserves higher recognition than the guy who got the BS for processing 600 awards packages or the deputy public affairs NCO. The commonly held view by others is that the new medal is wholly inappropriate due to the lack of personal danger faced by the crews.