Drone Driver Award
#23
With The Resistance
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Burning the Agitprop of the Apparat
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#25
With The Resistance
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Position: Burning the Agitprop of the Apparat
Posts: 6,191
#26
This.
In no way does someone who flies a drone from an armchair rate a medal that would rank above a combat medal earned in the line of fire where loss of life or limb is a distinct possibility, regardless of circumstance (like saving troops pinned down, in the example brought up).
A drone "pilot" (<---note the quotations) is in the rear with the gear, sipping a cold coke sitting in an air-conditioned van. The Bronze star, Silver star, the DFC, and the MOH are for guys who can get killed doing what they do.
A drone "pilot" doesn't qualify. PERIOD.
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Permanently scarred
Posts: 1,707
Seriously, what would a drone driver do that would be deserving of this medal that you wouldn't expect of him/her in the first place? Operate it in a manner for which they haven't been trained? Put themselves, I mean, the drone at risk of being shot down? As for finding someone or something that's difficult to find, protecting friendlies who can't get you on the radio, or taking out enemy combatants to save friendlies' lives, well that's what the job calls for, doesn't it? My squadron did that routinely these past 10+ years, and more often than not it was a "counter" toward an Air Medal...get 10 of them (now 15 or 20 I think) and you had enough missions to get an AM.
#28
A medal costs little to produce; it's real value lies in the perception of merit which it inspires in the holder's colleagues. That perception is diluted as the number of similar (or higher) medals awarded is increased. Such "inflation" may lead to the establishment of new decorations for valor, such as the Gold and Platinum Stars.
#30
Wow, tell us how you really feel?
What if they are instrumental in detecting and eliminating enemy that is pinning down our ground troops, against regular doctrine and procedure?
What if they recognize someone on the ground who is in distress and unable to communicate?
What if they...
This could go on and on. Some of you seem to hate the UAS operators because they are the "new kid" on the block. Face it, this is the future of warfare, and it will mean less people in harms way, but it doesn't mean the human element isn't important. It could be critical, and I'm sure there will be situations in the future where it is.
What if they are instrumental in detecting and eliminating enemy that is pinning down our ground troops, against regular doctrine and procedure?
What if they recognize someone on the ground who is in distress and unable to communicate?
What if they...
This could go on and on. Some of you seem to hate the UAS operators because they are the "new kid" on the block. Face it, this is the future of warfare, and it will mean less people in harms way, but it doesn't mean the human element isn't important. It could be critical, and I'm sure there will be situations in the future where it is.
If a UAS operator is somehow actually physically involved in combat, there are already awards he can get. If he's plinking baddies from CONUS with a warm starbucks latte close at hand, there are plenty of atta-boy medals for that too.
But this medal should not rate higher than a MSM.
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