 |
|
02-15-2013, 12:42 PM
|
#1
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 3,895
|
Drone Pilot Medals !
__________________
Earning money is an action, saving money is a behavior, growing money takes a well diversified portfolio and the discipline to ignore market swings.
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
|
02-15-2013, 01:11 PM
|
#2
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Portland
Posts: 4,946
|
Will there be an equivalent civilian award for people who are really good at "Call of Duty"?
Sorry, but to me this ranks up there with the various gedunk ribbons (given for happening to be enlisted while we're off having a war somewhere).
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 01:16 PM
|
#3
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 3,895
|
 Quote:
Originally Posted by M Paquette
Will there be an equivalent civilian award for people who are really good at "Call of Duty"?
Sorry, but to me this ranks up there with the various gedunk ribbons (given for happening to be enlisted while we're off having a war somewhere).
|
Next up, a purple heart for carpel tunnel syndrome ?
__________________
Earning money is an action, saving money is a behavior, growing money takes a well diversified portfolio and the discipline to ignore market swings.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 01:49 PM
|
#4
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thousand Oaks
Posts: 1,111
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by frayne
Next up, a purple heart for carpel tunnel syndrome ?
|
Do you disapprove of medals for army doctors that invent new wound compresses or an Air Force meteorologist that comes up with a great new model for forecasting wing icing conditions on planes? If someone is a really good drone pilot and makes a real difference in the lives of others I would think that's worthy of some recognition.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 01:49 PM
|
#5
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,022
|
When drone 'pilots' subject themselves to physical danger beyond paper cuts and hemorrhoids I'll support a decoration that ranks above the Good Conduct Medal.What a crock...
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 01:53 PM
|
#6
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,022
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mh
Do you disapprove of medals for army doctors that invent new wound compresses or an Air Force meteorologist that comes up with a great new model for forecasting wing icing conditions on planes? If someone is a really good drone pilot and makes a real difference in the lives of others I would think that's worthy of some recognition.
|
Absolutely worthy and deserving of recognition, but there are a handful of medals already on the books for this sort of service. Something ranking above the Bronze Star is totally inappropriate for anyone not demonstrating courage when faced with physical danger in the face of an enemy. The only danger these 'pilots' face is commuting too and from work every day.
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 03:10 PM
|
#7
|
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 333
|
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 03:18 PM
|
#8
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,288
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo
Absolutely worthy and deserving of recognition, but there are a handful of medals already on the books for this sort of service. Something ranking above the Bronze Star is totally inappropriate for anyone not demonstrating courage when faced with physical danger in the face of an enemy. The only danger these 'pilots' face is commuting too and from work every day.
|
+1
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:07 PM
|
#9
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6,506
|
I got this while I had the Drone on full auto... pilot, and doing soduku.
__________________
There must be moderation in everything, including moderation.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:31 PM
|
#10
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: 5-sided building
Posts: 1,184
|
USAF gives medals for finishing boot camp.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:47 PM
|
#11
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,362
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo
Absolutely worthy and deserving of recognition, but there are a handful of medals already on the books for this sort of service. Something ranking above the Bronze Star is totally inappropriate for anyone not demonstrating courage when faced with physical danger in the face of an enemy. The only danger these 'pilots' face is commuting too and from work every day.
|
I understand your point of view, but disagree.
The level of involvement these folks experience is far greater than most people realize.
The camera resolution on these RPVs is so high that the pilots develop a total immersion in the mission to an incredible degree. Their missions are actually quite similar to the old saw about "hours of boredom punctuated by moments of stark terror."
When they spend many hours flying patrol, then get called in to support ground troops engaged in intense fighting, they are actually "there" in all senses except the obvious geographical one.
I have no problem at all with the new awards. And yes, I have my own Bronze Star, if that has any relevance to the discussion.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:54 PM
|
#12
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Texas~29N/98W Just West of Woman Hollering Creek
Posts: 6,674
|
Medals, badges and decorations are an inexpensive way for the military to recognise troops that contribute to the success of the mission. Load them up with fruit salad I say.
__________________
Part-Owner of Texas
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx
In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:56 PM
|
#13
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,022
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by braumeister
... they are actually "there" in all senses except the obvious geographical one.
|
Yes, and therein lies the critical difference.
Maybe a Pewter Star....
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 05:44 PM
|
#14
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Portland
Posts: 4,946
|
It looks like they are doing three versions of the Drone Medal, very much analogous to the Achievement Medal, Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service medal, and given for the same reasons as the existing medals.
At least this is better than the 'I graduated from the school' medal that I initially thought it would be. I still don't see why they didn't stick with the Achievement Medal, Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal, though. More fruit salad, anyone?
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 05:58 PM
|
#15
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,022
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by M Paquette
It looks like they are doing three versions of the Drone Medal, very much analogous to the Achievement Medal, Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service medal, and given for the same reasons as the existing medals.
At least this is better than the 'I graduated from the school' medal that I initially thought it would be. I still don't see why they didn't stick with the Achievement Medal, Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal, though. More fruit salad, anyone?
|
One of the new drone medals, the Distinguished Warfare Medal, ranks just below the Distinguished Flying cross and above the Bronze Star - and the Bronze Star ranks above both the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. It's this medal that has drawn the most criticism:
Quote:
|
It is not only the award itself, but its placement above, in order of prestige, the Bronze Star, that baffles and rankles some. The Bronze Star is awarded for extraordinary service to combatants in an actual war zone.
|
Quote:
|
“The medal ranked below the Bronze would likely have caused general indifference,”
|
Pentagon uproar over Panetta's hero medals for drone operators, cyber sleuths - Washington Times
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 06:26 PM
|
#17
|
|
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,041
|
I thought being a REMF was its own reward.
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 06:36 PM
|
#18
|
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 927
|
A drone pilot wouldn't make a pimple on a real pilots ass.
__________________
CW4, USA-(ret)
RN, BSN-(ret)
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 08:37 PM
|
#19
|
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,038
|
My daughter saw my Air Force discharge papers. She called it my certificate of participation. So true.
I do not support medals ranking above the purple heart for people that have not been in harms way.
Also I am a private pilot. If your a** is not in the plane its not the same thing! Don't care about your prowess with simulators or remote control planes.
I have no medals myself. I was in during peace time.
__________________
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 09:54 PM
|
#20
|
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,186
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo
Yes, and therein lies the critical difference.
Maybe a Pewter Star....
|
Perhaps they could be honored with the label "Pilot Emeritus?"
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|
Linear Mode
