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Subscribe to RSSThe Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded for extraordinary achievement in things such as operating drones or taking part in cyber warfare. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
They fight the war from computer consoles and video screens.
But the troops that launch the drone strikes and direct the cyberattacks that can kill or disable an enemy may never set foot in the combat zone. Now their battlefield contributions may be recognized.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Wednesday that for the first time the Pentagon is creating a medal that can be awarded to troops who have a direct impact on combat operations, but do it from afar.
"I've seen firsthand how modern tools, like remotely piloted platforms and cyber systems, have changed the way wars are fought," Panetta said. "And they've given our men and women the ability to engage the enemy and change the course of battle, even from afar."
The work they do "does contribute to the success of combat operations, particularly when they remove the enemy from the field of battle, even if those actions are physically removed from the fight," he said.
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The new blue, red and white-ribboned Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded to individuals for "extraordinary achievement" related to a military operation that occurred after Sept. 11, 2001. But unlike other combat medals, it does not require the recipient risk his or her life to get it.
Officials said the new medal will be the first combat-related award to be created since the Bronze Star in 1944.
A recognition of the evolving 21st Century warfare, the medal will be considered a bit higher in ranking than the Bronze Star, but is lower than the Silver Star, defense officials said.
The Bronze Star is the fourth highest combat decoration and rewards meritorious service in battle, while the Silver Star is the third highest combat award given for bravery. Several other awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, are also ranked higher, but are not awarded for combat.
Over the last decade of war, remotely-piloted Predators and Reapers have become a critical weapon to both gather intelligence and conduct airstrikes against terrorist or insurgents around the world. They have been used extensively on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and northern Africa.
Over the same time, cyberattacks have become a growing national security threat, with Panetta and others warning that the next Pearl Harbor could well be a computer-based assault.
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The Pentagon does not publicly discuss its offensive cyber operations or acts of cyberwarfare. Considering that secrecy, it's not clear how public such awards might be in the future. The federal government, for example, launched a broad leak investigation after reports surfaced that the U.S. and Israel may have been responsible for the Stuxnet computer virus that attacked computers in Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities.
According to the Pentagon criteria, the medal gives the military a way to recognize a single act that directly affects a combat operation, doesn't involve an act of valor, and warrants an award higher than the Bronze Star.
"The extraordinary achievement must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from comrades or from other persons in similar situations," according to the Pentagon's list of criteria for the medal. It could include the "hands-on" but remote launching of a weapon and could specifically include efforts in space or cyberspace.
The medal is a brass pendant, nearly two inches tall, with a laurel wreath that circles a globe. There is an eagle in the center. The ribbon has blue, red and white stripes.
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There are a lot of medals and awards that the DOD gives out that do not involve combat. Maybe ranking this among awards given for valor in combat is not appropriate. Someday a soldier may win a medal for computer programing? Anyway this all reminds me of the words of an old Phil Ochs song. "If you ever get a war without blood and gore, I'll be the first to go." I guess we are pretty close to that now.
Your mixing Metals from Awards. You get awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) from being in combat as a Infantryman under 11 or 18 MOS in Combat Arms. You get a Metal for having been in Country showing you served there at the time. Your also Awarded the Silver Star Medal for your actions.
MikeP-738110, what is the difference between "metals" and "medals?"
Amazes me the foot stomping and angst over drone strikes to take out a terrorist rather than invade and devastate a whole country with American boots on the ground and kill many more innocents that would be collateral damage at a much higher rate ...
I still wonder what the body count would have been like if they had armed drones back during WWII...
I hate death and destruction and needless wars ..but this is the 21rst century..you can build all the tanks and fighter jets and a nuclear arsenal ..how is that going to stop 5 guys with box cutters from boarding a plane with evil intent...time to step into 21rst century warfare
Audie Murphy must be rolling over in his grave. Our touchy feelie government is issuing medals now for actions that would not get a soldier a thank you from his squad leader in World War Two.
Wasn't a soldier awarded a CMH last year for killing two enemy and rescuing a fellow soldier from the Taliban? This would have probably been a bronze star in WW 11.
Saving a whole squad of American soldiers out on patrol because a UAV operator alertly spotted an ambush ahead and blew it up, that's not worthy of commendation in your world? It is in mine.
Yeah Yeah Yeah! Put that up in my Xbox Gamer Tag, show up all the losers playing black ops!
A "Drone Warfare" award? You mean they actually handout medals for shooting somebody in the back from thousands of miles away from the actual battlefield? Just the thing for our war-mongering baby killing cowards. Ha. Ha. Ha.
What we really need is a medal for American soldiers, for our drone warriors, shooting American Citizens in the back. That will be next.
Most American servicemen and women have more honor and integrity in their little fingernails than you have in your entire being.
This is a disgrace. Phone your Congressional representative and give 'em an ear full.
They might be giving out drone ribbons, but wearing one on the streets of America could be hazardous to your health. Islamic sympathisers right here in the good ol USA will likely pick up on what the medal looks like.
To rank it above the Bronze Star with combat V is uncalled for. I apprecitate the work of those pilots, however their 0n-Scene in country ground crews have more exposure to danger than they do. Don't those pilots already wear wings?
Virtual Warriors are likely going to be a big part of future conflict. Let them wear a ribbon with a Combat Computer V .
My grandchildren will never experience the great America that I did. The pride we felt for our vets and the honor we associate with them will now be awarded to the geeky fat neighbor kid who lives in his mother's basement playing vidoe games. Good-bye America!!!
Seems you know nothing about the Soldiers getting this Metal. It's not an Award as in a Silver Star. They meet all the same standards of all Military Members only this is their job in it.
Mike, your opinion but not mine...these "soldiers" are not putting their asses on the line, period. It should not be above the bronze star..that's my opinion...
I laughed out loud at this, something I never do. The idea that a guy eating Wendy's and playing what is essentially, to him, a video game might be the funniest thing I've heard in a while if it wasn't also somewhat sad given those who have been cited for actually risking their lives. Even if it takes a lot of skill, the idea of giving a medal when there hasn't been any risk or sacrifice is ludicrous.
jck747, the image projected from the shear thought of this is comical. I first imagined my son playing first person video games. Just this ingrained memory made me chuckle at the shear notion of him being given an medal or award with higher rankings than a Bronze Star.
I had a friend who served three tours in Vietnam. He was awarded a Bronze, Silver and numerous meritorious awards not to mention Purple Hearts as a door gunner is the 1st of the 7th & 8th Air Cav 69-72. He has passed on to wherever warriors of his caliber go but I could see him now reading this latest award from the Pentagon, Carson would say, "Go to hell on a Chevrolet" as he was a Chrysler Motors man.
Give me a break! These guys desirve , maybe a computer game pin. This new medal is sick!, just like the murdering game boys that will get them.
Hmmmm....getting a medal for playing with your joystick and shooting a load. My how the military is changing under the leftist pigs....
To..Revis"""
Such a silly...
I love it; a Brown Star for F***ups. Perfect.
Give 'em a virtual medal on their computer screen and be done with it.
Just when I didn't think these United States of America could possibly sink any lower.... this happens.
None of the decision makers have ever served a day in uniform so they just throw medals like they're candy or gay. Thank God I don't have to serve with these sissys. A medal for never seeing combat? What a joke. That's like being gay. Ultimately, they will receive disability from the VA and then receive a pension for non combat. What a disgrace to this country and the many that have sacrificed their life.
Panetta is an imbecile. The mere fact these dispicable cowards yell "bugsplat" when they vaporize innocent men, women and children, makes me seeth with contempt. To "award" them a medal for sitting on thier a$$ redefines the word absurd.
Hey for every 100 terrorist the kill they get an energy drink power up....Power up brought to you by Red Bull...Red Bull gives you a combat medal instead of wings.
Next they will give promotions based on numbers killed. 1 million terrorist killed gets you a rank of General.
I should have a HUGE box of these for all of those Call of Duty missions that I did when I was younger!
I agree with most of the sentiment on this string. I spent my 'Vietnam Era' service stateside, doing Army Intel/CI work. I thought the MSM I was nominated for was too much, given my buddies getting gut shot in the Delta, shot down over Laos and blown up at Khe Sanh. As others have said, there are enough achievement medals to cover these operators - give one of them an extra device or something, like a bid D - but to rank it above a Bronze Star is just offensive and clueless. This last word is probably the reason why this has happened.
It's not raked above or equal to a Bronze Star. It's to show they were in that operation plus job skill only. It is the first Combat related Metal sense the Bronze Star.
Can't read, MikeP?
Know Your Subject, did it ever occur to you that maybe the reporter was wrong and MikeP is right?
So this worthless country has reached the point where it would give medals to people who kill from a safe distance while drinking Starbucks.
Sorry but i feel that only those soldiers who risk their lives and limbs in combat should get medals. I have seen videos of our soldiers using drones to kill people, and yes they do in fact do it while drinking Starbucks.
Desk clerk
The drones are here to stay folks. Better get used to it.
Most of the pilots are wash out from real flying jobs. Now they get a higher medal than a reaL pilot. Also, this new medal is higher than the Purple Heart where someone has shed blood for this country. Now a non blood shedder gets a higher medal? What a joke. As an AF veteran and liberal, I "must" say, I will be converting over to the Tea Party in a hope that wer can saver this country from gays and non military servers.
No it's not. It's not raked above or equal to a Bronze Star or a Purple Heart. . It's to show they were in that operation plus job skill only. It is the first Combat related Metal sense the Bronze Star.
oh, look. a participation medal in the military now. that's just great. medals have always been for uncommon valor. how does a drone pilot fit that description??
Your mixing Metals from Awards. You get awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) from being in combat as a Infantryman under 11 or 18 MOS in Combat Arms. You get a Metal for having been in Country showing you served there at the time. Your also Awarded the Silver Star Medal for your actions. This is a Operational Metal.
We already have a participation medal - in the Army its the National Defense medal (Ribbon) you get when you graduate from Basic. We called it the 'I belong button,' denoting its status and not conflating it to anything close to a combat award. The new award should be something like an ARCOM - Army Commendation Medal, below those awarded for action under fire.
An ARCOM or Army Commendation Award can also be one for Valor. This is an Operational Metal.
I guess that's true, but it still is not confused with something like a bronze star.