Forum: Drones

A little off topic, but it is a news item.

The medal planned for drone pilots has apparetly been scrapped. There were protests about it -- mainly because it was ranked so highly. I tend to agree that it should be at a lower spot.

I actually can see some kind of medal, there are certainly opportunities for the drone driver to make quite a difference and use some initiative.

But, it's apparently done for now. Possibly they're thinking of a new effort once the flap has died down.

hj

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It wasn't just for 'drone pilots', if it was at all created for them specifically, but to highlight and embrace the changing, non-kinetic aspect of almost every operation and war effort. Granted, one could make the case for special spy medals and logistic ones, given their importance in conflict too, or any other such support element. But the fact that it was ranked higher than a direct action medal was a bit of a goof. After all, if you want to attract talent and interest in a given field or speciality, you don't do it by creating a new medal and giving it high prestige. You do it by investing money and resources and effort in recruitment, infrastructure and training etc... Now they will affix a little emblem to an existing medal to distinguish cyber operations. I think this is still important, because it is the future and everyone should be recognized for having a positive impact on the war effort, even if it is via clicks thousands of miles away from the firefight. I kind of chuckled at the outrage of the medal ranking higher than a Purple Heart. I mean, it's as if people who think of war consider an injury as something rare and heroic. Nothing but praise for the troops, but that is a little disingenuous.

Are we talking about achievement type medals, or something more like campaign ribbons?

Forum: Drones

Drone pilot medal has been scrapped