New medal for drone pilots outranks Bronze Star

[Denny]

You have obviously never been in the military; the ranking of medals is important for two reasons. First, medals such as the Bronze Star are more important than say the Korean Defense Medal; in Korea there was the possibility of something life threatening happening, but it was a long shot. A Bronze Star typically (or at least should) require you to be in harm's way, and therefore is more important. Medals are also more important than Ribbons, thus their order on your rack. Second, ranking of them provides uniformity when wearing the uniform, which adds to the professional appearance you should keep while in uniform.

Right. Never seen a day of military duty in my life. Never served.

I didn't earn a right to be in this discussion.

You can all go fly you ribbons higher than the highest drones because you obviously have your priorities there.

Racking them up unifomily is one thing. RANKING them is another. Way to put precedence over others' actions, rather than just doing for the uniformity.

I'll just go back to my pathetic non-combat life, warrior.

[Denny]

Pretty sure Denny has served.

Nope. I get that a lot, but they're too cool for me, obviously.

[Forever_frost]

Fine. You're the biggest glory-hound baby I've ever seen. We should make a day that allows all of us to cower to your feet, praising you for your actions all while pissing on drone pilots for their pussy existence.

Feel better?

Not sure if you're talking to me, especially since I've never mentioned any medal outside of the purple heart, I hold.

[racrguy]

Right. Absolutely has nothing to do with knowing what a soldier has to do to actually earn them and see heroic actions by soldiers who were told they didn't merit it.

Well, a service requirement would be warranted IF THE REQUIREMENTS WERE KEPT SECRET. But they aren't, so you can take that "if you were never in the military your opinion is moot" argument and take a hike.

In fact, there are some people who have no military experience who have more of a say so than the military does. By god, they shouldn't be allowed to speak of such things, never having served and all.

[Forever_frost]

Right. Never seen a day of military duty in my life. Never served.

I didn't earn a right to be in this discussion.

You can all go fly you ribbons higher than the highest drones because you obviously have your priorities there.

Racking them up unifomily is one thing. RANKING them is another. Way to put precedence over others' actions, rather than just doing for the uniformity.

I'll just go back to my pathetic non-combat life, warrior.

They are ranked based on how much you risked to do it. MOH requires far more to earn than the Army service ribbon for instance.

[Forever_frost]

Well, a service requirement would be warranted IF THE REQUIREMENTS WERE KEPT SECRET. But they aren't, so you can take that "if you were never in the military your opinion is moot" argument and take a hike.

In fact, there are some people who have no military experience who have more of a say so than the military does. By god, they shouldn't be allowed to speak of such things, never having served and all.

Military have civilian oversight. I've never argued that point. However giving a joystick jockey sitting in front of a tv an award that ranks higher than a bronze star with the V device is just ... baffling. If you're going to create one for these guys, fine. Rank it with a CAB or Combat Medic badge. It's not that there's a new award, it's where they placed it.

[racrguy]

Military have civilian oversight. I've never argued that point. However giving a joystick jockey sitting in front of a tv an award that ranks higher than a bronze star with the V device is just ... baffling. If you're going to create one for these guys, fine. Rank it with a CAB or Combat Medic badge. It's not that there's a new award, it's where they placed it.

But wait. According to you the civilians who have never served don't have any way to have an informed decision. How can they possibly oversee anything the military does?

Why not do away with all metals except for the Congressional Medal of Honor? That will solve your problem along with those of the "joystick jockey's."

[Forever_frost]

But wait. According to you the civilians who have never served don't have any way to have an informed decision. How can they possibly oversee anything the military does?

Why not do away with all metals except for the Congressional Medal of Honor? That will solve your problem along with those of the "joystick jockey's."

Also a point. I'm going to have to give that some thought, let me get back to you on removing all medals.

[Binky]

Right. Never seen a day of military duty in my life. Never served.

I didn't earn a right to be in this discussion.

You can all go fly you ribbons higher than the highest drones because you obviously have your priorities there.

Racking them up unifomily is one thing. RANKING them is another. Way to put precedence over others' actions, rather than just doing for the uniformity.

I'll just go back to my pathetic non-combat life, warrior.

Its like watching an artist at the canvas.... L.m.f.a.o.

[Downs]

They both sound rewarding. The "ranking" of the medals is what I'm bitching about. Fuck ranking the importance of these medals, just display the fuckers. Eliminate the order of display. I'm just not going to say one is more deserving or holds more value than another. Let each person come to that conclusion.

You can't really do that. that would completely remove uniformity from that portion of the uniform when people can pick and choose where and how they put their ribbons/medals on their uniforms.

It's also an effective way to spot posers.

[jw33]

[LANTIRN]

Right. Never seen a day of military duty in my life. Never served.

I didn't earn a right to be in this discussion.

You can all go fly you ribbons higher than the highest drones because you obviously have your priorities there.

Racking them up unifomily is one thing. RANKING them is another. Way to put precedence over others' actions, rather than just doing for the uniformity.

I'll just go back to my pathetic non-combat life, warrior.

Why don't you reread my post? I never said your opinion didn't matter on the subject. You called into question medals being ranked, which told me you never served. Anyone who has served knows the reason they are ranked with importance.

[Denny]

Why don't you reread my post? I never said your opinion didn't matter on the subject. You called into question medals being ranked, which told me you never served. Anyone who has served knows the reason they are ranked with importance.

And I'm calling out the guy that belittles everyone else that hasn't got shot in a combat zone.

I know why they hold different levels of importance, but why is the grunt posting up that some airman behind a joystick's actions are less important or relevant if what he does causes troops (maybe even hundreds) to avoid getting in harm's way?

My beef isn't with whether a medal should be deserved or not. My beef is him thinking that ribbon shouldn't go on row two or three. If his way of thinking is the norm, then fuck the whole awarding system.

[95ragtop]

Bunch of bullshit, along with handing out Bronze Stars like skittles pisses me off to no end. Just another reason why I could care less about what people wear on their chest.

[LANTIRN]

And I'm calling out the guy that belittles everyone else that hasn't got shot in a combat zone.

I know why they hold different levels of importance, but why is the grunt posting up that some airman behind a joystick's actions are less important or relevant if what he does causes troops (maybe even hundreds) to avoid getting in harm's way?

My beef isn't with whether a medal should be deserved or not. My beef is him thinking that ribbon shouldn't go on row two or three. If his way of thinking is the norm, then fuck the whole awarding system.

It is this thinking that has gotten us little league games with no score keeping and everyone gets a trophy at the end of the season. Several people have already attempted to explain it, but you won't listen. The most important medals are typically those in which you were in harm's way, like a Bronze Star, Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, followed by things like being in certain theaters where the risk was greater, but not necessarily being downrange. There are ribbons handed out if you served during a conflict, but not necessarily IN the conflict; The Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal and The Global War on Terror Service Medal are two prime examples. I have the Service Medal since I served while the "War on Terror" was taking place, but I did not qualify for the Expeditionary Medal (higher ranking than the service medal) because I was not in one of the theaters.