Bravery and drone pilots

[The Northerner]

The Pentagon considers awarding war medals to those who operate America's death-delivering video games



The effort to depict drone warfare as some sort of courageous and noble act is intensifying:

The Pentagon is considering awarding a Distinguished Warfare Medal to drone pilots who work on military bases often far removed from the battlefield. . . .

[Army Institute of Heraldry chief Charles] Mugno said most combat decorations require “boots on the ground” in a combat zone, but he noted that “emerging technologies” such as drones and cyber combat missions are now handled by troops far removed from combat.

The Pentagon has not formally endorsed the medal, but Mugno’s institute has completed six alternate designs for commission approval. . . .

The proposed medal would rank between the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Soldier’s Medal for exceptional conduct outside a combat zone.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2012/07/10/bravery_and_drone_pilots/


Does anyone else think it's a sign of bravery to operate drones which violate other countries's airspaces and remorselessly slaughter civilians and terrorism "suspects" without a trial whatsoever?

[Astrad]

1. I think at minimum bravery

requires some level of personal risk. I don't see how they could justify this but I suspect they'll find a way.

[HereSince1628]

2. Medals are given for more than bravery/valor, everyone I knew who got a bronze star

got it for meritorious service. When bronze stars were given for valor they were associated with some sort of heroicism.

Guys in military intelligence had rather less opportunity (but certainly more than none) to earn a bronze star for valor.

[PufPuf23]

3. Drone operators are souless creeps and war criminals. nt

[backscatter712]

4. Strikes me as ridiculous.

They're flying a computer console in some Air Force base in Nevada - if the drone gets shot down, for them, they just get a chewing out by the general, then they insert another quarter.

[enough]

5. '"I Count The Bodies And Watch The Funerals' — A Drone Pilot Speaks Out"

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-drone-bomber-pilot-speaks-out-for-the-first-time-on-what-his-job-is-really-like-2012-6#ixzz1xb993r3n


Not bravery, for sure, but some strange kind of intimacy. Still, doing what they're told, as always.

[Dawson Leery]

6. NO drone operator is brave.

Again: NO DRONE OPERATOR IS BRAVE.

If you are operating a drone, you are a coward.

[SidDithers]

7. 261...nt

Sid

[The River]

8. What Next?

Purple Hearts for carpel tunnel syndrome??
It certainly doesn't rate a spot between the DFC and Soldiers Medal.
If anything, it should be a "ribbon only" award.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. "A sign of bravery?" Depends on your national values.

In the US, I'd say probably yes.

[panader0]

10. My dad won the Distinguished Flying Cross twice inWWII

He flew 50 missions over Germany, North Africa and Italy.
To award these drone "pilots" a medal is hard to understand...