TYT: Drone Pilots Rewarded with Bravery Medals

[The Northerner]

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

Cenk Uygur discusses this story and why he disagrees with the idea of giving drone pilots bravery medals. Tell us in the comment section below what you think.

Read Glenn Greenwald's Article on Salon: http://www.salon.com/2012/07/10/bravery_and_drone_pilots/

[truebrit71]

1. That has to be the dumbest idea in a very long time....

...and a massive insult to the guys actually on the ground...

[jerseyjack]

6. Yeah? You try sitting your ass in a chair and pushing those buttons.

See how much courage you can muster.

(icon for the teabag lurkers)

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. They face threats every day

The threat of getting carpal tunnel syndrome, the threat of being late for their kid's little league game, the threat of forgetting to bring home the milk like their spouse told them to.

I think this falls in the "Gimme a break!" category.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Holy Fucking Shit!

That is all.

[L0oniX]

3. www.democraticunderground.com/1002930931

[gejohnston]

4. It is a personnel issue

and how the rated officer promotion system works. It is still stuck in the days of the P-51 days. A drone pilot wants to be equal to a F-15 driver for advancement. While Cenk is appalled, I'm amused. But then, seeing it first hand since Cenk was a kid helps.

[Plucketeer]

7. Yeah - I wonder.............

Do drone pilots have to pass regular flight physicals???

[gejohnston]

9. not sure,

probably. but they get to wear flight suits and the leather A-2 coat. They brought those back in the 1980s to help with pilot retention. (a friend of mine in supply got bitched at for remarking "anyone who is going to make an important decision based on a jacket from IEI isn't fit to fly a fighter or be anyone's commander.) The article did remind me of a command chief that got a bronze star for what amounted to an inspection tour.
The Swiss have the right idea. Draft everyone into a select militia/national service, bring everyone home and end the empire. Use the money saved for more useful stuff.

[sulphurdunn]

5. What the hell

is a Distinguished Warfare Medal? Never heard of it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Military version of Miss Congeniality award?

[DeSwiss]

11. ....

[gejohnston]

10. my understanding is

to create one, and make it on par with the Air Medal or some such thing.

[sulphurdunn]

15. My memory of the Air Medal

pertains to an award for jumping out of the helicopter to hit the ground running while people are firing RPGs and AKs at you from the tree line. But then again, that was before the age of video games. So you had to do it yourself.

[DeSwiss]

12. Skippy wants a medal for playin' on the 'puter?

- Here ya go.....

K&R

[freshwest]

14. +1