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New Medal Designed To Honor Cyber Soldiers

Posted by samzenpus on from the achievement-unlocked dept.

bios10h writes "The Boston Globe writes that the Pentagon is creating a new medal to honor cyber soldiers. '[The] troops who launch the drone strikes and direct the cyber-attacks that can kill or disable an enemy may never set foot in the combat zone. Now their battlefield contributions may be recognized with the first new combat-related medal to be created in decades. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Wednesday that the Pentagon is creating a medal that can be awarded to troops who have a direct impact on combat operations, but do it well away from any combat zone.'"

6 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Let me guess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does it start out bronze, silver, and then gold? And do you get a platinum one if you collect all of the other medals?

    1. Re:Let me guess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nah, it is just one medal that has a digital meter that continually updates your gamerscore.

    2. Re:Let me guess by Scoldog · · Score: 5, Funny

      When you get the platinum medal, it also unlocks new countries to fight in and new and improved drone weapons

      Not only do you have to kill a certain amount of people (civilians, enemies, womp rats, whatever), you also have to do pointless tasks like do 15 barrel rolls in a row with a drone to earn certain medals.

      Anyone else?

      --
      This space for rent
  2. Err ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't the whole point of medals to reward someone for putting their life on the line to protect their country?

    I'm sure these drone pilots are doing a good job and all but I wonder how their life could possibly be on the line in a nice cushy bunker somewhere.

    I suspect this medal may well end up being called a Clayton's medal, the medal you get when you're not getting a medal.

    Captcha: evasion: something drone pilots don't have to worry about too much :-)

    1. Re:Err ... by caffiend666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not all awards are for risking ones life. Some, like the Army service ribbon are given simply for completing training. Some medals are given for achievements not necessarily related to heroism, like the Army Commendation Medal. Technically speaking, people are risking their lives to complete basic training, though.

      Although there are no significant physical risks in fighting remotely, these service members are still going through significant stress and risking PTSD in their jobs. Yes, 'it's like playing a video game'. But there are real lives on the line, there is no pause button, and possibly endless days doing a single task. Doesn't matter if it's just pushing buttons in an airconditioned room, they lose sleep and their sanity just the same. Not to mention watching films of people dying, the ones they just killed.

      I've read of facebook image filterers suffering from PTSD and depression. Now, imagine if those image filterers had to decide not just whether to block the image, but also whether to kill the people in the pictures.

      --
      Here's to losing my Karma Bonus again....
  3. Order of Precedence by anglico · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you want to give out a medal for flying a drone, fine, I don't have a huge problem with it as long as you're great at it. What really irritates me and a lot of other service members is it's ranking in the 'order of precedence'. What I've read is it ranks above some combat medals, specifically the Bronze Star, which is really pissing off the 'boots on the ground' troops and I don't blame them for being mad.