New Medal Designed To Honor Cyber Soldiers 230
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.'"
Re:Err ... (Score:4, Informative)
"Isn't the whole point of medals to reward someone for putting their life on the line to protect their country?"
No. The point of medals is recognition for service. The military awards plenty of medals that have nothing to do with combat.
Re:Err ... (Score:1, Informative)
Are you kidding? As a submariner we went into combat, that wont be declassified for a minimum of 25 years, we give up every right and are left with only responsibilities, and these douches who can go home every night and sleep in a bed that isn't 6' x 3' by 1' get medals? We don't do it for the glory or pay, but damn!!
Re:Let me guess (Score:4, Informative)
ACTUALLY..
the drones like the predator rely on satellites for control.. .. this actually means that if the pilot turns too sharply (which the drone allows him to do) he can lose contact with the satellite and.. therefore, control..
doing a barrel roll is very unlikely!!
i imagine 'losing control' of the drone because you turned its little satellite dish away from the sat probably wont get you a medal... well, perhaps some Iranian guy may get one!
Re:Err ... (Score:5, Informative)
They ran a massive ad campaign for a few years in Oz - "The drink you have when you're not having a drink" and it became a generic (mildly insulting) term that implied something wasn't real, or didn't have the content it should have.
Re:Let me guess (Score:4, Informative)
Uh, the drones have built in autonomy to handle losses of communication. We'd be losing mad drones if that wasnt the case.