Critics of the medal applauded Hagel’s decision. Hagel cancels creation of new medal

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Monday he’s scrapping a controversial proposed medal for drone operators and cyber troops, bowing to pressure from Congress and veterans groups. Instead, the Pentagon will create a special designation it will apply to existing medals.

The criteria for eligibility will be determined after a 90-day review by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and each of the service chiefs, Hagel said.


“The Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the concurrence of the service secretaries, have recommended the creation of a new distinguishing device that can be affixed to existing medals to recognize such extraordinary actions of this small number of men and women,” Hagel said in a statement. “I agree with the Joint Chiefs’ findings and have directed the creation of a distinguishing device instead of a separate medal.”

Hagel halted production of the medal last month after much criticism over the medal’s ranking, which would have placed it above the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Critics of the medal applauded Hagel’s decision.

“I applaud Secretary Hagel’s decision to rescind the Distinguished Warfare Medal and uphold the honor our nation bestows on those who have earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart,” said Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, the ranking Republican of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “These medals have been awarded to generations of men and women for bravely putting their lives in harm’s way to preserve the freedoms we cherish today. It was the right decision to continue to, first and foremost, recognize those military personnel who exemplify great valor on the battlefield.”

Another critic, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, agreed. “I applaud Secretary Hagel’s decision and his willingness to listen to the widespread concerns of veterans across the nation,” she said. “Today’s announcement helps ensure that our highest and most sacred military awards are reserved for those who risk their lives in combat.”

Just the same, critics of the Distinguished Warfare Medal’s proposed ranking said they understand the need to recognize drone operators and cyber operators.

“I also agree that it is appropriate to recognize the unique contributions of America’s new generation of warriors in the cyber domain and in the use of other warfare technology,” Inhofe said.

The American Legion, which joined with several other veterans groups to protest the rank of the medal, said it was pleased with the decision.

“Cyber and drone warfare have become part of the equation for 21st-century combat, and those who fight such battles with distinction certainly deserve to be recognized,” said American Legion National Commander James Koutz. “But the American Legion still believes there’s a fundamental difference between those who fight remotely — or via computer — and those fighting against an enemy who is trying to kill them.”

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) said he also agrees with Hagel’s decision, but there’s more work to be done to ensure that a noncombat medal doesn’t eclipse those for combat ever again. Hunter has a bill in the House that would close that loophole. It has more than 120 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle.

“We’ll have to see what they come up with, but it sounds like traditional valor awards might still be used for recognizing drone operators; the only distinction is there’s a device,” Hunter said. “The concern with the DWM was its precedence, not necessarily the medal, itself. Right now, I can’t say this addresses my concerns and preserves the full integrity of traditional combat valor awards.”

While Hagel has gone against the wishes of former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who created the medal, he made sure to point out that he, too, supported the original intent.

“The service men and women who operate and support our remotely piloted aircraft, operate in cyber, and others are critical to our military’s mission of safeguarding the nation,” Hagel said, adding, “I again want to thank my predecessor, Leon Panetta, for raising the need to ensure that these men and women are recognized for their contributions.”

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