Click on this link (right click, save as) to see the actual signed memorandum by SecDef Hagel.

Here is the text.

Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the Distinguished Warfare Medal

            The Department of Defense announced on Feb. 13 the establishment of the Distinguished Warfare Medal to recognize the achievements of a small number of service men and women who have an especially direct and immediate impact on combat operations through the use of remotely piloted aircraft and cyber operations.  I agree with my predecessor Leon Panetta that such recognition is justly warranted for these men and women and thank him for raising the level of awareness of their hard work and critical contributions. 

            When I came into office, concerns were raised to me about the Distinguished Warfare Medal’s order of precedence by veterans’ organizations, members of Congress, and other stakeholders whose views are valued by this department’s leadership. 

            After consulting with the service secretaries, along with Gen. Dempsey and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I directed them to review the Distinguished Warfare Medal.  The medal was originally conceived to be awarded only to those men and women who, while serving off the battlefield, have an extraordinary impact on combat operations.  While the review confirmed the need to ensure such recognition, it found that misconceptions regarding the precedence of the award were distracting from its original purpose. 

            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 the extraordinary actions of this small number of men and women.   I agree with the Joint Chiefs’ findings, and have directed the creation of a distinguishing device instead of a separate medal. 

            The Joint Chiefs also recommend further consultation with the service secretaries, the service senior enlisted leaders, and veterans’ organizations regarding the nature of the device as well as clear definition of the eligibility criteria for award of the device.   I have directed that within 90 days final award criteria and the other specifics of the distinguishing device be developed and presented to me for final approval. 

            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.  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.

Good on SecDef Hagel for listening to the various constituents about this idea.  Lots of people voiced their concerns.

RE:  The Burn Pit and The Burn Pit (Q&A with the DoD) 
RE:  BlackFive - And Son, This Medal Is For... 

And of course...DOCTRINE MAN!

 

 

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I think the crux of this issue is that we need to do two things...

 

1. We need to distinguish between those who have contributed to protecting our country in a significant way and those who not only done so but who have done so even though it meant putting themselves in harm's way.

 

2. We need to find an appropriate way to honor those who have contributed to protecting our country in a significant way, even if it did not involve putting themselves personally at risk. The guy who takes out a terrorist with a drone may not have been on the battlefield himself, but he has still done something pretty important. It does seem odd to give someone a medal when they have not taken any actual risk to life and limb, but we should find an appropriate way to honor such people for their service.