But this medal isn’t like others that awards soldiers for bravery under fire, for risking their lives or for sustaining injuries on the battlefield.
This medal is for soldiers who launch drone strikes and cyberattacks – from the safety of computer consoles in government offices.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that the work these soldiers do “does contribute to the success of combat operations, particularly when they remove the enemy from the field of battle, even if those actions are physically removed from the fight.’
Unlike other combat medals, it doesn’t require the recipient to risk his or her life to win one.
Some critics derided it as the “Geek Cross.”
Is the Defense Department correct to create a medal for soldiers that launch attacks by computer? What do you think?