I was never in combat arms, and never had occasion to shoot back at someone shooting at me, but the non-directional radio beacons I placed in (IIRC) 1969 probably helped Arc Lights  kill a few thousand more NVA*, and might be why I got a non-V Bronze Star. (But they were handing out Army Commendation Medals and Bronze Stars to everyone on the basis of rank at the time.)

 

I tend to think that anyone who pulls the trigger, yanks on a lanyard, drops the bomb, or fires the rockets or missiles, is performing a combat role.  Most of us, however, never got that close to killing people or breaking things.  Now there's another way to do it.

 

Good.

 

... SFC, Retired, USA.

In the 4th paragraph where you rank the awards you have 'the Legion of Merit (a non-combat award)' listed twice.

AHOY.

 

Sun Tzu,

 

If the officers are angry troops are exhausted. If the Corps is turbulent the Commander lacks severity. One who frequently grants rewards is worried. One who frequently imposes punishment is in trouble. 

 

 G-day! 

One who frequently grants rewards is worried.

This. When we are more worried about everybody getting a medal, because these soldiers grew up as golden children in a culture where everyone got a trophy even, and especially, the losers they still expect to be rewarded simply for showing up because their comrades all earned medals so they deserve one too. 

 

I hate to break it to you kids but playing video games in an air conditioned container is NOT as medal worthy as a soldier on the ground. Eating dust and sweat, running your ass off shit scared with a pack as big as you are and men all around that want you dead... THAT is medal worthy. And while your remote control flying death machine might assist those men on the ground, you personally are in zero danger.

 

I was brought up believing that medals were earned thru putting yourself in danger in service of your comrades and country. Not just showing up and playing with a joystick for a certain number of hours. Thats how you  earn medals in VIDEO GAMES, not real life. 

 

 

AHOY,

 

I believe the major issue here is that those running things on both sides West and East are not fighting wars, they are playing war. Its a business and its ultimately the haves vs the have not. 

 

 James web management vs. leadership. It is much easier to educate a manager than to develop a leader. Management is the physics of things, it can be approached as an academic discipline, one can be taught to analyze data, weight alternatives and make decisions. Leadership is a subjective chemistry, filled with human variables.

 

Leadership is a subjective chemistry, filled with human variables. One must be able to motivate and reach the emotions, threw command presents, example and force. “When in war men must die” (an in war some must) “they can’t be managed to death, they must be lead there.” Sacrifice has and honored place in leadership but not in management.

 

Newjarheaddean; I would like also to suggest the only reason the U.S. military can compete with the rest of the world is that they have lots more MONEY!

 

G-day!