The DOD has created a new medal, supposedly equal in prestige to a Bronze Star or Purple Heart!
It's called the Distinguished Warfare Medal.
It's not specifically for the joystick jockeys who play with drones, but it seems like it was created so they'd have a medal they could give to them.
It will be awarded for “extraordinary achievements that directly impact on combat operations, but do not involve acts of valor or physical risks that combat entails.” Seems like that could also describe a mechanics who tweak a HUMVEE to produce a few more MPH, fuelers & ammo loaders who get really good turn-around times between sorties, the supply sergeant who made sure the company had enough bullets for the mission, even the Officers' Club manager who send the 'pilot' home early last night when he started get a buzz on. All of these could be described as 'achievements that directly impact on combat operations,' or as DOING YOUR EFFIN' JOB!
They already have the Meritorious Service Medal, which "may be bestowed in lieu of the Bronze Star Medal for non-combat meritorious achievement in a designated combat theater." Sounds exactly like what they're saying the Distinguished Warfare Medal is for.
If they go ahead with this, I'm sure actual combat vets will come up with a derisive moniker for it, like the 'Avatar Award' or the 'Bronze Joystick.'