Brit General proposes medal to acknowledge Courageous Restraint

[BigRed389]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/12/military.restraint.medal/index.html?hpt=T2

As if we don't have enough medals going out, now we want to give one for NOT doing what our boys are trained to do when they go to war? Are we going to give out perfect attendance medals next?

These are the generals leading NATO? This is outrageous.

I think it's ridiculous, but calling it a cowardice award is a stretch.

I think it's more for not shooting back at shooters with women/children human shields, and other similar situations. Not for being French.

 

[cfam]

Repost: http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153346 I agree though, stupid idea.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

How did you get cowardice out of that article?

 

[markkyle66]

While I partially agree with the merrit of the idea behind this, I agree much more strongly with post #2. One of the best comments on the matter posted was as follows:

"This medal will look excellent next to a posthumous Purple Heart" and another was "We should insist the military create a medal for courageous desertion in the face of hurtful criticism. That fits perfectly with the liberal view of not keeping score at the soccer game, more chairs than kids when the music stops, every senior girl is the Prom Queen...you know just like in the real world where everyone gets the job, and the loan."

Besides... isnt discipline beaten into us from day one? May I should ask my class DI for some kind of reward when I do some thing right! : ]

 

[desertoasis]

Do soldiers/sailors/airmen/Marines have the option of declining awards?

 

[fc2spyguy]

Do soldiers/sailors/airmen/Marines have the option of declining awards?

I would say that no one would notice if an individual award was not represented on your rack.

 

[squorch2]

This award is bullshit. They should just do away with restraint and shoot anyone who resists coalition forces.

(smiles... simulated)

 

[armada1651]

As if we don't have enough medals going out, now we want to give one for NOT doing what our boys are trained to do when they go to war?

Indiscriminately employing weapons against noncombatants is not what our boys are trained to do. And putting yourself in harm's way to protect innocent civilians doesn't sound like cowardice to me.

That said, this award sounds superfluous to me.

 

[magnetfreezer]

According to http://www.dailypress.com/news/military/dp-nws-warfighting-mattis-20100513,0,4573871.story McChrystal quashed it.

 

[HeyJoe]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/12/military.restraint.medal/index.html?hpt=T2

Are we going to give out perfect attendance medals next?

I think Air Force has one for that. Actually, Naval Reserves had a medal for being in for 10 years whether attendance is perfect or not (not to be confused with the Reserve Good Conduct Medal) that cares about quality of service.

The Naval Reserve medal (above) came into being in 1938 and was replaced in 1958 by the Armed Services Reserve Medal (below) so bascially, they all have "attendance" medals!