A Modest Proposal
As we all know, the proposed Distinguished Warfare Medal (DWM) has been canned by the SECDEF. Instead, the SECDEF has decided that existing decorations will instead be used, augmented by a yet-to-be determined “distinguishing device”.
Allow me to suggest an appropriate device. I believe the letter “R” is appropriate as a distinguishing device to recognize such service as was to be recognized by the now-defunct DWM.
Here’s my rationale: like the now-defunct DWM, the new device will recognize the contributions of the operators of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) and cyber operators to modern warfare. Each of these specialties allows military force to be directed and executed remotely – from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. One no longer needs to risk life and limb personally in a combat zone in order to contribute to the fight. This merits appropriate recognition.
These individuals are clearly directing the Remote Execution of Military Force. The letter “R” is an appropriate recognition of excellence in the application of this new capability.
I also propose that the new device be called the “Remote Execution of Military Force Device”. Since that’s a bit of a mouthful, we’ll refer to it by its acronym, of course:
Yeah, IMO that sounds about right.
Category: Pointless blather, Who knows
Perfect!
I wonder if the young kiddies in the force today even know what “REMF” originally stood for…
Combat Historian: it stood for “Really Excellent Males and Females”, right? (smile)
Hondo…yeah, that’s the ticket 🙂
Hmmm…. now, where have I heard that acronym before? But it does fit! “I want to be a chairborne ranger.”
The REMF Medal, I LIKE IT!! It’ll give them something to show off while they’re brewing coffee for their CO!!
@2 If they’ve read anything about Vietnam they know what it means.
HEAR!! HEAR!!
Most excellent suggestion, and impecable logic.
Well played sir! 😀
Aaaaahahahahahahahahahaha! I fraking love and endorse this!!
back on the early 80s, there was a cartoon in S&S penned by an intel analyst called “Coporal Kev”, whose protaganist was in the 851st Typewriter Battalion. In one strip, he won the contest for new unit motto with Live for Defending Our Essential Role Over Seas. To fit on the unit crest, it had to be abbreviated to “Live For D.E.R.O.S”
This is so unfair to the rocket dodging REMFs of Lai Khe.
http://bluntobject.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/kane-slow-clap.gif%3Fw%3D320%26h%3D240
/clicky for vigorous approval
REnlisting is More Fun?
Yeah, I know what REMF means. Still use it on occasion to describe HHQ. Wouldn’t wear the device if they gave it to me.
CC Senior: I think even those folks were at personal risk from time to time – if nothing else, from that occasional mortar or rocket. Folks controlling things from outside of theater – not so much.
GunzRunner: Re-Enlist for More Fun, maybe. (smile)
Recommendation:
A small bronze flacid penis!
A significant pair of manboobs.
MCPO, Ex-PH2: c’mon, you know DoD won’t go for those no matter how apropos. I’m trying to be at least semi-serious here. Mostly.
Wouldn’t it be a hoot if they actually did go with a “R” device, though – for “Remote” or “Reachback”? (smile)
This whole issue has me just saying, “ah fu*k it”.
My Exped Medal will knick the ass of any Remote Warfare Medal any day!
I have not yet received my Cold War Warrior medal. I expect to get that by the time I finish everything else I’m doing.
I’d qualify for an “SP” device. “SP” as in “Staff Puke”.
Truth-in-labeling is always the best policy.
@19
“Reacharound”?
(It is the Chairforce you know)
/says the USAF Ret. E-8.
I would have gone for a flaming chair device, for the chairwarming brigade
Oh snap!
I’ve got it: the device should be a bronze version of the Hawaiian good luck sign, the finger you eat poi with, that ancient and historically significant symbol of a personal opinion, pointing downward.
Remember REMF is a relative thing. If you are point man on a patrol, everyone behind you is a REMF.
Device with “R”….like it.
It’s been my experience that the only people who want these gongs and bits of ribbon are REMF’s or glory hounds who wish to spend time polishing and talking about them.
You cannot eat a medal and the pawn shops don’t pay squat for them.
For every medal issued or earned there are thousands of troops who deserve the same but never get mentioned or awarded them.
Drone pilots should get regular medals already in the regs if they want a device give them a little Predator or Reaper drone to stick on.
If they get kills award them a shooting badge after five and call them Matt Dillon’s.
Medals and ribbons, a real soldier doesn’t need such trinkets.
My grandfather was a WWII vet. He once pointed out, “A medal won’t get you a cup of coffee, but in the right bar it’ll get you laid.” Thought it was a hilarious observation when I was a cadet.
When I was a butter bar, a Missile Warning Squadron commander explained the system for end of tour decorations. I forget the actual points scheme, but it went something like this, Crew Commander responsibilities get you 2 points, Crew Chief (NCOIC) gets you 2 points, satellite breakups 1 point, Weapon System instructor 2 points, and so on. XX points equals an AFAM, XX points an AFCOM, and XX points a MSM. Less than the amount for the AFAM, here’s your certificate of appreciation. At the time, I thought it was screwed up. After seeing awards and decorations jackassery for a decade now, I’m thinking it was pretty ingenious. He took all bias out of the system. Granted, that won’t work for all situations, but I see some value in it now.
REMF…. didn’t see that coming for a while…
How ’bout an “F” device for FOBBIT?
#29,
Our company XO came up with a TOG Form 1 to keep track of missions. A lot of us thought it was dumb and it never caught on, but now I kinda wish it would have. IIRC, the concept was that Soldiers would receive an AAM after every 100 missions, and an ARCOM after 500 (or something like that). I can’t remember if individual funerals counted as missions, or if credit was given based on days spend on Primary (a Standard Honors Team can do five or more funerals in a day in Arlington; and an AAM for four weeks of Primary seems a bit generous even now).
Personally, I like the sound of the REMF device.
A_Proud_Infidel: now, why should someone who actually went to a combat zone get a special device just because they served on an installation? Why, next thing you know you’ll want to give a special award to folks who supported the war from outside of the combat zone and never deployed at all! (smile)
Seriously, even “Fobbits” and “POGs” who never left their base actually were at risk to some degree. IDF and perimeter fire doesn’t give a damn about a target’s MOS.
I hear what you’re saying, I still remember a couple of Supply Gofers that we had to share a B-hut with over there. They talked trash like they were something because they beat us in Softball (IF we had time to play in between missions!) basketball, and they’d walk all over me in XBox HALO. I asked them if they would want to accompany us on a mission or two, and their ringleader ‘s response was “HE’LL NO, YOU EVEN TRY TO. TAKE ME OUTSIDE THE WIRE, AND I’LL GO STRAIGHT TO IG!!” The same response would come from HQ Clerks who thought their shit didn’t stink. Thus I usually have an attitude with REMFs!
A_Proud_Infidel: I hear ya. We periodically had visitors up from HQ in Kuwait (we had them every 2 or 3 months or so on average). We found one individual hiding under a desk (literally) in our offices in Baghdad after an IDF attack. I found him there while taking post-attack accountability.
I consider it a point of pride that I managed not to laugh out loud until I got to another room. (smile)
Trust me, I’ve come across more than a few like that. As I see it anymore, the ones who talk the most will hide the fastest when the *BLEEP!* hits the fan!
*OOP!*. I should’ve said “Those who talk the most TRASH…”
@35…HEY HEY HEY…I resemble that remark…..never deployed in theater but many of my squadron from Commander down to SrA including my best friend a Chief just did last Sept 2012 in Kandihar.
We were (being AF) always trained to 1) hit the deck, 2) GTFO and away from the aircraft. 3) get under furniture or 4) run/crawl in to the available buried concrete tubes during an attack….SOOOOOO, during the many, *many* exercises I participated in, we did just that.
I remember *WAY* back in the day when we had the old M-17 gas mask, I cut out black construction paper and put it in the eye holes so I could sleep during extended MOPP exercises.
This idea *quickly* caught on until we were found out later on. NOT pleased Senior NCOs but a few whispered to us (“ingenious, I wish I’d thought of that”).
😉
the “REMF device”
Sees what you did there. 😀
Mike
Hey, where’s my REMF medal? Sure, it was peacetime when I was in, but do you think it was easy running all those blood alcohol, STD, and pregnancy tests every time a combat arms unit came in from the field?
ChipNASA: we were taught much the same. And truth be told, the first couple of times all of us took cover too – though not under desks. (smile) But we took harassing incoming fires about once each week or 10 days on average. After a while, you figured out a few things: 1. The enemy fires were not well aimed or adjusted. They were pretty much firing blind to harass. And they couldn’t fire for long or they died in place from either counter-battery fire or air attack. 2. The compound was pretty big, so the likelihood of you being close enough to where the round(s) landed to be in serious danger was pretty low to start with. 3. All the load-bearing walls in our facility were reinforced concrete. It would probably survive a hit by anything smaller than a 240mm rocket – and 240mm rockets were damned rare. 4. The external walls weren’t reinforced concrete – but they were also protected by “T-walls” about 3 feet away that were 10′ high, which worked equally well. Bottom line: if you were on duty, you were in trouble only if a round hit our work area – it would literally have to land on the roof above you. Even then only about 1/4 of our workspace (about 15′ x 20′) would buy the farm, because of internal load-bearing walls. And if the incoming round is going to land literally on top of you, well, then we all figured that meant it was just our time to go. You were also just about as safe in your quarters, as they were protected by HESCO barriers/T-walls/sandbags up to about 5′ high on most sides. In practice, both places (duty and quarters) were almost as safe as a bunker. We all figured out PDQ those were very good odds, and didn’t get too concerned about incoming much unless we happened to get caught in the open (or if it was close enough to really shake the entire building). At work we just stayed inside and rode it out, then got positive accountability of all… Read more »
Hondo et al: In VN (3/82 & 1/101) we “created” a wounded category of WWHA: Wounded While Hauling Ass. I.e., instead of making love to the ground they were standing on, they ran to a bunker and ripped legs etc open on tent stakes etc.
SJ: yep. Out in the open, you’re best off hitting the dirt unless you’re within a few steps of a bunker or other shelter (ditch, hole, trench, depression, etc . . . ). Did exactly that myself a number of times while deployed when caught in the open and we got incoming or a warning of same inbound (we typically got 2 to 4 seconds warning if the incoming warning system was working).
Virtually all shrapnel rises from point of impact, and if you’re sprinting for a bunker you’re a prime target – and also fairly likely to hurt yourself in the process anyway, as you observe above. And you damn sure can’t outrun the shrapnel.
Hondo, while I was based out of Camp Victory during 06-07, I would spend days/weeks at a time doing my job in the IZ, specifically at the U.S. Embassy/mission, MNSTC-I Phoenix Base, and the CPATT folks before they moved to Phoenix. Phoenix and its environs would get hit fairly regularly, and the MNSTC-I folks’ quarters at LSA Blackhawk would get plastered fairly regularly because their trailers were pretty much in the line of JAM’s harassment fires from across the river to the east in the JAM strongholds. I remembered I almost got clobbered by a 107mm rocket near the IZ U.S. mission helipad during late April 07 (damn thing landed two feet on the other side of a HESCO T-wall, which saved my butt), and was caught in a huge JAM 81mm mortar barrage on 10 Jul 07 while returning from Phoenix to the embassy in which a U.S. Army nurse O-3 was KIA and several others were killed. Still remembered me kissing the ground in the open during that barrage; fortunately I had my ACH and IBA on, which was more than a lot of other joes had on near me…
The “REMF” device. That’s fucked up. I like it.
I think a badge would be great for this. An Xbox controller set inside a pair of jump wings where the parachute would go.
USMC Steve: I don’t think an Xbox controller is exactly what the SECDEF meant by “device”. But you never know. (smile)
46: I had a crypto Warrant in the 82nd who was a Leg…the only one in that era (’64). He had a jeweler make a boot and put that over the chute in a set of wings and wore it on his hat. It was so good that it looked like it came from the PX. The Asst Div CG caught it on him one day and thought it was funny as hell and gave him dispensation to wear it all the time.