the rest of the story...
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The Army Times story, written by staff writer Jim Tice, was quickly followed by another story citing officials at the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, saying that while it’s possible that soldiers specializing in UAV operations to receive an Air Medal or Distinguished Service Cross, it would not be while performing normal control UAV duties.
Further confusing the issue, Colonel Steve Layman, Deputy Director of Aviation Proponency at Fort Rucker, said that the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal may be awarded to unmanned aerial vehicle warrant officers and operators, “but only if they are physically located on an aircraft during the period when all criteria for the awards have been met.” In such cases, soldiers would not be operating an unmanned aerial vehicle, as Army UAV systems are currently ground-based and controlled.
Thus, it appears -- but is not clear -- that a UAV operator cannot receive the medals for controlling an aerial vehicle, but for flying a mission in a manned aircraft that is unrelated to the UAV operation. Of course, most Army UAVs are considered tactical vehicles, hence the operator is in the general area of the UAV operation. But awarding decorations to UAV controllers could be an interesting precedent if in the future a long-range UAV carries out an important mission with the operator controlling it from a bunker or trailer or even a ship hundreds or even thousands of miles from the “action.”