I'm a uav operator. I think one thing you've failed to take into account is that just because we're eligible to receive an award doesn't mean we'll actually get it. I've saved a lot of lives with the skills I've learned, but I've never so much as gotten a commendation medal. Even if I was put in for an air medal, there's always someone in the chain of command that feels like you do, and would throw it away because I didn't put my life on the line.
Military Intelligence never gets any credit, and we're used to it. Don't get excited because we're 'authorized' to earn a medal.