Pongochap, I'm sure the troops on the ground would be more in support about having a highly skilled pilot dropping bang on the right target, and possibly getting them out of very sticky situations getting a medal than the bluntie who hands out $ sat behind the wire etc
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Who cares if they have been "in" theatre?? If you play your part in the operation, you should get a medal IMHO, regardless of your role, and I would imagine there is a fair bit of stress being responsible for £££££ worth of UAV and dropping bang very very close to your own troops......
Yet again the services fall on thier own sword
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