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If you're only looking for medals then you're in the wrong job. In the British Army we all get the same medal for being in Afghanistan regardless of what our job is. And before some infanteer says he faces more danger on the ground than we do sitting back in KAF, which may be true, just remember that the guys back at KAF are the ones repairing, refuelling, rearming and planning the missions for the Apache helicopters or whatever else that are gonna come and give you air support when you're in the shit!!

   

But that's the line we use to get all the hot women, leaving her fat friend for all you support guys!

   

Whereas the Sapper had already nailed both and moved on!

   

And the Groundie would be in the next room banging her mother!

   

pfffft...the sapper has raped the family pets is more like it.

   

and even then the pet fought hard!

   

Raping pets were a Hussar thing.

Didn't you guys ever hear about "The Mad Hussar" in Pet?

   

I don't think they should be given a different medal. A clasp maybe. The USMC and US Army have the combat star to recognize such work. May that would be more appropriate here. The qualifications for this should rest with the Battalion CO.
Just an idea.

   

I disagree. It still panders to the us/them mentality, and that's trouble from the word go.

I say if you want to know what a troop did on tour, just ask him.

   

Peter Worthington

   

You do realize we are only one of a very few countries that don't have a medal to recognize a combat experienced soldier? There is a simple reason for that. A combat vet has earned the right to be treated with a little more respect. That's all the combat star does. I shows respect to someone who deserves it.
The older people in our country are so caught up in some old notion that stemmed from WWII that we should be meak and quiet.
The reality of modern warfare is that it is far more intense than the majority of combat during WWII. Don't forget the majority of the land action during that war took place between the D Day invasion and the German capitulation. That was only months.
I don't think it is too much to honour those who deserve it.

   

The majority of fighting was from D-Day to VE day?? What part of a history book did you read??

   

I am completely aware of that fact, thanks. I love the fact we habitually shy away from loading up our entire personal history on a uniform that is only occasionally worn. I fucking hate shining medals and adjusting badges and bows. From your comments after that bit o' trivia, I would guess you aren't a soldier (Note I said soldier, as in not an airman or sailor). If you are, then you've forgotten the cardinal rule of being a troop-loop and should be ashamed.

edit: I saw some earlier posts. The cardinal rule that every troop has instilled in him (and you may remember this from your recruit training) is that we are the same. You may not understand the depth of that simple word as it applies to a soldier. We are one team made up of many parts. Cbt Arms soldiers take a lot of pride in that and any worth his salt wouldn't dare hold himself above another soldier who does a different job, no matter what it is.

But keeping on in reply to your post, according to your view, a troop who goes outside of the wire on taskings is entitled to more respect than the mechanic who turns wrenches at KAF. Why exactly? Because one has the potential to engage in combat? So does that mean the Cpl without a badge has to defer to the one with a badge? Does that mean the Clearance Diver guy who clears IED's for an entire tour but never fired his weapon is inferior and less worthy of respect than a MSEOp who returned fire once in a failed ambush? Define "a little more respect". You used it, you define it.



And that bit of brilliance has what to do with this discussion? Care to provide some detail to that? Who's this "we"?



Really? Wow. I never realized that Op Anaconda was far more intense than the clearing of the Scheldt or taking Carpiquet or breaching the Hitler Line.



I think you need to crack a couple more history books. Better yet, sign up for OPDP 1.
BTW, here's a freebie: Don't say that around a North Africa/Sicily/Italy vet from any country. You're welcome.



I don't think we should ever be discriminate on which "who".

   

Spr and Regina,

Thank-you very much for the "lesson" in history. If you actually sit down and read the accounts instead of spouting a few paragraphs from the inside cover and then look at what is actually going on in the REAL world you may change your mind.
BTW, OPDPs are actually called OPMEs now. CANFORGEN 092/01 ADM (HR-Mil) 221200Z Aug 01. I did take HIE208 (Canadian Military History).

It’s obvious that both of you are retired and as such have already lost touch with what the average man in the field thinks today. You may dislike more bobbles and stuff on your Legion uniform but don't let that distract us from recognizing that a grunt that has actually seen combat is a little more due of respect.
You did make a valid point about everyone being treated equally in a unit. I go out of the way to do that in my section but it doesn’t always work because everyone has different quals and courses.

One of the major problems we’ve had over the years is that we were too closed a society. The outside world never really knew what we did. Now the PR people are constantly fighting the ignorance of us and what we do. One way we can help that is to encourage civvies to talk to us and ask questions. A combat star does just that. It encourages dialog. Why do you think the VCDS came out with that CANFORGEN last month encouraging all CF members to where their DEUs at social events wherever “business attire” is appropriate?

Furthermore, Spc suggesting I'm not in the CF... aww you hurt my feeling. (read sarcasm there). If I weren't I probably wouldn't give a damn now would I?

   

Well ya know we can turn to hollywood to informate this functional illiterate for whom reading is not a favoured pastime. I would suggest "Saving Private Ryan."

Then come back and think about your ill-considered post.

   

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