How medals are awarded to get review

Critics question process, noting inconsistencies

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a comprehensive review of how the military awards medals and decorations as the U.S. nears the end of more than a decade of warfare.

The awards process has come under scrutiny recently as critics question inconsistencies. The Pentagon drew fire when it proposed a special medal for those who fly drones remotely or who engage in cyberwarfare.

The review will determine whether procedures can be streamlined or improved, said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary.

Officials acknowledge that any awards system will necessarily contain an element of personal judgment and subjectivity. “It’s not a science, and I don’t think he’s trying to make it a science,” Kirby said.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, member of the Armed Services Committee and Marine who served in Iraq, has been critical of the process, which he said has been inconsistent and hasn’t reflected the breadth of heroic action over the past 12 years. He points out that there is no living Medal of Honor recipient from the Iraq War.

A recent review found that a couple dozen servicemen from World War II, Korea and Vietnam were overlooked for the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for bravery, probably because of their religion or ethnicity.

The 24 medals were awarded after Congress ordered the services to review the records of Jewish and Hispanic veterans of the three wars. Only three of the men were alive to accept the award.

The new Pentagon review will examine how best to recognize servicemembers who engage in new types of warfare, such as those who pilot unmanned aircraft, commonly called drones, or engage in cyberwarfare.

Former Defense secretary Leon Panetta had announced a special medal for drone pilots and cyberwarriors, but critics lambasted it, saying drone pilots don’t face physical danger. Soon after becoming Defense secretary, Hagel replaced the special medal with a “device” that could be affixed to other decorations.