AUSN asks Obama to lower new medal precedence - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

AUSN asks Obama to lower new medal precedence

The Association of the United States Navy, along with several other service and veteran organizations, is lobbying President Obama to lower the precedence of the Distinguished Warfare Medal, the new award designed to honor achievements outside direct combat, to include drone pilots and cyber warriors.

AUSN cited morale concerns raised by the current order of precedence of the medal, which places it above medals associated with combat, including the Bronze Star with “V” device, the Purple Heart and the Soldier’s Medal.

“While AUSN supports the medal itself, as well as the achievements and importance of the cyber warfare community, the concern lies with the ranking of the medal,” the organization said in a news release.

The medal was authorized in February by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Since the announcement, a backlash has erupted in the military community. New SECDEF Chuck Hagel has already called for a review of the order of precedence of the medal.

The AUSN, based in Alexandria, Va., is a vocal advocate for active and reserve sailors and officers, civilians, veterans and their families. The letter to the President was co-signed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Association for Uniformed Services and the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.