In a seemingly rapid about-face, the Pentagon announced Tuesday that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey will conduct a review of the US military’s newly established Distinguished Warfare Medal to re-examine its order of precedence relative to other US military awards and commendations. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel “has asked that Chairman Dempsey lead this review and report back in 30 days,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters during a March 12 briefing. As a result, “production of the medal has stopped” for the time being, said Little, noting that no service member had yet been nominated for it. Hagel’s directive came just days after he told Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), in response to the senator’s inquiry, that the Pentagon had appropriately rated the DWM, which currently ranks above the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart in precedence, much to the dismay of some lawmakers and veterans’ groups. Hagel “believes that it’s prudent to take into account those concerns and conduct this review,” said Little. (Little transcript) (See also Toomey statement and Rooney statement.)
The Department of the Air Force has identified 50 programs that will make up the core of its contribution to the Pentagon’s joint all-domain command and control effort, branding them part of the “DAF Battle Network,” according to newly-released budget documents. The DAF Battle Network programs span multiple offices and agencies…