Courageous Restraint
There is a proposal to award medals for “Courageous Restraint.”
Really?
To paraphrase Patton: No dumb poor bastard won a war with courageous restraint; he won a war by making the other dumb poor bastard being courageously restrained.
Is that really the behavior we want to encourage in our military? I didn’t even join the military — where’s my medal for courageous restraint?
We should instead encourage more productive behavior — like maybe a medal for “Courageous Face-Shooting.” That’s a medal you get for shooting lots of the enemy in the face. I’m pretty sure that’s more along the lines of how you win a war; at least, it works really well in Call of Duty.
(20 votes, average: 4.85 out of 5)
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May 11th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I guess it’s reserved for those who go below and before the call of duty.
May 11th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
As a retired sailor, all I can say is Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I am not eligible to receive that medal. No further comment.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Obama Military Motto: “Don’t kill anyone. Let the courts sort them out.”
May 11th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Our soldiers should only “courageously restrain” the enemy from contributing to global warming by eliminating their carbon footprint.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
“Courageous Restraint” is when you don’t eat the whole box of Oreos.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Shame this ‘award’ wasn’t around in the ’60s and ’70s. Would’a been perfect for those that skipped to Canada. No Marine I know, or any other honorable service member, would even consider displaying this POS on his or her uniform.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Absolutely FUBAR.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Personally, I think I should be given the Courageous Restraint award everytime I see a car or truck with an Obama / Biden 08 sticker and don’t ram them or run them off the road or follow them home and set their car and house of fire or …
May 11th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I can’t help but think, Brave Sir Robin ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin!
May 11th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I hadn’t thought of that, hachie1 – I expect you are right.
In fact, would any superior officer or NCO recommend anyone for this medal unless they wanted to shame them?
May 11th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I’d guess it would be mostly awarded posthumously.
By the way, as I type this, Frank’s post is #1 ranked news item in Google News for a search on “Courageous Restraint.”
May 11th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Will someone PLEASE wake me from this nightmare! War used to be about killing badguys until they got tired of being killed and gave up…until the next time.
Now, I guess going to war is about not pulling the trigger.
Much like the dreaded Purple Heart + POW medal (shot and caught) combo, I wonder how many of these awards will be given posthumously?
May 11th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
dammit Burmashave!
May 11th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Would this be the military equivalent of the Participant ribbon?
May 11th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Well, Genghis, if it is essentially a Participant ribbon, shouldn’t we award them to enemy combatants as well? I mean, we wouldn’t want to harm their self-esteem.
May 11th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Courageous Restraint is proved by any military person who volunteers and fights. It isn’t a lot of fun.
CR is also shown when the military does not slaughter their own politicians. Because 99% of the time the politicians, not the soldiers, have caused the problems.
May 11th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo that proposal!
May 11th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
I’m okay with this award so long as they also create one for Exceptionally Dramatic and Gratuitous Destruction.
May 12th, 2010 at 2:27 am
Solder: See my “Courageous Restraint” ribbon?
Terrorist: No, you don’t seem to have one.
Solder: Exactly…
May 12th, 2010 at 8:28 am
[...] Hat tip to FrankJ. [...]
May 12th, 2010 at 10:31 am
They also throw in a free burial plot.
May 12th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I tried for the “Shock and Awe” medal whilst in Iraq. Turns out they don’t offer them.
Huh!…
I did have fun turning them into pink mist, though. Hearts and minds: it’s not about winning them. It’s about shot placement.
May 14th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I posted a story today on this with first images of the new medal – it’s not impressive (medal and story):
http://peacemoonbeam.typepad.com/scooters_report/2010/05/pentagon-to-issue-medals-for-restraint.html