What rates an MCUF, MCG, or SEH?

[Leitz]

I'm enjoying writing stories in a military campaign. I'd like to write about some tales of heroism and match them to CT awards of MCUF, MCG, and SEH. What sorts of things would make that grade for a ground pounder game?

 

[whulorigan]

I'm enjoying writing stories in a military campaign. I'd like to write about some tales of heroism and match them to CT awards of MCUF, MCG, and SEH. What sorts of things would make that grade for a ground pounder game?

In general, I think you can make the following parallels to current US Military Medals:

MCUF = Bronze Star
MCG = Silver Star
SEH = Distinguished Service Cross -or- Medal of Honor
SEH w/ Diamonds = Medal of Honor

Try looking up the above on wikipedia.

 

[Leitz]

I didn't think CT had the *SEH*. Of course, I could be wrong...

 

[aramis]

I didn't think CT had the *SEH*. Of course, I could be wrong...

The SEH is in books 4 & 5. The SEH with Diamonds is later; non-CT.

 

[Reban]

I think of the SEH as roughly equivalent to a British Victoria Cross.

There are plenty of examples of historic VC winners especially from the late Victorian period that go well with my own view of Traveller.

As for what rates a medal I think there are some reasons beyond the "heroic act" itself.

Recognition
Most medal winner don't just do one heroic thing in their careers but do many small things until one day they find themselves in an extraordinary situation. Medals and awards are sometimes awarded in recognition of a series of feats of military daring.

Moral
"Give that man a medal, it'll be good for morale". The idea behind medals and awards is to single out an individual and to create a rolemodel, not just for his or her military colleagues but also for the public on the home front.

Politics
Related to morale above, sometimes its a good idea to pick out someone for something they've done and create a fuss, because maybe it distracts the public from the fact that in the attack where your man won his SEH there was a 99% casualty rate and he's the only survivor. Or maybe your deep cover black ops agent gets a medal for doing something heroic, but the details on the citation aren't what he was actually doing.



Apart from the above I'd recommend the film To Hell and Back which tells the story of Audie Murphy, "America's Most decorated Soldier". The film Zulu for multiple VC winners. One of my all time favorite films is The Blue Max, the story of German Ace's in the Great war competing to win the medal known as the Blue Max or Pour le Mérite award. These aren't so much heroes as anti-heroes. See the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efc6Y6LCuuc Actually it covers the Moral and Politics points I made pretty well.

 

[Condottiere]

That attitude endured to the Great Patriotic War, where German air units tended to try and promote the accomplishments of their stars, which I suspected enhanced the stature of the unit as a whole, and possibly that of the promotion prospects of their commanding officer(s).

 

[nobby-w]

I didn't think CT had the *SEH*. Of course, I could be wrong...

It gets a mention in Book 4 and 5, where the advanced mercenary and naval character generation systems can produce decorations. The first three books don't go into this at all.

 

[Leitz]

Sorry, it looks like I created confusion instead of clarifying.

The SEH is in Book 4 and I think 5. The SEH with Diamonds, often written *SEH*, is not, far as I can tell.

 

[whulorigan]

Sorry, it looks like I created confusion instead of clarifying.

The SEH is in Book 4 and I think 5. The SEH with Diamonds, often written *SEH*, is not, far as I can tell.

The SEH w/ Diamonds (*SEH*), as far as I know, is unique to T5. I included it for completeness. That is also why I also noted that the SEH (w/o Diamonds) would be either Distinguished Service Cross -or- Medal of Honor. If you are not using the "Diamonds" grade, then SEH = Medal of Honor. If you are thinking of using it, then the above is how I would split it when comparing it to US Military Awards.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Geez, folks...

Read the Names, it tells what rates the Medal in the Name. RTFM, kiddies, RTFM.

From:

Imperial Armed Forces Joint Command & Operations, HCM-101, § 11: Decorations and Awards.
ISB Volume XI -review copy - draft notes, dev notes, raw data: previous award citations/aar/tns reports, miner-wares.

MCUF - Meritorious Conduct Under Fire

1. Combat Award. It can not be awarded for non-combat service or conduct.
2. Meritorious signifies exceptional conduct, more than expected from the Candidate's rank, certifications, or duty station. Thus a Petty Officer leading a Damage Control Party fighting a fire or leaking atmosphere or other incident which has a tactical effect on the battle does not rate the MCUF (but may be awarded a lesser Award or Decoration such as the Examplary Service Medal [XS]), but an newly Rated Able Spacer doing so after the loss of the Senior NCO may be awarded a MCUF.
3. May be awarded for acts which may not have been gallant or heroic, merely conducted under fire. So, a Medic who runs into repeated enemy fire may be awarded the MCUF, but not the MCG or SEH. They are expected to do so by nature of the Duty, however doing so at increasing peril to themselves is conduct of merit. While there may not be a hard break (mandatory: no less than three seperate confirmed rescues, all under enemy fire...), I suspect it is a soft curve, see the above post regarding politics and other factors.

MCG - Medal of Conspicous Gallantry

1. May be awarded for combat or non-combat action.
   
   [TAS INFONUGGET: This award sees more issuance during Peacekeeping Missions more than any other due to its non-combat nature compared to the MCUF.]​
2. Conspicous, the action must occur in the presence of multiple witnesses and the identity of the actor must not be in doubt.
3. Gallantry, this generally is taken to mean action not only meritorious but of "an Honorable nature in furtherance of the Ideals of the Imperium and in the best Traditions of the Service." Typical examples are unit commanders fighting their unit's equipment either alone (per Sophont type) or with a less than combat effective unit members to achieve mission goals, tactical control, and/or rescue of personel and morale where previously lost.

SEH & *SEH* - Starburst of Extreme Heroism & SEH with Diamonds

1. May be awarded for combat or non-combat actions.
2. Extreme depends on the Sophont. While a Baseline Human charging across the lava plain through a Class C atmosphere clothed only in hand-crafted "hardened" VaccSuit and take an enemy emplacement armed only with a laser carbine with twenty shots in the power pack is indeed extreme and worthy of the SEH, Q'Dellenens of Thenoia-7, a BigWorld with a Class C Atmo the near satellite of its local GG, it is merely a walk in the park followed by some vermin culling their evolution leading to rather pragmatic and by human standards ruthless species. The most common qualification is that the Sophont be in dire jeopardy of losing life and limbs and organs in order to have accomplished the actions.
3. Heroic is hard to quantify but as noted above danger to the self is a prime component of that quality. A secondary and possibly equal qualification is that the actions inspire other to emulate those actions when called upon themselves. It is a form of memetic engineering to increase chances that others in the Services will take greater risks on behalf of the Service and the Imperium when the situation has gone completely off-plan. As well, it encourages creative problem solving or brute will to suceed both of which are fine qualities in dangerous conditions. Another aspect is that is rational forethought taking calculated risks that defy the odds, this is not instinctive behaviors they are thought out and fully understand the potential of failure but go forth and act in spite of this knowledge.
4. What qualifies for the distinction of a SEH is awarded with or without Diamonds is an obscure matter and is often due to nothing more than Whim or Will of The Sovereign to more personal reasons such as an influential member of the board disliking the Candidate or advancing the career of prized protege. Whatever the actual qualification for Diamonds it may be noted they more often received by Sophonts who are deceased with no Life Insurance backups. The living recipients are often reluctant to discuss the matters, some can't as they are still under Counellor's Orders for treatment for the action.

Or that's my take on it, via a breakfast of :coffeegulp:. May contain errors of spelling, grammar and possibly judgement.

 

[rancke]

[*]What qualifies for the distinction of a SEH is awarded with or without Diamonds is an obscure matter and is often due to nothing more than Whim or Will of The Sovereign to more personal reasons such as an influential member of the board disliking the Candidate or advancing the career of prized protege. Whatever the actual qualification for Diamonds it may be noted they more often received by Sophonts who are deceased with no Life Insurance backups. The living recipients are often reluctant to discuss the matters, some can't as they are still under Counellor's Orders for treatment for the action.

An SEH with diamonds is a better SEH than one without? This is established? My guess would have been that it was a second SEH. But perhaps that's because I've always thought that the SEH was the equivalent of a Victoria Cross or a Congressional Medal of Honor. There were some SEH citations in Ground Forces that gave me the distinct impression that they were inspired by VC and CMH citations.


Hans

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Uh. Yeah?

An SEH with diamonds is a better SEH than one without? This is established? My guess would have been that it was a second SEH. But perhaps that's because I've always thought that the SEH was the equivalent of a Victoria Cross or a Congressional Medal of Honor. There were some SEH citations in Ground Forces that gave me the distinct impression that they were inspired by VC and CMH citations.


Hans

The chart had, damn...hold on....wow.

Okay, looking at page 109, Core Rules 5.09.

It is now easier to get a *SEH* than it used to be, old days it was a Reward Roll of 12+. Now it ranges from 10-12+. The regular old SEH has the range of 8-9.

*sad sigh & head of shame*

Ye Gods of Space, they have surely lowered the standards from my days. I mean not that I ever rated anything as awesome as MCG, much less some form of the SEH. Staff weenies don't rate big gongs, plenty of Wound Badges from papercuts.

So, yes Hans, the SEH has two classes. Second Class comes without Diamonds, and First Class comes with Diamonds. Plus as I recall both rate TAS, yep page 75 the SEH comes with a TAS Life Membership, not the Limited Fellowship, so you get all the perks for as long as you live and with the right Life Insurance that can be an awfully long time. :devil:

 

[aramis]

An SEH with diamonds is a better SEH than one without? This is established? My guess would have been that it was a second SEH. But perhaps that's because I've always thought that the SEH was the equivalent of a Victoria Cross or a Congressional Medal of Honor. There were some SEH citations in Ground Forces that gave me the distinct impression that they were inspired by VC and CMH citations.


Hans

They were. Doug was pretty clear about his sources of inspiration on GT:GF.

 

[Leitz]

I believe the *SEH* is a T5-ism, so can stay with that game. The one I'm in is pure CT, so unless the DM changes stuff the SEH is equivalent to the VC/CMOH.

However, we've drifted slightly abaft. I'm looking for examples, not just definitions. Not just one thing, but various ideas from minds more creative than mine.

 

[samuelvss]

Not just one thing, but various ideas from minds more creative than mine.

SEH
Jump on a grenade without body armor. (This one has been pretty much a given for The Medal).

Wounded, refused evac, covered withdrawal of platoon with last breaths.

Multiply-wounded, and stayed fighting with troops for hours.

Charged enemy pillbox solo with a molotov cocktail and a gauss rifle with 23 rounds.

[Flag Officer] When faced with inevitable crushing defeat, felt really bad about abandoning command to their fate, while making pithy resolutions of return.

Rick Rescorla on 9/11/01.


MCG
Wounded, but waited until all other platoon members were on transport for getting .

Stayed in position for 8 hours while under withering fire that caused some casualties.

Volunteered for forlorn hope mission, and comported self well in the face of enemy fire.

[Field Grade Officer] Flew over battlefield in grav tank and kept a stiff upper lip, while saying very encouraging things over the radio to the poor sods rotting in the trenches.

2LT Rick Rescorla on 11/15/65.

MCUF
Comported self well in the face of enemy fire.

After being ambushed, crawled back into kill zone in a ditch to destroy the crypto, while not knowing if the ambushers were sill present. Returned to unit, and directed entire battalion of tube artillery onto ambushers.

Flew medevac into hot PZ with effective anti-vehicular fire.

Led squad on combat patrol, accomplishing mission and evacuating the wounded in good order.

[Company Grade Officer] Failed to embarass self at the distant sound of gunfire. Made bad jokes in lame attempt at propping up morale.

 

[pendragonman]

If you want stories of how they got the medals, here is a little google-fu for you:


http://www.pbs.org/weta/americanvalor/stories/

http://www.army.mil/valor/

http://donmooreswartales.com/category/bronze-star/

http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/6221.aspx

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/iron_cross/2nd_1st_class/recipients/recipients.htm

 

[samuelvss]

.... CT, so unless the DM changes stuff the SEH is equivalent to the VC/CMOH.

No, because of the chances of getting it, it would be CMOH, and DSC.

MCG is SS; MCUH is BSM w/V

 

[BlackBat242]

There is no such medal as the "Congressional Medal of Honor".

Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor; however, the official name is simply the "Medal of Honor". Within United States Code the medal is referred to as "Medal of Honor", and less frequently as "Congressional Medal of Honor".

 

[Condottiere]

I remember reading the Galactic Medal of Honor, which ironically, very much confined to the Terran military. In it, a rather disillusioned fighter pilot discovers an alien hulk dating from the time of the last and only alien invasion, records himself shooting it up, and becomes the only current living recipient of aforesaid honour.

One of the perquisites being it's magnetic power to attract and bed any human female, free meals and free accommodation at any hotel, being the Presidential suite at the most expensive hotel at the capital, social standing so high that he gets invited to the exclusive parties.

Also, is there a Good Conduct Medal for not screwing up?

 

[maksimsmelchak]

Traveller Wiki data on awards:

External Link: [http://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Meritorious_Conduct_Under_Fire ] MCUF

External Link: [http://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Category:Awards ] Awards

Hope that helps.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.