I never have understood why they put a V device on a Bronze Star....the only real difference between a Meritorious Service Medal and a Bronze Star is that you did good stuff while stationed in a Combat Zone in order to get the Bronze Star, papers still need to be pushed in a combat zone soldier.
...and don't think of this as just drone operators....intelligence analysts can accomplish their job just as easily back at Ft Belvoir as they can forward deployed (and given the need for a reliable source of power and enough air conditioning, you get better, more timely product leaving them at Ft Belvoir). This award goes to those folks as well.
Now I will follow Copecwby20's example and shut up
Normally, the V signifies the award for an achievement directly in combat. As in, there I was, knee deep in bodies, when an RPG hit the humvee in front, and I ran in and yanked two guys out while the hajis were shooting all around me. Without the V, it's an award for my Ops O and Ops Chief for running a good Combat Operations Center (BTW, you guys are welcome for that. Not like I put the thing together, wrote the SOPs, and trained all of the enlisted how to do it
) But you don't have to be in a combat zone to get a Bronze Star. It's just a level of achievement. But, by and large, you are correct, BS come in combat zone.
I'm not saying drone operators don't deserve something. God knows, they've saved countless lives and have to deal with their own stresses and regrets from their missions. But to give an award that is higher in precidence than a Bronze Star is ... disrespectful, IMO.