We track our score as well. I'd hate to degrade the CMH to an indicator of kills, tho.
I respectfully disagree with your position. There is nothing degrading about using it in that manner. Pilots earned the CMH for shooting down enemy aircraft. If you take that course of action, then using any award for the purposes of this game is degrading. It is the spirit to which you use it that is important in my opinion. If you choose not to use it, so be it, but to say it is degrading is a little over the top. I would have to say the Purple Heart is a much more dear award that might be degraded by use in a game as if you actually injured yourself playing, it was your own darn fault.
I take it that most squads which incorporate an awards system based on actual awards do it for immersion and out of respect for those who earn them. As long as an award is made for merit, I fail to see any reason to reject it out of hand. I do not object to someone who plays the game faithfully and who does not disgrace his squad from earning a commendation medal, though I, possibly you, and many others spent the time earning one in real life. I am certainly no hero, but it is in the same vein that we are discussing. It is up to the squad to maintain the spirit of an award system. Done respectfully, I think it is appropriate.
Many men have been awarded the medal based on the large numbers of enemies they dispatched. York and Murphy come to mind, and many others. Here is just 1 instance of number of aircraft being shot down being included in a citation, maybe not the best example, but one none the less:
BONG, RICHARD I. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over Borneo and Leyte, 10 October to 15 November 1944. Entered service at: Poplar, Wis. Birth: Poplar, Wis. G.O. No.: 90, 8 December 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down 8 enemy airplanes during this period.
When it comes down to it, I feel a well thought out, merit based awards system is a great tool for adding a measure of immersion and gratitude for those you fly with. Remembering that real people are out there earning these same awards keep them in our minds and hopefully our hearts, regardless of the country of origin. Thanks.
Regards,
Hobo
