The new award, called the Close Combat Badge, was unveiled to a private conference of four-star generals convened in Washington this weekend by Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, the senior official said. Army and Pentagon officials discussed the badge on the condition that they not be identified by name.

• The first military honor created after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was called the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and frustrated some in uniform who wanted ribbons that were awarded for specific deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Lest we get carried away that the medals are honoring bravery and things like those, remember that the medals are a cold calculation. They probably get some extra benefits and monetory help, and also help in promotions of the awardees.