Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act of 2025

The Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act of 2025 is a short, one- provision bill that would require the Secretary of each military department to create a status identifier for remotely piloted aircraft crews who conduct combat operations. This identifier must be of equivalent merit to a combat status identifier. The requirement must be completed within 180 days of enactment. The text does not define what benefits or criteria will accompany this status, nor does it specify funding or implementation details beyond establishing equivalence of merit. In essence, the bill aims to formally recognize RPA crews who participate in combat operations by giving them a status that is treated as equivalent in merit to traditional combat status, potentially affecting recognition, career advancement, and related considerations, though the bill does not spell out the concrete benefits or procedures.