Are combat patches awarded for military service in the Republic of Korea?

2014-03-21T16:28:51-04:00

I am curious because I have been told so many different things that I would like to have clarification on this. If someone could point me in the right direction I would gladly look the answer up myself. Also, stupid question, am I entitled to wear a combat patch for the 10th mountain division if the unit I was attached to was never fully deployed while I was in it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2014 4:53 PM

2014-03-21T16:53:14-04:00

I have heard of Soldiers being authorized to wear the SSI-FWTS for their unit in Korea, but that was back in the time when Korea deployed to Iraq. Unless fighting breaks out between North Korea and South Korea, I would imagine that you will not get it now.

Also, about your 10th Mountain patch, were you deployed and in country for 30 days? If so, then you should be authorized to wear the patch. The only exception I can see to this is if you deployed as individuals or small groups to support another unit down range, then you would wear the patch for the unit you were with there, not the 10th Mountain patch. Can you specify what you mean when you say the unit was never fully deployed?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2014 6:39 AM

2014-05-09T06:39:52-04:00

We currently have a Kiowa unit here deployed for 9 months and they do not get a combat patch. The next unit is about to relieve them and will be here for 9 months. Korea is becoming a rotation deployment for a few different combat units over the next few years. They are authorized to wear the KDSM which requires you to do 30 days consecutive or 60 days unconsecutive. I have been here a year and there is a lot of talk about 9 month rotational units coming to perform specific duties.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 27 at 2014 11:46 PM

2014-07-27T23:46:14-04:00

Korea: Not unless you were there during open hostilities ('50-'53)

Response by SGT Mark Heathco made Sep 19 at 2014 1:07 AM

2014-09-19T01:07:38-04:00

Keep trying I received my CIB and was'nt even looking for it, I mean I submitted the paper work to the army and buddy statements that proved wHat we did really happened but there must have been some evidence in my 201 file because initially they denied me so I gave up and then after years I receive it in the mail? go figure but that's the army.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 10:31 PM

2014-09-19T22:31:24-04:00

I learn something new every day.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 20 at 2014 8:18 AM

2014-09-20T08:18:18-04:00

A lot of the great discussion here is also why DoA came up with the Korean Defense Service Medal in lieu of the overseas tour ribbon. It distinguishes the fact that Korea is a hot spot not just an overseas posting.

Response by 1SG Carter Hickman made Oct 13 at 2015 9:22 PM

2015-10-13T21:22:51-04:00

I was an 11B and a DMZ Manchu from January 1978 to December 1978. Am I authorized to wear the 2nd ID Patch as a Combat Patch. I was first assigned to the 1/9th Inf Bn then 2/9th Inf Bn.

Response by SPC Albert Lopez made Nov 30 at 2015 12:25 PM

2015-11-30T12:25:17-05:00

Actually now you do qualify for the CIB if you served on the DMZ, Korea. Under AR 600-8-22 pages 98 and 99. Its qualifying wars, conflicts and operations on Korea DMZ 4 Jan 1969 to 31 March 1994.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Mar 3 at 2016 1:41 PM

2016-03-03T13:41:53-05:00

I don't know the regs, but it's an interesting thought... I was in Korea in '93-'94 when Kim Jong Il took control of the country and massed almost a million troops on the boarder (compared to the 60K U.S. troops in country).

I felt it was much more dangerous than Desert Storm (I was 19 in Desert Storm, so it might have just been that I was naive).

In either case I'd still pick wearing my 101st patch over the "cookie cutter" patch, so it doesn't really matter to me.

Response by MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect made Mar 4 at 2016 9:34 AM

2016-03-04T09:34:17-05:00

The short answer is no, unless you were there in the 50's. No one in the military today should be able today to wear a combat patch for Korea.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 1:05 PM

2016-07-27T13:05:27-04:00

Technically we're still at war, and the North gets uppity now and then sometimes involving the deaths of civilians or ROK Soldiers. So the whole thing is screwy but as I understood it outside of special instances no you don't.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2017 4:07 PM

2017-12-10T16:07:29-05:00

Unless u were in combat ..or in a hostile environment where bullets exchanged with the North Koreans.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2017 4:10 PM

2017-12-10T16:10:08-05:00

It does not work this way .u have to be on ground with the unit in hostile environment.

Response by SFC John Henao made Dec 10 at 2017 10:46 PM

2017-12-10T22:46:02-05:00

Last time I checked in order to get the CIB you’ll have to be engaged in ground combat and of course do sworn statements etc etc.

Response by 1SG Philip Tacy made Dec 18 at 2017 10:13 PM

2017-12-18T22:13:32-05:00

If you never went to combat with the unit no

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2017 4:20 AM

2017-12-21T04:20:46-05:00

For the action badge you must be in direct contact with hostile forces or engaged with direct fire including IEDs. Mortars and rockets fired inside the compound won't cut it unless your chain of command pushes it

Response by SFC Aubrey Campbell made Feb 3 at 2018 8:25 PM

2018-02-03T20:25:51-05:00

The military has put many of us in hostile situations, but does not consider it war based on the politically correct answers. What soldiers are saying about Korea, (including me 86-87), is that war is alway imminent there. The pucker factor is real. When you get told Kim Jon Un is coming across the DMZ at any moment, it’s all out caps. Yes, I had some good times there. But every time I went on duty at the “Turtle Farm” AKA Camp Casey, it was on. By the way, for you brave scholars out there, the Korean War is not over, only an Armistice Agreement is in place. All of us who got out of that “Hell Hole” after 365 days are blessed. Oh by the way, I did not serve for a combat patch or chest full of medals, I just served.

Response by SFC Joseph Darling made May 18 at 2018 2:35 PM

2018-05-18T14:35:54-04:00

DD 214says AFEM. KOREA. Awarded which is described in Vetrans Health hand book as a combat Vetran now is that true or what .

Response by SFC Joseph Darling made May 18 at 2018 2:38 PM

2018-05-18T14:38:33-04:00

Was there during 1968 -1969 receive Agent Orange benefits for DMZ area

Response by SFC Joseph Darling made May 18 at 2018 2:46 PM

2018-05-18T14:46:05-04:00

Drafted in 1967 have all the diseases associated with Agent Orange served 13 months in Camp Casey Korea and around the D MZ and every thing I get from the VA they try to take back I didn’t ask to be drafted but did not run and did what I thought was right why do we get such a haste not asking for something for nothing went onto serve in the NG for 39 years Retired SFC What’s the point of any thing

Response by SFC Ron Culver made May 21 at 2018 11:01 PM

2018-05-21T23:01:26-04:00

Spent a year there, 1985 to 1986. Do not know the answer to original question. If anyone gets a solid answer I would love to know. Don't really care about being able to the wear the patch as I retired a long time ago. Just curious in my old age.

Response by SFC Dagmar Riley made Jun 2 at 2018 11:43 PM

2018-06-02T23:43:45-04:00

The answer depends on when you served there:
AR 670-1 25 May 2017
I highly recommend you read the beginning of this paragraph 19-17 as it explains what qualifies as Combat zone.
19–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service

(2) Korea: between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive. Also between 1 April 1968 and 31 August 1973, for those personnel who were awarded the Purple Heart, combat infantryman badge, combat medical badge, or who qualified for at least one month of hostile fire pay for service in a hostile fire area in Korea.

(7) Korea: 23 November 1984, for Soldiers who participated directly in the firefight with North Korean guards at the Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea.

Also found this (read entire page; not that much):
https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/combat-zone-tax-exclusions.html

Combat Zone Tax Exclusions

If you are a military member who serves in a combat zone you can exclude certain pay from your income when figuring your taxes.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 16 at 2018 5:03 PM

2018-10-16T17:03:58-04:00

Sorry no patch for Korea post conflict. As for a patch from the 10 mountain the rule of boots on the ground applies. Thank you for your service.

Response by CPT Bruce Dow made Dec 17 at 2018 1:28 PM

2018-12-17T13:28:16-05:00

I understand stand a combat patch is authorized for Korean service from April 1968 to August 1973 if the soldier received hostile fire pay at least one month. To receive hostile fire pay we needed to be on an operation north of the Imjin for at least five days or 3 overnights in a month

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 19 at 2018 12:37 AM

2018-12-19T00:37:23-05:00

No. Service in Korea does not earn you a combat patch unless you were there back during open hostilities. It does earn you Campaign medal though (Korean Defense Service Medal). And to earn a combat patch, you have to be physically boots on the ground in an active wartime theater.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Mar 17 at 2019 10:29 PM

2019-03-17T22:29:30-04:00

I spent a year in south Korea in 1970
I did not go to Vietnam. I went were the army sent me. I have a campaign medal. I am a Vietnam era vet. Check with hr soldier or read the regulations.

Response by SGT Juan Robledo made Mar 29 at 2019 10:34 PM

2019-03-29T22:34:05-04:00

After 2 tours in Korea, 1980-198, 1983-1984, the patch we wore on our fatigues we're the Imjun patch, and the oversea ribbon, both times did a stint at DMZ joint base

Response by SSgt Allan Stringer made Aug 12 at 2019 4:42 PM

2019-08-12T16:42:33-04:00

I served in Korea in the aftermath.of the capture of the USS Pueblo in 1968. I was Air Force. What is my entitlement? The following year I was in an incident where 28 Purple Hearts were 'earned'. Dozens died (no USAF). What is my entitlement for a combat 'award?'

Response by MAJ Richard Cheek made Oct 12 at 2019 9:38 PM

2019-10-12T21:38:21-04:00

The 2d and 7th div combat patches were authorized 67 to 73. If you drew combat pay and also got overseas stripes for every 6 months drawing combat pay. Technically hostile fire pay.

Response by SSG Kenneth Ponder made Nov 1 at 2019 4:01 AM

2019-11-01T04:01:35-04:00

Certain dates & times, yes. Ck the regs

Response by CSM Thomas Ray made Apr 30 at 2020 12:36 PM

2020-04-30T12:36:33-04:00

Yes, If you were in the Korean War