Posted on Oct 20, 2020
Can I wear a combat patch if I did not receive a memo for when I deployed to Turkey in 2012-2013 for Operation Active Fence?
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Deployed to Turkey in 2012-2013 for operation active fence, where Syria was chemically attacking their people in Aleppo and we protected civilians in Gaziantep, Turkey.
Received hazardous pay and imminent danger pay and was over there for a year.
Did not receive a memo to wear the combat patch but I have heard some say you don’t need a memo and some say you do need the memo.
Can I wear a combat patch?
Received hazardous pay and imminent danger pay and was over there for a year.
Did not receive a memo to wear the combat patch but I have heard some say you don’t need a memo and some say you do need the memo.
Can I wear a combat patch?
Posted in these groups: 
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 6
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No.
Short explanation: General rule of thumb, if it's not tax free then it's not a combat zone.
Longer explanation: AR 670-1 states exactly which areas during what time periods are authorized combat patches. Par 19-17.b. does not list any provisions for Turkey during the time periods you specified, so no combat patch is authorized.
A combat patch (SSI-FWTS) is only authorized for service in a designated combat area. Hazardous pay and imminent danger pay does not necessarily mean you're in a designated combat zone. There are many designated "Imminent Danger Zones" around the world that are not combat zones.
Also, for some others commenting, a memo is NOT required to be authorized to wear a SSI-FWTS (or any campaign medals). Most units provide a memo to explain what decorations you are authorized to wear for service in that theater during that specific period, however that memo is not an order, it's just an explanation of your entitlement. Whether or not you get a memo generally depends on your S-1's level of proficiency. AR 670-1 (in the case of SSI-FWTS) and AR 600-8-22 (in the case of campaign medals) are the authorizing documents that allow you to wear the aforementioned decorations. The Army does not publish any formal orders for either of those decorations. (Should they? Probably. Do they? No)
Short explanation: General rule of thumb, if it's not tax free then it's not a combat zone.
Longer explanation: AR 670-1 states exactly which areas during what time periods are authorized combat patches. Par 19-17.b. does not list any provisions for Turkey during the time periods you specified, so no combat patch is authorized.
A combat patch (SSI-FWTS) is only authorized for service in a designated combat area. Hazardous pay and imminent danger pay does not necessarily mean you're in a designated combat zone. There are many designated "Imminent Danger Zones" around the world that are not combat zones.
Also, for some others commenting, a memo is NOT required to be authorized to wear a SSI-FWTS (or any campaign medals). Most units provide a memo to explain what decorations you are authorized to wear for service in that theater during that specific period, however that memo is not an order, it's just an explanation of your entitlement. Whether or not you get a memo generally depends on your S-1's level of proficiency. AR 670-1 (in the case of SSI-FWTS) and AR 600-8-22 (in the case of campaign medals) are the authorizing documents that allow you to wear the aforementioned decorations. The Army does not publish any formal orders for either of those decorations. (Should they? Probably. Do they? No)
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AR and DA PAM 670-1 have a detailed list by country and year to see if you are authorized. You are a 42A NCO....you should know this.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) maybe I should be less specific. You are a NCO. You should know this.
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SGT (Join to see)
The point of my thread was to get feed back and knowledge from those that have it. Yes I’ve read the AR and DA Pam, but if I knew the answer I wouldn’t have asked about the “Memo” portion.
We performed a patch ceremony but when I hear from some you need a Memo it gets confusing, because I did not receive this.
NCO’s don’t have all the knowledge in the world and we rely on each other to gain that information.
SSG (Join to see)
We performed a patch ceremony but when I hear from some you need a Memo it gets confusing, because I did not receive this.
NCO’s don’t have all the knowledge in the world and we rely on each other to gain that information.
SSG (Join to see)
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) if its not labeled in 670-1 you need a memo from G1 of the US Army. No one below that can authorize it. As someone who has been to one of the annexs in Turkey on the Syrian border, and did an entire deployment to Syria, its not a combat zone. Its literally Europe.
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SGT (Join to see)
Got it! Thank you, that clears up the confusion when I read through things. Just wanted to be compliant and not wearing something that isn’t deserved.
Appreciate it
Appreciate it
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No. Last time I was "deployed" to Turkey you could drink beer in the town and out of the mini-bar in your room.
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