Can you still receive a combat patch when rotating/deploying to Kuwait?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:04:10 -0500

Can you still receive a combat patch when rotating/deploying to kuwait?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 22 at 2018 12:53 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:53:55 -0500

Combat - Kuwait?

Response by SPC Kirste Lewis made Nov 22 at 2018 4:12 AM

SPC Kirste Lewis — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 04:12:35 -0500

If you never left Kuwait then no because that is considered a friendly/allied country. However, say you did like I did and you were based out of Kuwait but ran missions in iraq then yes you would receive a combat patch or if you were attached to a company or battalion that ran through iraq then you could receive orders for a combat patch

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2018 11:29 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 11:29:37 -0500

Was just there. There was a policy that said you had to go to iraq, Syria, jordan. I think it said as soon as you were there you were eligible, or 24 hrs. Kuwait did not count

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2018 3:56 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 15:56:04 -0500

Hahaha

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Nov 22 at 2018 10:17 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 22:17:35 -0500

Duplicate

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Nov 22 at 2018 10:20 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 22:20:45 -0500

The correct term is SSI-FWTS

The term “combat zone” is a general term and it includes actual combat areas, direct combat support areas, and contingency operations areas. The following countries are currently recognized as combat zones: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.Feb 2, 2017

AR 600-8-22 page 35
(13) Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): between 19 September 2001 and a date to be determined, for Soldiers
assigned to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; Between 9 January 2002 and a date to be
determined for those Soldiers assigned to the Philippines, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, who were
receiving combat zone tax exclusion and imminent danger pay (IDP), and who meet the criteria of paragraph 21–17a.
Between 31 July 2002 and a date to be determined, for Soldiers deployed to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
area of operations in support of OEF authorized combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/imminent danger pay (IDP)
as identified by CENTCOM Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Soldiers who were
deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than OEF are not authorized
the SSI–FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OEF.
(14) Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): between 19 March 2003 to 31 August 2010, for Soldiers assigned to units
participating in OIF. Soldiers must have been deployed in the CENTCOM area of operations, or participated in OIF
while deployed in Turkey, Israel, or on Aegis cruisers. Soldiers who served with the 1st Marine Division between 19
March 2003 and 21 April 2003 during combat operations in support of OIF are authorized to wear the 1st Marine
Division SSI as their SSI–FWTS. Soldiers who were deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in
support of operations other than OIF not authorized the SSI-FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became
combat or support missions to OIF.
(15) Operation New Dawn (OND): between 1 September 2010 and 31 December 2011 for Soldiers assigned to units
participating in support of OND. Soldiers must have been deployed in the CENTCOM area of operations or partici-
pated in OND while deployed in Turkey, Israel, or on Aegis cruisers. Soldiers who were deployed in the area of
operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than OND are not authorized the SSI-FWTS, unless
those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OND

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2018 8:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 08:08:19 -0500

No. I was there in 2014 and we were the last rotation to receive the patch before the combat zone designation was changed.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2018 9:24 PM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 21:24:59 -0500

No. Kuwait is no longer an IDP location. It is identified as a CZTE location only (meaning your pay is tax free). The SSI-FWTS is authorized only if you are serving in support of an approved operation in an IDP location. IDP locations are identified in the DODFMR Volume 7a. Kuwait stopped being an IDP location 01 Jan 15.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 6:54 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 06:54:13 -0500

I've heard stories of units in Kuwait going to a demilitarized zone/border for about 5 minutes, coming back, and writing a memo approving their combat patch. So in a sense, yes? But that's kind of cheating the system and devaluing the combat patch. But as a whole, no, you will not get a patch for being in Kuwait.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2019 12:35 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 00:35:24 -0400

The patch is for former wartime service. You missed the wartime in Kuwait a long time ago.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 1:11 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 01:11:04 -0400

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 9:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 21:34:08 -0400

The amount of memes made about kuwait is due to it not being a combat deployment. However, you can get lucky and take a trip to a deployment fob and earn a patch that way. Our ammo chief regularly took troops with him to inspect the ASPs specifically to get then a patch. But Kuwait is not a combat zone and does not get a patch.
Although the amount of work and danger in Kuwait is surely comparable to those in a cushy fob anyways.