Does Kuwait still qualify as a Overseas service Bar?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:18:10 -0500

I Went to Kuwait June 14 2016 - Feb 18 2017 in OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (SPARTAN SHIELD) KUWAIT( word for word) . I was told by my buddy today that in his board they said he did not earn his overseas service bar for that same Kuwait rotation and had to take it off. From what I read in AR 670-1 Para. 19-28 it says nothing of the sort that would not allow us to wear it on our ASUs. Is there something I am missing ? We were there for 8 months and some change. Camp Patriot for majority of the time. Thank you in advance.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Nov 19 at 2018 10:26 PM

LTC John Mohor — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:26:24 -0500

SGT Gillette C. Did you get a memorandum for record or orders authorizing the award of a "combat patch" or an overseas service bar? Did you receive " combat pay or Hazzardous Duty pay? If not you probably don't qualify.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 12:50 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:50:29 -0500

You should be able to look at your ERB in the deployment section and it should tell you how many months you have been deployed. Now if you PCSed there that may be a different story.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 20 at 2018 7:41 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 07:41:20 -0500

NO WONDER! I must of been pretty F'd UP when I went before the MSG board and I was;'t wearing enough overseas/combat stripes on my uniform. Hmmm makes you think, maybe that guy before me or after me was in the GOOD BOYS CLUB!

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Nov 20 at 2018 8:37 AM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 08:37:34 -0500

I was under the impression that anything OCONUS (including Alaska and Hawaii) counted as overseas service.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Nov 20 at 2018 9:23 AM

PVT Mark Zehner — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 09:23:25 -0500

I was stationed in Alaska in the 80's and that was considered overseas back then

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 11:32 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:32:46 -0500

I agree with your findings. My wife went through Camp Arifjan and got her oversea's ribbon for the same thing, in support of OEF. It is on her ERB.

In a moment like that at the board, I believe that we should do our best to communicate our findings in the board and stand our ground, but respect what the board is saying and navigate the situation tactfully.

Either way, they're wrong. You are not missing anything. It would seem that they are ones not tracking the regulation.

I remember getting gigged for putting a Star on my Afghan ribbon, but the reg clearly states you that for certain periods of the OEF, you need a star on your ribbon. It signified different phases of the Operation if I remember right. My board didn't know this, thought I was full of shit even after I told them. Oh well!

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Nov 20 at 2018 11:50 AM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:50:03 -0500

OEF for Overseas Service Bar ended in 2014.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 11:52 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:52:23 -0500

Hawaii earns an Overseas Ribbon. (One day, I will play the raconteur and share my memories of OPERATION MAI TAI on Waikiki...)

Response by SPC Kirste Lewis made Nov 22 at 2018 4:15 AM

SPC Kirste Lewis — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 04:15:46 -0500

Look at your DD 214 it should tell you the ribbons that you are allowed to wear. Although OEF was an Afghanistan campaign so I'm not sure about that. Kuwait is OCONUS so if you have orders for it and were there longer then 6 months then it should be approved

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2019 8:43 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 20:43:38 -0500

In short you are NOT authorized the bar. Overseas Service Bars for OEF ended on 31 December 2014. If you're orders read "OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE" or OIR then you would have earned the bar.

(12) Participation in OEF, in the CENTCOM area of operations, and under the control of the Combatant Commander, CENTCOM, between 11 September 2001 and 31 December 2014; OEF-Philippines, in the Philippines, between 19 September 2001 and 31 December 2014; OEF-Horn of Africa, in Djibouti, between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2014. The months of arrival to, and departure from the Philippines, Djibouti, or the CENTCOM area of operations are counted as whole months.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 12:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 12:46:22 -0500