Do I get combat pay and a combat patch for getting deployed to Saudi Arabia?

2021-12-12T12:38:20-05:00

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Dec 12 at 2021 1:03 PM

2021-12-12T13:03:34-05:00

Check with DFAS on the current list

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2021 1:37 PM

2021-12-12T13:37:26-05:00

Nope.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 12 at 2021 3:35 PM

2021-12-12T15:35:24-05:00

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 12 at 2021 3:39 PM

2021-12-12T15:39:02-05:00

Consider your luck. You will not live in the desert.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2021 5:46 PM

2021-12-12T17:46:46-05:00

Having served at PSAB from Nov '20 to Mar '21, yes..."combat pay" is authorized and so is a patch for Saudi Arabia.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2021 7:00 PM

2021-12-12T19:00:11-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Listen to MSG Private RallyPoint Member ... he is usually correct in his advice.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2021 9:49 PM

2021-12-12T21:49:13-05:00

Edit - I guess you do get a combat patch.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/06/23/combat-patches-approved-us-soldiers-saudi-arabia-oil-facilities-attack.html#:~:text=American%20soldiers%20have%20been%20cleared,during%20the%20period%20beginning%20Sept.

Looks like you get imminent danger pay - which is taxable.

https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/2020/06/22/saudi-arabia-duty-now-comes-extra-pay.html

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Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Dec 12 at 2021 9:53 PM

2021-12-12T21:53:42-05:00

If you earn your combat patch you don't want one.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Dec 13 at 2021 1:47 PM

2021-12-13T13:47:36-05:00

"Combat" patch.

Response by SFC Antonio Baird made Dec 13 at 2021 10:39 PM

2021-12-13T22:39:39-05:00

You may be eligible for Hazardous Duty Pay without also being eligible for a "combat patch."
The Army combat patch, officially known as the "shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service" (SSI-FWTS), recognizes soldiers' participation in combat operations.
While stationed in Kuwair 95 to 96, I received Hazardous Duty Pay, but were not authorized "combat patches."
Almost every single Army regulation is online. The most dangerous individual in any service is one who knows and understands the regs.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2021 9:27 PM

2021-12-19T21:27:33-05:00

Yes

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2021 8:34 AM

2021-12-21T08:34:26-05:00

That's generally auto generated by your S-1 or, if a Joint Command, the S-1 that does personnel actions. Your entire unit, if deployed, would be eligible. Dates of service in that country would be an element of your eligibility. I was stationed in (then) West Germany for three years from 76-79 yet 30 years after the "occupation" ribbon was awarded.

Response by MSgt Craig Gauger made Dec 28 at 2021 1:00 AM

2021-12-28T01:00:17-05:00

What does your unit deployment NCO say?

Response by SPC Roger Furtak made Dec 28 at 2021 6:51 PM

2021-12-28T18:51:24-05:00

So there's deployment patches and combat badges. Im guessing your talking about deployment patch on right arm? You most likely will that.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2021 8:30 PM

2021-12-28T20:30:04-05:00

Consult DoD FMR 7400

Response by 1LT Shaun Ray made Dec 28 at 2021 10:33 PM

2021-12-28T22:33:10-05:00

I'm gonna say not likely. You typically get those things in a combat zone with hazardous duty pay, imminate danger, direct/indirect fire, etc. I'm also pretty confident if you're asking then the answer is going to be no. Check with your first line and CoC.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2021 1:59 PM

2021-12-29T13:59:10-05:00

It depends on whether or not Saudi Arabia is declared a combat zone. To the best of my knowledge the last time that happened was during the first Gulf War. If you were there recently (within the last few years) then I believe the answer is no for the combat patch, though you might qualify for combat pay since some operations in Saudi Arabia do support combat in Iraq and elsewhere. Here's the criteria listed in AR 670-1 for the combat patch:

21–18. Shoulder sleeve insignia–military operations in hostile conditions
a. General. Authorization to wear a SSI indicating service during military operations in hostile conditions
(MOHC) (formerly known as the SSI-former wartime service) applies only to Soldiers who meet or have met the following criteria:

(1) The Soldier must actively participate in or support military operations in hostile conditions, which must include exposure to the threat of hostile action or fire, either directly or indirectly.

(2) The Soldier’s participation or support described in paragraph 21–18a(1) must occur while the Soldier is located in an area that entitles the Soldier to receive the combat zone tax exclusion and entitles the Soldier to receive Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (IDP).

I'm not certain that being in Saudi Arabia these days qualifies you for the combat patch due to the lack of hostile fire and/or threats of hostile fire.

Response by SSG Richard Brue made Dec 30 at 2021 8:07 AM

2021-12-30T08:07:56-05:00

Just to make it real simple, NO. Saudi is not a combat deployment. And believe me when I tell you that you don't want one from that region. It's hard, it's nasty, and you can come home missing parts Iraqi was no fun to be. Be thankful you are going to a country that is somewhat better.

Response by SFC(P) John Delgado made Dec 30 at 2021 1:02 PM

2021-12-30T13:02:42-05:00

Executive Order 12744—Designation of Arabian Peninsula Areas, Airspace, and Adjacent Waters as a Combat Zone

Response by SN Dale "CG" Veach made Dec 30 at 2021 1:54 PM

2021-12-30T13:54:07-05:00

Are we at war with Saudi Arabia? No? Then no combat patch...

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2021 10:45 PM

2021-12-30T22:45:33-05:00

'Combat patch' is a misnomer. Technically, it is a 'Foreign Theater of War Service' and is authorized by regulation. http://www.hcdmag.com/ar-670-1/army-insignia/army-ssi-fwts/

AR 670-1 Chapter 21-17: Shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service - HCDMAG.COM

a. Authorization to wear a SSI indicating FWTS applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S. Army units that meet all the following criteria outlined in AR 670–1. b. The SSI–FWTS is worn as follows: (1) Nonsubdued. At the option of the wearer, individuals who were members of an Army unit during one of […]

Response by SSG Richard Brue made Dec 31 at 2021 5:55 AM

2021-12-31T05:55:44-05:00

Ok, I went back and checked, to get a combat patch in Saudi is: From 14 Sep 2019, no end date. You have to receive combat-zone tax exclusion and hostile fire or imminent danger pay.

Response by BG Robert Enzenauer made Dec 31 at 2021 8:20 PM

2021-12-31T20:20:23-05:00

Overseas Tour with IDP

FAQ: OVERSEAS TOUR LENGTH CHANGE
ARABIAN PENINSULA AND IRAQ
(AS OF JUNE 2, 2020)
The Department of Defense has changed the current overseas tour length for
Department of Defense military personnel assigned to permanent duty locations in
the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq by establishing a 12-month unaccompanied tour.
Q1. What is the scope of this tour change?
A1. The tour length change applies to DOD military personnel under Title 10 authority on
permanent duty assignment to: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Yemen, and Iraq. However only Bahrain and Qatar are affected by this change,
and families in the two countries are authorized to serve out the remainder of their tours.
Q2. What is the timeline for this tour change?
A2. Over the next two years, DOD military personnel who fall under Title 10 authority will
transition to one-year unaccompanied tours, with some exceptions.
- This will be a gradual drawdown of dependents over two years as people regularly
rotate in and attrite out of duty assignment in the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq.
- This will be fully implemented by August 31,

22 Jun 2020
Military.com | By Jim Absher
Troops serving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can now get $225 in extra pay each month thanks to a new change to the Pentagon’s Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) list.

The change is effective backdated to Sept. 14, 2019, and back pay is authorized.

IDP is authorized for duty performed in an area designated as hazardous by the Defense Department. Imminent Danger Pay is $225 monthly and can be prorated to $7.50 for each day in a designated location. You do not have to serve the entire month in that location to receive the payment.

Unlike some pays, IDP is taxable.

Response by SP5 Robert Kennedy made Jan 2 at 2022 12:39 PM

2022-01-02T12:39:06-05:00

Well, SPC Sal S., I guess the first question in my mind is "Who were you engaged in combat with?"

Response by SP5 Robert Kennedy made Jan 2 at 2022 12:55 PM

2022-01-02T12:55:35-05:00

Well, SPC Sal S., I guess my first question would be "with whom did you enter into combat against?"
Just an aside, I've never seen such heavily decorated uniforms as Gen. Miley and current era top brass. What I find helpful now-a-days is to look for the National Defense Service Medal on those overweight uniforms. It's the first one everybody gets for having successfully completed basic training. Anything above that ribbon on a uniform is for something more important than basic training. From there, I guess anything less important is below that first ribbon. Pretty much like drapes in a living room... nice looking. Take a look at the uniform of 5 Star Gen. Eisenhower at the end of WWII. Not too many drapes at all, but look at his accomplishments - need I say more?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2022 11:10 AM

2022-01-10T11:10:18-05:00

Yes on Combat Zone(Right shoulder sleeve insignia.) This will be authorized usually by your commander or Batt. Commander

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2022 6:23 PM

2022-02-18T18:23:31-05:00

Shouldn't, not much combat going on in Saudi Arabia that I can see.

Response by SPC Frederick DeJohn made Feb 19 at 2022 6:18 PM

2022-02-19T18:18:33-05:00

stop being a glory hound!!!!! Just do your job.

Response by SGT Michael Holt made Feb 20 at 2022 2:55 AM

2022-02-20T02:55:39-05:00

Just slap on any ol patch of your choosing, I’d suggest the 101st or 82nd, when asked just make it up as you go, hand to hand combat in Riyadh with a camel is always a good story.

Response by SPC Dennis Kregel made Feb 20 at 2022 4:22 AM

2022-02-20T04:22:25-05:00

I have to look at it this wayl, if you aren't authorized to wear a CIB, CAB, or a CMB do your really feel good about wearing a "combat patch"?
Now I suppose if you slip in the shower and sprain your ankle while in KSA you can be put in for a PH for being injured in a combat zone....................

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2022 1:00 PM

2022-02-20T13:00:59-05:00

What were the dates of your deployment?

Response by SPC Paul Vaneizenga made Feb 24 at 2022 5:20 PM

2022-02-24T17:20:06-05:00

You get to beat your face in the sand!