Posted on Sep 4, 2021
SPC Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
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-2020 I was deployed to Kuwait with the 82nd last year, my orders say it was under Operation Inheret Resolve, my unit didn’t get to go to Iraq. Only 2 infantry battalions went forward
- 2021 I am deployed to Kuwait with the 82nd again, my orders say it is under Operation Freedom Sentinel, my unit didn’t get to go to Afghanistan. This time more than 80% of my brigade went forward except for my unit.

I was told even though we stayed in Kuwait we’re allowed to wear the combat patch because of the operations that we fall under. If someone is wondering why I’ve been to Kuwait 2 years in a row is because both times my brigade has been on IRF (inmediatamente response force)
I’m not really trying to wear it cause I know I don’t deserve it but I’m really curios a bout this cause some of my friends want to wear it.
upposing that we’re allowed wear the patch can they prove that they’re allowed? Cause our ERBs say Kuwait but also I have friends in aviation that just went to Afghanistan or Iraq for supply drope and came back, theirs ERB say Kuwait but with this new thing of no minimum time in combat zone, they are wearing it
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MSG Psychological Operations Specialist
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Regulations inside of 670-1 will define what areas and time frames are authorized for ssi-fwts (combat patch). There is also no minimum time in a combat zone that qualifies wear of a ssi- fwts .

Also your NCO support channel should be able to answer these questions for you .
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SPC Food Service Specialist
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Some of these comments show that some of you old heads need to retire. I just know you’re trash leaders.
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HN Kathleen M Peck
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Edited >1 y ago
Thank you for the clarification SPC Livingston. I'm sorry I was totally confused. (I came from the Vietnam War Era).
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HN Kathleen M Peck
HN Kathleen M Peck
>1 y
BTW Happy Holidays Brothers and Sisters!
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PO2 Bull Halsey
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Just curious. Fifty five years ago, I did one day on shore for security duty at the Cua Viet firebase at the DMZ,which was constantly under threat of assault by sappers. Our unit did artillery support, but also was necessary to iinteract on shore. We had no specific orders for that, as our general orders were vague, pertaining to a destroyer in a combat zone. Although we killed many, many people, how does Boots on the Ground here relate to this same thinking?
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LTC Program Manager
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"Deserve" is relative. People are "earning" their patch in Jordan and Saudi right now.
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MSG Leamon Ratterree
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If authorized, your unit would issue the orders for SSI-FWTS. Pretty much settles it.
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MSG Leamon Ratterree
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If authorized, your unit would issue the orders for SSI-FWTS.
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SSG Infantryman
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Real easy to figure out. Go to AR-670-1 (Jan. 2021) to get your answers, not from any of us on the internet. This is taken straight from AR-670-1:

Operation Inherent Resolve: between 15 June 2014 and a date to be determined, for Soldiers deployed to Iraq, Jordan, or Syria in support of OIR, who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by USCENTCOM 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 OIR are not authorized the SSI–MOHC, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OIR.

Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS): between 1 January 2015 and a date to be determined, for Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Djibouti in support of OFS who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by USCENTCOM or AFRICOM 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 OFS are not authorized the SSI–MOHC, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OFS.
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SPC Casey Ashfield
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There should be a memo from your battalion S-1 shop of which patch(es) are authorized for wear.
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SFC James Reeder
SFC James Reeder
>1 y
You can only earn one per deployment. And no, it’s not the “cool” one. Some fail to read that portion of the reg. In addition, there are no SSI-FWTS memorandums.
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SPC Joseph Kopac
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My first few months in Nam were with the 101st Airborne. They went home and I was transferred to the 1st Air Cavalry. Do I get a choice of which to wear or was I supposed to wear my latest outfits? I didn’t even wear one when I returned to Fort Hood.
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MAJ Judd Clemens
MAJ Judd Clemens
>1 y
I had three combat patches from Vietnam. My first trip was with the Special Forces and my second flying with the 1st Cav and later, the 1st Avn Bde. I couldn't find any regs about i; it was suggested that I wear the last one (1st Avn), but I opted for the Special Forces insignia.
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SPC Joseph Kopac
SPC Joseph Kopac
>1 y
It was also suggested to me to wear the one who you were last with. So now I remember that I had a Cav combat patch sewed on my field jacket. They called it a sandwich. Same patch on both sleeves.
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