Is it typical for Korea duty to be specifically mentioned on a DD214? What is required to earn a Korea Defense Service Medal?

MSgt Richard Rountree — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:25:00 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2016 11:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:33:52 -0400

I believe you have to actually be assigned there... That's how I got mine.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 1 at 2016 12:11 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:11:14 -0400

MSgt Richard Rountree Korean Sevice Medal is listed on my 214. Svc in Korea is not.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2016 9:36 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 09:36:05 -0400

You don't have to be assigned you can be on a detachment, we have DETs that are always there on rotation and we have air-detachments that conduct exercises every year there with Marines and SK units. The instruction states 30 days on ground, we were there my first deployment for Exercise Team Separate and it was listed on my evaluations and the dates were over 31 days, so my Navy PSD approved the medal years later after looking at dates on my evaluations. So it could be possible that he was TAD/TDY like my unit was, and could receive it. Some branches do not list all TAD and or special detachments, the Navy especially my community is bad at it, we go all over some places 2 week's to 6 months so they just list where the main body HQ is deployed and, everything else you will need to get from evaluations, and FOIA will not give you this,unless you request I will say if he was Navy and or Marine it will not be listed if he was on a Detachment there, so you will need to ask for evals.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Sep 1 at 2016 2:04 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 14:04:37 -0400

Thanks for asking the question. I did two separate one year tours in Korea in the 1990's and had never heard of the Korea Defense Service Medal. Apparently it was created in 2002 (just before I retired), but is retroactive to 1954 and anyone who spent >30 consecutive days in Korea are eligible.

I'll add this to my list of eligible Medals that I will never do the paperwork to receive. So far they include the the Cold War Recognition Certificate, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and now the Korea Defense Service Medal.

Response by SFC John Hill made Sep 2 at 2016 2:20 PM

SFC John Hill — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:20:26 -0400

As a routine overseas assignment, only duration would be listed as Foreign Service Time in Block 12f of the DD-214. If assignment was during a designated IDP/HFP period, it will then be specified in Block 18.

Eligibility as per Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program 18 DECEMBER 2013
6.21. Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM).
6.21.1. In February 2004, the DoD approved the Korean Defense Service Medal to recognize military service in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters after 28 July 1954 and ending on such a future date as determined by SECDEF. Eligibility is as follows:
6.21.2. Members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating or serving on all the land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above all the land and water areas of Korea. Personnel must have been physically present in the areas above for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet one of the following:
6.21.2.1. Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the areas of eligibility,
6.21.2.2. Be killed, wounded, or injured in the line of duty and required medical evacuation from the area of eligibility. The KDSM may be awarded posthumously.
6.21.2.3. While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as 1 day toward the 30 or 60 day requirement
6.21.3. Authorized Device: None. Only one award of the KDSM is authorized for any member, regardless of the number of days over 30 or 60, tours, TDYs, or deployments served in the areas of eligibility.

Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 Military Awards 25 June 2015
2–20. Korea Defense Service Medal
a. Authorization. The KDSM was authorized by Section 543, National Defense Authorization Act, 2003, PL 107–314. It is authorized for award to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The area of eligibility and period of eligibility are as follows:
(1) The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspaces above the land and water areas.
(2) The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense.
b. Criteria. Servicemembers must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or for 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet the following criteria:
(1) Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility.
(2) Wounded or injured in the line of duty and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.
(3) While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria will count as 1 day toward the 30- or 60-day requirement.
(4) Personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the area of eligibility are considered eligible for the award as long as the basic time criteria is met. Due to the extensive time period for KDSM eligibility, the nonconsecutive service period for eligibility remains cumulative throughout the entire period.
c. Special provisions. Servicemembers qualified for the AFEM by reasons of service between 1 October 1966 and 30 June 1974, in an area for which the KDSM was authorized subsequently, are eligible for both the AFEM and the KDSM. Award of the KDSM for this time period is a one-time exception to policy to comply with section 543, National Defense Authorization Act, 2003, PL 107–314.
d. General.
(1) The OSR is authorized to be awarded with the KDSM.
(2) The KDSM may be awarded posthumously to any Soldier who lost his or her life without regard to length of such service.
(3) Only one award of the KDSM is authorized for any individual.
(4) The KDSM will be worn after the GWOTSM and will be followed by the AFSM (that is, GWOTSM, KDSM, and AFSM).

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Sep 10 at 2016 10:51 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 22:51:47 -0400

I spent 27 months in Korea and at that time we were give hostile fire and hazardous duty pay and benefits but the was in the mid 1960's. I dont know what it is like now, especially that you are allow to bring dependants, have POV, and I even heard you can be subsidized for off post housing. During the 60's we were paid according to the risk and life fire situations we faced on a regular basis. Now you have to worry about the crazy fat man up North send a nuke on down. As to the KDSM, you have received it if you are within the dates secificied. I left Korea 1970 and was mail the KDSM just a few years back, I did not have to request it. The was also another, Korean Service commemoration Medal (not so sure about the exact name and it is one that you must request yourself.)

Response by MSG Pat James-Hasser made Nov 30 at 2016 9:34 AM

MSG Pat James-Hasser — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 09:34:00 -0500

214 saying you were their for thw min time required for award.