Posted on Aug 27, 2018
SGT Dismount Team Leader
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A soldier I have that served in my unit during the period of July 2016 to Feb 2017 in Operation Spartan Shield as a subsection to Operation Enduring Freedom. He wants to know if he's authorized to wear the deployment patch for being place in Camp Buehring for his time there. He was authorized his Overseas ribbon, Both GWOT's as well.
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SSG Section Ncoic
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Kuwait is not considered a "combat zone" i served their in 2015 to 2016 and it was a misconception that we could wear deployment patches after 30 days but Buehring, Ali Al-Salem and AJ wasn't considered combat rotations. Now if you had a follow on mission somewhere like say Jordan, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq then yes have orders to those locations and subsequently go there in access of 30 days,
then yes.
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Diane Stephenson
Diane Stephenson
6 y
You need to do your homework because it is a combat zone and anyone there gets combat pay like my family member is getting right now today. The IRS even lists it as a combat zone and you do not even have to file taxes on your pay while your there. The Army lists it as A Combat Zone or you could not get combat pay and they clearly do. As of right now today Kuwait is a real true Combat Zone
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SSG Medic Advisor
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
You are 100% wrong.....Kuwait is NOT listed as a Combat Zone. We get Hazard Pay for MANY assignments, none of which are Combat Zones. And I am 99% sure Kuwait is not tax free as well.
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SSG Medic Advisor
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
I take back the 100% wrong part. It is indeed listed on the IRS website as a Combat Zone, but the IRS does not designate what the DOD sanctions as a Combat Zone. the IRS does not however list Kuwait as having a Combat Zone tax exclusion.
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1LT Human Resources Officer
1LT (Join to see)
5 y
Diane Stephenson - Kuwait hasn't gotten combat pay aka IDP in 6 years. Your family member got hazardous duty pay but not combat pay. DOD does not consider Kuwait a combat zone. IRS does for your taxes...big difference.
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SPC Chris Ison
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19–17

Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
a.
General.
Authorization to wear a SSI indicating former wartime service (FWTS) (SSI–FWTS) applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S. Army units that meet the following criteria in subparagraph (1), below:
(1) The following criteria are required for wear of the SSI–FWTS:
(a) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare the theater or area of operation as a hostile environment to
which the unit is assigned or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(b) The units must have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile0 forces in which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(c) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. An exception may be made when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other criteria, and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(d) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for
wearing the SSI –FWTS.

(13)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): between 11 September 2001 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Between 9 January 2002 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for those Soldiers deployed to the Philippines, in support of OEF, who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP. Between 31 July 2002 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for
Soldiers deployed to the CENTCOM area of operations in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by CENTCOM Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Between 1January 2008 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers deployed to Djibouti in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by Africa Command (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 OEF are not authorized the SSI–FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OEF.

So no, SSI-FWTS ended for OEF in 2014.
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SSG Intelligence Analyst
SSG (Join to see)
4 y
This is where my confusion starts. I was in Kuwait in 2014-15. I was there longer than 30 days in the year of 14. My unit didn't receive a patch all though we supported OEF. But when you read these regs it sounds like we should have. All I'm saying is i keep getting weird looks from people when they see my SRB and i wear no patch, I always have to argue and say we were told to not wear one.
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SPC Chris Ison
SPC Chris Ison
4 y
You were not in imminent danger in Kuwait, which is why you do not qualify for one. You were further not in the actual combat Theatre.
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SSG Environmental Specialist
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By the regulations I do not think so, I know I was in Kuwait for a month or so after being in Afghanistan and we had to pay back haz pay for our time in Kuwait, so it is not considered a combat zone anymore.
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Is someone authorized a deployment patch for being placed in Camp Buerhing during Operation Spartan Shield?
SSG(P) Section Chief
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Honest opinion. With the facts that 1 you don’t choose where you go and 2 there are individuals who never left the fob I don’t see why those who deployed to a “non combat” area shouldn’t still be allowed to wear a patch. Certain MOS’s are also not required/beneficial in certain areas. Also I’ll admit I’m tired of being told I didn’t deploy by people who either were in the same area at a different time/never left a fob. But mostly I wonder why people are so judgmental about someone who doesn’t wear a patch.
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MSG Usar Liason
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Like previously mentioned, Kuwait is no longer considered a combat zone. You do not get a combat patch for being there. If he went north to Iraq for at least 24 hours, then he would be eligible. He should have orders authorizing the wear of his combat patch, but not every unit does that.
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Diane Stephenson
Diane Stephenson
6 y
Sorry but right now today Kawait is a combat zone and they do get combat pay because my son is there. They also get a IRS deferment for being in a combat zone. This is a fact and you do earn a combat patch.
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Diane Stephenson
Diane Stephenson
6 y
Kuwait is a combat zone. All of it. My son is there right this min and he gets combat pay and get a deferment from The IRS because he is in a combat zone. Your info is wrong and that's a fact
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MSG Usar Liason
MSG (Join to see)
6 y
Kuwait is not a combat zone. I am currently in Iraq with a portion of my unit in Kuwait. Everyone in Iraq gets a combat patch, Kuwait does not. Kuwait is tax free and they get $50 HDIP, but they are not a combat zone. Kuwait mobilizations also do not get awarded the Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) campaign badge, but they are awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Being in Kuwait doesn’t make a mobilization less important than a mobilization to Iraq. Without the logistical support from Kuwait, we would be in serious trouble. If you have further questions or would like to know which Army Regulation I got my information from, please let me know.
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SFC Signal Support Systems Specialist
SFC (Join to see)
6 y
MSG (Join to see) if i recall it wasnt the hdp that corelated with it being a combat zone but iminent danger pay ( combat zones get both and there are 3 levels of hdp).
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SFC Gregory Heiny
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I would say a 1 day deployment to a combat zone that entitles you to a combat patch is bull hockey. The Korean Peninsula is still an active combat zone. No peace treaty just a truce. Occasionally the North gets ticked off at the South or vice versa and a few friendly arty rounds go off on each other's territory and talks can get started again in Panmujon again? If you think being stationed in S. Korea is a vacation tell that to the Army personnel who have been killed in or around the DMZ.
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MAJ Owner/Operator
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Edited 7 y ago
SSI for KU..

GTFOH. This " soldier in your unit" is serious ?
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SGT Retired
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Respectfully, didn’t Operation Enduring Freedom come to a conclusion at the end of 2014? And Operation Freedoms Sentinel began at the beginning of 2015?
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SPC David S.
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Edited 7 y ago
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1SG First Sergeant
1SG (Join to see)
7 y
He really means shoulder sleeve insignia- former wartime service, since according to regulation there is no such thing as a “combat patch”.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
7 y
That's what I was thinking 1SG (Join to see) as I never heard of a deployment patch - closest thing I can think of is an Overseas Service Ribbon.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
7 y
Ca963563
SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM - It's an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patch from A'stan.
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SSG Warren Swan
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He should be able to show you orders for his Combat Patches. Granted I was straight up in the Stan, the units we fell under all gave us orders authorizing us to wear them. No orders + no verification of forward deployed status = take that mess off.
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MSG Dan Castaneda
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Ask him if the unit he was attached to cut him orders for the wear of their unit patch. We don't just throw patches on. There's paperwork that goes with them.
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SSG Keven Lahde
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SGT (Join to see) SGT no he is not authorized a Combat Patch since Kuwait is not a combat zone. Had he gone to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan..ect then he would. But otherwise no. My Unit was there in 2016 and they all rotated too Iraq too get a combat patch.
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Diane Stephenson
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Kuwait is a combat zone right now. My son is over there and he is in a combat zone getting combat pay and will be able to wear a combat patch. By the Army is is designed a combat zone. The IRS lists it as a combat zone and they can't without authority from the Secretary of the Army. My son even gets a deferment from his taxes for being in a combat zone. There are the facts as they stand right now today. Anyone that tells you It is not a combat zone is very very wrong.
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SSG Travis Pacheco
SSG Travis Pacheco
>1 y
Kuwait is not a combat zone. There is hazardous duty pay, and tax exemption, but the area itself is not a combat zone.
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MAJ Er Md
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No. I am in AJ now. This is a combat zone for IRS tax purposes only. This is not considered imminent danger or hostile fire zone.
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CPT William Jones
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There is no such thing as a deployment patch. A soldier is deployed when they are assighned anyplace outside the states. Some deployments are accompanied some are not ,some to combat zones some are not. The patch worn on the right sleeve is for being assighned to a unit in a declared hostile fire zone at specified time nd locations. I was assighned outside the states for over 40 consecutive months. I spent 32 months in RVN A combat zone)and the rest accompanied in Germany. I was station there when Reforger 1 was conducted. For RVN tours I received several combat patches for different units assignments. I had different ones sewn (no velcro then) on different uniforms. So read carefully DEPLOYMENT MEANS STATIONED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY, WHILE DEPLOYED YOU MIGHT BE IN A HOSTIE FIRE AREA AND GET A UNIT PATCH FOR YOUR RIGHT SLEEVE. You get deployed you are stationed outside the states if the area assighned to is also designated hostile fire zone you het a patch for right soldier. So during Iraqi and Afghanistan being hostile fire zones. It was possible to be deployed other places, Germany,Japan etc for a total of 10 years and not get a combat patch.
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CPT William Jones
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Ffolks read carefully. tHERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DEPLOYMENT PATCH.yOU ARE DEPLOYED ANYTIME YOU ARE ASSIGHNED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.The unit patch some of us wear/wore is for being in a unit in a hostile(combat)area as designated by the powers that be. Being assighned to an embasy staff is a deployment,South America, Africa, Europe etc are all deployments. Some come with dependants some dont I spent about 41 months total in one stretch deployed. To RVN and to Germany. Time in RVN combat time and pay and I have the patches for that. Time in Germany with dependant just a nice tour no comat all 40 plus months DEPLOYED.
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