Posted on Jun 1, 2015
My new unit says I don't qualify for the Overseas Service Ribbon awarded to me by my previous unit. Are they right?
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I deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 with Temporary Change of Station (TCS) orders that said my tour would be no longer than 270 days (about 9 months). My tour ended up being 8 months and 1 day, as my unit redeployed a few weeks early. The unit I deployed with awarded me the Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) for having completed a tour. I arrived at my current unit a few months ago, and prior to my recent appearance at the promotion board, S1 reviewed my records and removed the OSR from my ERB, stating that I didn't serve overseas long enough to qualify for the OSR. My Platoon Sergeant is the one who made me aware of S1's decision to remove my OSR, and he hasn't disagreed with S1's decision or made any moves to investigate the situation, so I did the research on my own.
AR 600-8-22 says that the OSR is awarded to Soldiers who are credited with a normal overseas tour completion according to AR 614-30. AR 614-30 says that a Soldier has completed a tour if he serves to within 60 days of the prescribed tour. I was deployed to within 21 days of my prescribed tour, and my early return wasn't under my control or by my request; my whole unit redeployed a few weeks early. According to my research, I should be able to keep my OSR.
I'm going to print my TCS deployment orders and take them to S1 to show that my prescribed tour was only 9 months, but beyond that, I haven't decided what to do. Has anyone else been in this situation, or can anyone explain where I went wrong in my evaluation? What would you do in my situation?
AR 600-8-22 says that the OSR is awarded to Soldiers who are credited with a normal overseas tour completion according to AR 614-30. AR 614-30 says that a Soldier has completed a tour if he serves to within 60 days of the prescribed tour. I was deployed to within 21 days of my prescribed tour, and my early return wasn't under my control or by my request; my whole unit redeployed a few weeks early. According to my research, I should be able to keep my OSR.
I'm going to print my TCS deployment orders and take them to S1 to show that my prescribed tour was only 9 months, but beyond that, I haven't decided what to do. Has anyone else been in this situation, or can anyone explain where I went wrong in my evaluation? What would you do in my situation?
Overseas
Awards
AR 600-8-22
ERB
Ribbons
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 333
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Sometimes, you need to serve at least one year overseas in order to qualify. I'm not sure how your situation would be helped with this information. Have you tried contacting your platoon sergeant or platoon leader and asking them if there was a problem with the length of the deployment and see what they can come up with. Maybe there's a stipulation in the regulation that allowed them to award the ribbon. I know that when I was in the army, Hawaii was considered an overseas deployment. I spent 27 months stationed at Schoffield Bks. I was part of the 45th support group. My mos was 84B, I spent a lot of time pulling paperwork for article 15 proceedings. I did a lot of grip and grins for award ceremonies and change of command ceremonies. I received my overseas ribbon. Sorry I couldn't help out, but check with your old unit see what they say. Maybe the jag office could give you some guidance. Good luck with it.I hope it gets resolved in your favor.
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I have learned that the military has their minimum times of deployment. And if your short even one day from the minimum then you don't get you pin.
I think cause your unit all came back that sucks that you lose, but that's the military for you.
I think cause your unit all came back that sucks that you lose, but that's the military for you.
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I would print off the TCS and a copy if the AR....1st stop after that would be to your 1SG....if all else fails....contact the IG......good luck
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I think this is one of the main reasons I retired from the military in 1990, was because of petty bullshit like this, if a man serves his country and current regs says he can wear a ribbon what gives anyone the right to tell him has to take it off is the army going that broke they cant afford a .50 ribbon.
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that is total bullshit normally to earn that award which was awarded in the late 1970 after Vietnam you had to serve 90 days if your unit came back early so much nicer for you
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