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 10 y ago
Responses: 334
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Do you have any orders or anything sayin you were deployed during that time if so show it your Plt SGT and s1 that proves you qualify for the overseas ribbon
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In a similar vein, but not exact. I was MMRB'd in Oct 93. When I OP'd Ft Ord(yeah it was still a place then, almost) I was given 2 photocopies of an ARCOM certificate, that was def me being awarded. Can I or can't I?
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I thought as long as you were on order for it you should be fine. People tend to make up their own rules in the army
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Talk to the CSM use the open door policy bring copies of the regulation and ask politely if there is a way to keep your award with out creating an offense.
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SPC Jared Bever
you can also take it to the JAG office and have them interpenetrate the regulations and have them up held but that tends to burn down bridges and should be a last resort.
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NG or AD. NG and Reserves have a different award.
And you can contact HRC and talk to a personnel manager in your branch. They can be very helpful.
And you can contact HRC and talk to a personnel manager in your branch. They can be very helpful.
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I'm not an expert as I worked in the S-2 Security and Intelligence section of my Combat Engineer unit. We did work closely with S-1 and I do still keep in touch with a buddy from that section that I could ask. Not sure if he would still remember the regs since it has been quite some time ago. However, in my logical opinion, you definitely have a valid case and the proper reg to back up your argument. I would suggest first presenting the reg to S-1 and see if they agree with you. If they don't I would then contact a JAG officer to represent you and explain your case and present the reg to him or her. My guess is that you should win your case with the valid regulation as evident proof. Good luck! Thanks for your service my friend!
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You just need to take your orders from deployment to enlistment office and have them reimput the r's into system and it will reflect that you were awarded the ribbon. Always keep copies of all your orders .goog luck
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I do not know about now, but when I was in, if you are in a combat zone and you are overseas, a tour of six months or more is all it takes to get your overseas stripe.
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