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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I don’t know how you make your appeal.. go through your Chain of Command, take a print out of the reg that shows your qualified to wear the award.. look your sharpest.. if you think you need you need
Re-enforcement.. take s’body high enough in the food chain(your 1SG?). and go see the S1 and show them.
Re-enforcement.. take s’body high enough in the food chain(your 1SG?). and go see the S1 and show them.
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Any document you can prof the you was oversea can be forward to HRC to upgrade you ERB since it shut be on file. That unit is incorrect you allow too used it.
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I can only speak for myself and i hope others like myself which served and did not receive accolades for our missions, it is not why i was in the military, (Sir, Yes sir, and how high). HOWEVER, IF YOU SPENT EVEN ONE DAY in a combat zone, as did most politicians so they could receive an accolade or the hazard pay limp phallus excuse.. kindly and humbly sir, i say to you with heartfelt honor, We, the taxpaying citizens of the United States of America, thank you for your service, dedication, suffering and appreciate those sacrifices before and after you leave active duty. Our service to our country is not justified in "get this or that" and not "deserve or do not deserve" many lives have been lost for the propagation of our moral code; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (equally) for all. We salute you. ...the ultimate accolade for silence in service is the stars of the flag above Langley which will never be worn. Have a good day.
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Sound like my tour in Korea. I came back five days short of one year. The clowns at one stop at Ft.Beening told me my time in korea did not count so my Overseas did not count. I had to go anter three years untill I P.C.S'd to The 10 Mountain to get it stright. The people that do not understand the Regs always want to tell you no or you can not to somthing that you can.
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There are weird calculations for short tours. it needs to be something like 11 months within a 24 month period (I think). I had two 6 month tours in Kosovo from 2015 to 2016 and together they gave me one OSR.
I get wanting what you deserve, but remember the OSR is not going to be a deciding factor for a promotion board or anything. It's one of those ribbons that just adds more money in AAFES pocket, again not to take away from your time away from the states. (I have 5 OSR, just more money to spend, and finding a 5 device is not easy)
I get wanting what you deserve, but remember the OSR is not going to be a deciding factor for a promotion board or anything. It's one of those ribbons that just adds more money in AAFES pocket, again not to take away from your time away from the states. (I have 5 OSR, just more money to spend, and finding a 5 device is not easy)
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The Army Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) was established by the Secretary of the Army on April 10, 1981. Effective August 1, 1981, the Army OSR is awarded to all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status for successful completion of overseas tours. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before August 1, 1981, provided they had an Active Army status on or after August 1, 1981.
To receive the OSR, Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion in accordance with AR 614-30 (see Table 3-2). Soldiers who have overseas service with another branch of service (Air Force, Navy, Marines) must be credited with normal overseas tour completion by that service to qualify for award of the OSR.
Note: Overseas tour completion is determined by AR 614-30. If a Soldier is credited with a normal overseas tour completion, then the Soldier may be awarded the OSR. Tours lengths for Iraq and Afghanistan have NOT been established. All requests for exceptions to policy will be processed through the proponent of AR 614-30.
**The Awards and Decorations Branch does not determine overseas tour completion and eligibility.
To receive the OSR, Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion in accordance with AR 614-30 (see Table 3-2). Soldiers who have overseas service with another branch of service (Air Force, Navy, Marines) must be credited with normal overseas tour completion by that service to qualify for award of the OSR.
Note: Overseas tour completion is determined by AR 614-30. If a Soldier is credited with a normal overseas tour completion, then the Soldier may be awarded the OSR. Tours lengths for Iraq and Afghanistan have NOT been established. All requests for exceptions to policy will be processed through the proponent of AR 614-30.
**The Awards and Decorations Branch does not determine overseas tour completion and eligibility.
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If you have Orders for Deployment is one thing. Orders or any Documentation showing being awarded while assigned to unit given the award is the way to go.
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When I was in the Army I worked personal records and S1 did not have the a say on that if the reg say you can then wear it. The unit you were with gave it to you so you can wear it. Besides their is not orders to wear the ribbon so wear it.
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