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 find this a crock of poop. You go overseas, do what you do and then they tell you you don't qualify for an award for going overseas. I have to remind myself that common sense is not a military term.
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SPC Denton McLaughlim
SFC(P) (Join to see) it is what it is. Found it typical of what could be called Army logic.
Over a year with working at the "Joint Task Force" JTF GTMO.
I was getting out and quite honestly, don't really care about getting this award or that.
I just enjoy the irony of working JTF over a year, working with Mavy personnel on a daily basis, and not getting a joint service ribbon.
Over a year with working at the "Joint Task Force" JTF GTMO.
I was getting out and quite honestly, don't really care about getting this award or that.
I just enjoy the irony of working JTF over a year, working with Mavy personnel on a daily basis, and not getting a joint service ribbon.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SPC Denton McLaughlim - What medal do you thing you should be entitled? I'm not aware of any ribbon for just serving on a task force.
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SSG Charlie Carlson
It used to be that if you were awarded a campaign medal or ribbon you did not get the OSR. That changed in 2006. With that said I earned my OSR for being stationed in Panama for 4 years, then 6 months back in Panama, 6 months in Bosnia, and 12 months in Iraq. So what numeral device am I authorized to wear?
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Without digging out all of the references I had to use - and this is somewhat convoluted - the short answer is your S-1 is correct and you should not have been credited with a short tour.
Afghanistan has a "non-standard" tour length (so does Iraq), and as such a short tour is defined as 9 months consecutively served, or 11 months non-consecutive. The latter is more for air crews, but might apply to other logistics personnel who find themselves in and out of the country.
Afghanistan has a "non-standard" tour length (so does Iraq), and as such a short tour is defined as 9 months consecutively served, or 11 months non-consecutive. The latter is more for air crews, but might apply to other logistics personnel who find themselves in and out of the country.
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CPL Timothy Dixon
Things have changed since 1972 Nam, To all you men please always take care. We have got your back. Rest easy
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CPT Lawrence Cable
But since the tour was shortened by the Army and not the soldier, doesn't that qualify as a completed tour? 614-30 is just a bit more than a hair confusing.
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1SG (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - Unfortunately no. That would make it a fragmented tour, and make the time threshold eleven months instead of nine.
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It appears you do not qualify...
Q3: How long do I have to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan to be awarded the OSR?
A3: IAW AR 614-30, Soldiers who serve a minimum of 11 cumulative months (within a 24 month period) or 9 continuous months in a TCS/TDY status may receive overseas tour credit for a completed short tour.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Overseas%20Service%20Ribbon%20OSR
Q3: How long do I have to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan to be awarded the OSR?
A3: IAW AR 614-30, Soldiers who serve a minimum of 11 cumulative months (within a 24 month period) or 9 continuous months in a TCS/TDY status may receive overseas tour credit for a completed short tour.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Overseas%20Service%20Ribbon%20OSR
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SSG Rick Burton
I know that. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to type all that out at the moment I wrote IG, because of all the people who said there was no chance it was over and done.
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SFC Michael Allday
SSGBURTON, If you don't have time to type all your information that you want read then don't just type what you put and leave it. Its irresponsible and leaves you open for criticism. Think of your actions before you go forward.
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CPT (Join to see)
Agreed - I was in the same boat simply by our flights coming back being more efficient than planned. I think it would be worthwhile to contact your previous S1 to see if there was any paperwork submitted as an exemption to policy. Typically if the tour is ended early you get credited for its completion.
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your S-1 is right the minimum time for a tour to qualify for a overseas ribbon is 9 months after the 9 months is when Tha regulations come in effect, any way be glad they found the error now that you're an E-4 because if they found it in the middle of your SFC promotion board, that is ground for pass over
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MSgt Aaron Brite
Passover for promotion? A lot tougher in the army than the Air Force where ribbons are unlikely to make a difference except for very close cutoffs. Nearly meaningless in the Air Guard.
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SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez
MSgt Aaron Brite - Yup! At the board, the panel's first order of business is to look at what us in the Army call DA Photo which was a full frame image of you in your Service Uniform with all your authorized awards. If the panel finds something on your uniform that doesn't match your records, you can be disqualified right there, they don't/won't have to look at the rest of your packet..."see you next board".
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I didn't receive mine until I returned home from Korea for a 1 year tour. and you only had to be there 60days to put it on there. That unit can not do anything about that
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SGT Randall Smith
SGT Brianna MacKinnon - Wow, how about if you attended High School in Korea in the late 50's. I should get credit for the stink.
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SFC Freddie Porter
SPC (Join to see) - I was surprised you get an OSR for a combat tour until I got it for fQ and AFG. The OSR was designed as an “I was there” ribbon for soldiers who are not eligible for a combat “I was there award”. USAEUR, AL, HI, Korea’s were orations most common for duty assignments but carried no additional recognition. In the mid 70s, the only thing solders had on their jackets was a Green Hornet (ARCOM). That’s about when the ASR, NCOPD and AAM were introduced also.
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MAJ Vance Fleming
SFC Freddie Porter - AL(Alabama) is not an overseas location. Did you mean AK (Alaska)?
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Is it listed on your DD-214? If so your in the right, besides it is not up to your unit to determine that. They should stay in their lane and not qworry about small crap.
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SCPO Mike Benjamin
He was a good man. He presented me my ESWS pin onboard ship while deployed. He really cared about the people. Very tragic. Ribbons are eye candy; do not worry about them. When you become a civilian it is the people not the ribbons that you will remember. A
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CPL Raymond Koneval
Wrong... Regulations state that you must be overseas for 9 months. He was not, he said he came back early and did not do 9 months. The unit can and should fix and address the issue. They did, regulations are in place for a reason and you should be happy that someone in SSis actually doing their job. Awards are not supposed to be participation trophies... If an overseas ribbon is all you have to complain about, then something is wrong.
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LCDR Gordon Brown
Admiral, a Suicide, Wins Some Vindication on Combat Awards
Navy Sec John H Dalton, partially vindicating Adm Jeremy M Boorda, who killed self in 1996 amid scrutiny of his right to wear two combat awards, inserts in Boorda's official record letter from former Navy head Adm Elmo R Zumwalt Jr declaring Boorda was eligible to wear decorations for his service aboard two warships during Vietnam War; stops short of revising his service record (M)
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You are entitled to the award. If your tour was cut short and it wasn’t your doing then you are entitled to that award unless it is specifically specified in the regulation. CSM Ret.
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SGT (Join to see) , as SGM Matthew Quick stated, you must be deployed for 9 months in order to receive the OSR.
My last deployment to Afghanistan was also a couple of weeks short of the 9 month mark. We were not given the award for this reason.
I recommend the safer way of earning the OSR by serving a tour in Germany, Italy, Korea, etc. You can travel while doing so.
My last deployment to Afghanistan was also a couple of weeks short of the 9 month mark. We were not given the award for this reason.
I recommend the safer way of earning the OSR by serving a tour in Germany, Italy, Korea, etc. You can travel while doing so.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks, SFC (Join to see), you're right. I'm in Korea now and will finish my tour in less than 4 months, so I should get the OSR back soon.
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SSgt Wayne Ruppe
This is crap!!! If a person serves in a combat area for more 90 days overseas he should be given the award!! The time served should be the same for any assignment overseas regardless of the country!!
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SFC (Join to see)
I’m not sure if you’re disagreeing with the information or the standard, but either way, the information is correct.
I do agree that a service member should receive the award for 90, but that isn’t the case.
I do agree that a service member should receive the award for 90, but that isn’t the case.
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SPC Thundercloud, you have a great attitude on this and your willingness to learn is awesome. The regulation that actually covers overseas qualification is AR 614-30, table 3-2. AR 600-8-22 focuses on awards. AR 614-30 can be a bit painful to read at times so HRC has a great resource that you should add to your kit bag and that is the Awards FAQ. For your situation, question and answer #3 pertains to your situation:
Q3: How long do I have to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan to be awarded the OSR?
A3: IAW AR 614-30, Soldiers who serve a minimum of 11 cumulative months (within a 24 month period) or 9 continuous months in a TCS/TDY status may receive overseas tour credit for a completed short tour.
Just a note, for the OSR, 9 months means 8 months, 15 days at least for Afghanistan. For your kit bag, here is the link to the FAQ page for the OSR: https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Overseas%20Service%20Ribbon%20OSR
For the complete list of Awards FAQ, use this link: https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20FAQ
A third resource is S1 Net, the official AG Branch resource for all questions and knowledge. You can find that on MilSuite.
Q3: How long do I have to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan to be awarded the OSR?
A3: IAW AR 614-30, Soldiers who serve a minimum of 11 cumulative months (within a 24 month period) or 9 continuous months in a TCS/TDY status may receive overseas tour credit for a completed short tour.
Just a note, for the OSR, 9 months means 8 months, 15 days at least for Afghanistan. For your kit bag, here is the link to the FAQ page for the OSR: https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Overseas%20Service%20Ribbon%20OSR
For the complete list of Awards FAQ, use this link: https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20FAQ
A third resource is S1 Net, the official AG Branch resource for all questions and knowledge. You can find that on MilSuite.
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CPL James Jones
Spec jones , I served 11 months during desert shield/desert storm. I received my ribbon,and several reserve units came in country after us and left before us.point being,you served ,how long wasn't your choice!!
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SFC Greg Bruorton
Does the qualification for the Overseas Ribbon include service overseas from 1961 to 1980? And is it one award despite more than one overseas' tour?
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CH (MAJ) (Join to see)
TSgt Gerry Keffer - Itvwas much easier when it was awarded only for a normal overseas long or short tour. Now it is awarded for most overseas tours that all have varying requirements based upon tour length. The source regulation itself is a difficult read, even for human resources soldiers. Hence why Human Resource Command creates a page that deals with it directly and the most common circumstances. One headache is someone who is reassigned to Europe and the. deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq. Time stops on one and starts for another. So, did they earn two or one? Depends. Did they earn the required length while in Europe and the required length in the deployment area? Yes, so they get two. Or if on a 12 month deployment, did they have 9 months on the deployment area (9 months meaning 8 month 15 days). The. yes, but what if they have 9m 14d? No. What if they leave Wurope before they meet that tour length requirement? Another no. Of course, everyone is different. Hence why this conversation is happening here, S1 Net (which is one official source, Rallypoint is not), and HRC Command.
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SGT (Join to see)
Like SFC (Join to see) and yourself, I was just over the 8 month mark on my deployment so I didn't get the OSR for the same reasons. I'd see if your unit found a waiver or loophole allowing you to get it, like time in Korea or Europe or something.
Like SFC (Join to see) and yourself, I was just over the 8 month mark on my deployment so I didn't get the OSR for the same reasons. I'd see if your unit found a waiver or loophole allowing you to get it, like time in Korea or Europe or something.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks, SGT. I doubt there's a waiver. My previous S1 just screwed up somewhere lol. It's okay... I'm in Korea now, so in about 4 months I'll be able to wear the OSR legitimately.
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