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
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AR 600-8-22
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 333
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That is correct you need 8 months and 15 days to be awarded the overseas ribbon. I myself had 8 months and 12 days and was not awarded the overseas ribbon. They round up to 9 months if you served 8 months and 15 days
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CPT (Join to see)
Can anyone provide a reference for the 8 months 15 days cutoff to count at 9 months? I am being told that we must have 270 days overseas to qualify for OSR.
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From HRC website:
"Q11: It appears that in every situation, the OSR is only authorized if a Soldier is credited with completion of an overseas tour. Who determines if an overseas tour was completed and ensures the Soldier’s records is posted to reflect the completion of the tour?
A11: The custodian of a Soldier’s personnel records makes the determination, IAW the rules established in AR 614-30, and posts the completed overseas tours to the Soldier’s record (ORB/ERB)."
Operative phrase here is 'completed tour.' May be a grey area to elevate to BN or BDE HQ/G1
"Q11: It appears that in every situation, the OSR is only authorized if a Soldier is credited with completion of an overseas tour. Who determines if an overseas tour was completed and ensures the Soldier’s records is posted to reflect the completion of the tour?
A11: The custodian of a Soldier’s personnel records makes the determination, IAW the rules established in AR 614-30, and posts the completed overseas tours to the Soldier’s record (ORB/ERB)."
Operative phrase here is 'completed tour.' May be a grey area to elevate to BN or BDE HQ/G1
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SFC (Join to see)
NP, just remember the HR guys have quality inspections just as the rest of us do. Many will just look for 'time in/time out' requirements and the like. Go back to them with the AR in hand and respectfully ask them to review it and it may work. You may get the FU response depending on who you are dealing with. Just keep your CoC/CoR informed and follow their guidance. In the end you may have to suck it up till you get to Hood. On the 'up' side, it's not costing you promotion points so it's not that big of a deal really. Just a little less 'toss' in the salad bar. :-). Good luck.
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The Over Seas ribbon is for duty over seas. that is why you get the hash mark for service in combat zone, you don't get both.
Ex. If you were stationed at Fort Campbell and PCS' D to Germany and completed the tour, you then would receive the OSR
Ex. If you were stationed at Fort Campbell and PCS' D to Germany and completed the tour, you then would receive the OSR
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SFC Kenneth Hunnell
Ok, why is it that National Guard and Reserve Soldier's do not get the OSR as well as the service stripes for being deployed in a combat zone. Most do at least one year being deployed.
Germany was atleast 18 month's before earning the OSR Ribbon. One year or 13 month's in Korea.
I must be old Army
9 month's I could do standing on one foot
Germany was atleast 18 month's before earning the OSR Ribbon. One year or 13 month's in Korea.
I must be old Army
9 month's I could do standing on one foot
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1SG (Join to see)
I suspect that it is your S1 one shop or demob station. Both of my Afghanistan tours were with the National Guard...one with the FL NG mobing out of Camp Shelby, MS and one with the WA NG mobing out of FT Bliss TX. I have combat service stripes and Overseas Service Ribbons from both so it's not a service component issue.
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SFC Kenneth Hunnell
MAJ Ronnie Reams - Yes there is, while on active duty and does a tour of duty over seas. one received the OSR.
If you did a tour in Germany as a reservist or Guard, you received the OSTR. Overseas training ribbon. There are a lot of Guard and Reservist that served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I served both in the Regular Army as well as the Reserves.
So, where does the OSR play for the reservist and Guard play with this
If you did a tour in Germany as a reservist or Guard, you received the OSTR. Overseas training ribbon. There are a lot of Guard and Reservist that served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I served both in the Regular Army as well as the Reserves.
So, where does the OSR play for the reservist and Guard play with this
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SPC Shelby Thundercloud, I've been in a situation like yours. In fact at my last unit the HR NCO audited all of my OSRs. In my mind, he is doing his job. Honestly I'm glad he did because you never know. End result, all legit.
In your situation, it was mentioned by others that you did not meet the 9 month minimum to receive credit for the OSR. Keep in mind that you do capture you overseas service as 8 month in the oversees section of your ERB.
In your situation, it was mentioned by others that you did not meet the 9 month minimum to receive credit for the OSR. Keep in mind that you do capture you overseas service as 8 month in the oversees section of your ERB.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks, MAJ Raúl Rovira. I agree, and I'm thankful that my S1 shop caught the error now, as it would've screwed me up later on down the line.
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S1 may have removed it if you did not have the overseas tour completion credit documented (IAW AR 614-30, Table 3-2). As previously mentioned, there is a specified time requirement, if you left at 8 months then you do not meet the requirement.
There are a lot of MILPER messages out about the this ribbon. Continue to do your research.
There are a lot of MILPER messages out about the this ribbon. Continue to do your research.
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The tour in question may be cut 1 month short due to manning requirements (not due to Soldier misconduct) and still receive full credit for the tour length.
Combat tours are typically 6-12 months and can extend beyond during critical periods.
Anything shorter than 6 months is considered TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment).
Soldiers that join their units after the unit deploys are awarded the Army Overseas Service Ribbon as they have completed the tour that they for which they were deployed.
Combat tours are typically 6-12 months and can extend beyond during critical periods.
Anything shorter than 6 months is considered TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment).
Soldiers that join their units after the unit deploys are awarded the Army Overseas Service Ribbon as they have completed the tour that they for which they were deployed.
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If you were under fire from enemy combatants for any amount of time less or more than political hacks pre determined for awards for military action those standards can be challenged with proper witnesses to back you up and put those non military serving political hacks to shame. They couldn't be shot at with a peashooter without claiming ptsd and yet you survived enemy fire. Go for broke and push for whatever you're eligible for.
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As I understand it, the SSDR has a 6 month reqirement, and the OSR has a 12 month requirement. Additionally the OSR is intended for when the "where you served was your primary duty station".
I would think if you had done a full 12 months, it would get you a 2nd award for the SSDR, but not the OSR, if you were on any "temporary" anything.
I would think if you had done a full 12 months, it would get you a 2nd award for the SSDR, but not the OSR, if you were on any "temporary" anything.
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SGT (Join to see)
It turns out that the requirement for an OSR for deployment to Afghanistan is 8 months, 15 days. My tour was 8 months, 1 day, so I was a couple of weeks short. Since then, I've also spent 12 months in Korea as of last month, so maybe I'll actually be awarded an OSR at some point.
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CPT (Join to see)
Can anyone provide a reference for the 8 months 15 days cutoff to count at 9 months? I am being told that we must have 270 days overseas to qualify for OSR.
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Cpl Christopher Bishop
Im sorry if I was a bit vague prior. Ive always thought that the SSDR was a 6-month (as given out for unit deployment rotations (usually Marine Infantry live a 6-months out, 12-months stateside pattern as each Marine Infantry refiment (and all who travel with them) are divided as 3 Batallions where 2 are home and 1 is always out). And that the OSR is for actually having been at a foreign duty station for 12 months. Meaning I guess I always assumed these meant 180/360 day requirements...I didnt know there were any reduced “minimun times” that would still earn either award (and honestly—-just my opinion—-I question why there are any watered down reqs.
But I certainly didn’t intend to be misinformative about them.
Semper Fi
But I certainly didn’t intend to be misinformative about them.
Semper Fi
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Here is the reference from Human Resources Command. Question 3 on the site is your answer. Basically, for TCS you need to have 9 months in country. Note: 8 months and 15 days is the cutoff to count for 9 months. You missed it by 14 days. https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Overseas%20Service%20Ribbon%20OSR
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CPT (Join to see)
Can anyone provide a reference for the 8 months 15 days cutoff to count at 9 months? I am being told that we must have 270 days overseas to qualify for OSR.
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I haven't read the references, either, but it may be that if your tour was expeditionary, then the GWOT Expeditionary Medal is the correct award. Sometimes, it's a matter of either-or, not both. There's also the Afghanistan Service Medal.
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