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
ERB
Ribbons
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 333
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Info from a analog veteran in the digital age. As we all know the overseas service ribbon was not
effective until August 1, 1981. Thousands of veterans who served honorably overseas prior to that
date are not eligible to wear the OSR on their uniforms unless they were still on active duty on the
effective date. The army service ribbon for completion of AIT has the same eligibility regulation.
I served 2 years, 5 months and 21 days in the Federal Republic of Germany during the so called
cold war with the Soviet Union during that not eligible time for the OSR and the ASR.
effective until August 1, 1981. Thousands of veterans who served honorably overseas prior to that
date are not eligible to wear the OSR on their uniforms unless they were still on active duty on the
effective date. The army service ribbon for completion of AIT has the same eligibility regulation.
I served 2 years, 5 months and 21 days in the Federal Republic of Germany during the so called
cold war with the Soviet Union during that not eligible time for the OSR and the ASR.
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You qualify for the OSR if that one day was in the 9th month of your deployment. One day = One month. For example, if you deployed 3 March and redeployed 1 November (one day in November is one month), then you qualify for the OSR.
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Condolences for your loss SPC. At a base I was at, Ibwas assigned to Base Hospital but I represented them and Served on Base Honor Guard. The Base received a Presedential Citation while I was on the Honor Guard. The Hospital is
a tenant org. They said even though I represented them on the Guard and was on it when earned they said I lose it when I leave to another base because I belonged to a tenant Unit. It seamed king of foggy so I went to awards and decorations section. It turned out because I was serving on it when the base earned it I got to keep it. It was same as If I were a member of Headquarters Squadron being on The Honor Guard. There were a few more tenant orgs that had people on base
Honor Guard. Of course the section wanted to have the last word so off to JAG
They went.. I won and lost. Because I was not actually TAD to Honor Guard assigned to that office and working there living in HQ bks.. even though I served on
The Guard when the base earned it, I could not keep it.. Well, stuff happens !
a tenant org. They said even though I represented them on the Guard and was on it when earned they said I lose it when I leave to another base because I belonged to a tenant Unit. It seamed king of foggy so I went to awards and decorations section. It turned out because I was serving on it when the base earned it I got to keep it. It was same as If I were a member of Headquarters Squadron being on The Honor Guard. There were a few more tenant orgs that had people on base
Honor Guard. Of course the section wanted to have the last word so off to JAG
They went.. I won and lost. Because I was not actually TAD to Honor Guard assigned to that office and working there living in HQ bks.. even though I served on
The Guard when the base earned it, I could not keep it.. Well, stuff happens !
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Completing an overseas tour does not automatically mean that an OSR is awarded. The table on the reg breaks down how many months a particular type of tour requires to be awarded an OSR. Most soldiers I've talked in when I am overseas are not familiar with the table.
A simple and clear explanation to the why is already on this thread by 1SG Jerry Healy.
I share with you that I was once audited for OSRs. I am ok with someone checking me, I can be wrong. In this case, I had the reg in my side and the SSG lost the beer bet:) We made it fun.
A simple and clear explanation to the why is already on this thread by 1SG Jerry Healy.
I share with you that I was once audited for OSRs. I am ok with someone checking me, I can be wrong. In this case, I had the reg in my side and the SSG lost the beer bet:) We made it fun.
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I ran into the same problem with my dd214 when I retired. I was tracking 9 OSR as per my erb. MPD was tracking 6. When I asked they told me 11 months was a complete tour even though my unit deployed and redeployed in 9 months which I figured was a completed tour. Unfortunately G1 has not set what a complete tour is for Afghanistan and Iraq so they go from the current overseas reg. so even though you may have completed your units tour it may not qualify time wise for the OSR
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks for your feedback, SFC (Join to see). I feel the regs should be updated to reflect the new 9-month tours, and if you serve to within 60 days of the end of your tour, you should get the OSR.
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For the Moment you are SOL I'm afraid but don't give up, keep watching the awards authority/manual for your service. Awards and the Qualifications are dynamic like anything else and I've seen them change and change more than once. One of my awards was originally authorized but a subsequent OPNAV de-authorized it, It still shows on my DD-214 since it once was authorized and nothing can change that. Never Give Up Hope.
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8 months should've been enough time as you did serve overseas. However, regs are black and white. Doesn't make it fair, it it is what it is. I didn't read every single comment, were you given orders for the award, or was it just put on your ERB during or post deployment?
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I'm certain during my time in the service, and it's reflected in my awards of the OSR, that you did not receive an OSR for any tour for which you received another service award. For example, I did not receive an OSR for DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM because I received the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Because you can't receive two service awards for the same service, I wasn't allowed to add another number to my OSR.
I took a quick glance through the Military Awards regulation, but didn't see anything except a short comment under the SWASM award, but I'm sure it's covered in the regulation somewhere.
Hope this is helpful.
I took a quick glance through the Military Awards regulation, but didn't see anything except a short comment under the SWASM award, but I'm sure it's covered in the regulation somewhere.
Hope this is helpful.
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Was this your first deployment? If you had a previous tour that was 11+ months and did not have more than 2 years dwell time, then the second ribbon can be awarded even if its under the 11 months. I had a similar issue and the 2nd OSR was reinstated.
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SGT (Join to see)
Yes, SSG (Join to see), that was my first and only deployment. I had no previous tour, but my subsequent tour overseas is here in Korea. I didn't have 2 years dwell time... I only had 16 months dwell time from the day I returned to Afghanistan to the day I arrived in Korea. Thanks for replying.
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As a Specialst your need to start preparing to become an NCO. As an NCO the lower enlisted will be looking at you as the "subject matter expert" on all things Army. I'll give you the same advice I always gave my Specialist. If you don't know, look it up.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Thomas Brousseau, I did look it up. As I stated in my post, I read the applicable regulations and even gave excerpts from those regs. Obviously, if the S1 at my last unit got it wrong, every scenario isn't laid out as clearly in the regs as you seem to think they are. What is the purpose of RallyPoint if I can't turn to the mentors here for information? I don't find your response helpful, but thank you for replying.
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SSG Thomas Brousseau
I knew that someone would answer you question so instead I decided to give the same idvice I got when I was a Specialist. Sorry I you thaught I was try to be mean, I was trying to be helpful. Have a nice day.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks, SSG Thomas Brousseau. I misunderstood your intent. My apolologies, and thank you for replying.
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