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?
322K
771
465
203
203
0
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
0
0
0
I think that he should be able to keep it.He didn't asked to be deployed early.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Respectfully Specialist: I served in Berlin from 84-87 in IRR status, served on AD the minimum time to qualify (30 consecutive days), and was even received orders for deployment during the Libya crisis before returning stateside. According to my PMO I met the eligibility but "because I was IRR" and not IMA, I was only authorized the Overseas Training Ribbon. I understand your plight and I suggest you appeal the decision by including the regulation specific to the eligibility criteria. In my case it was a judgement call based on the difference between Individual Ready Reserve and Individual Mobilization Augmentee. The IMA is essentially "Attached" to the AD Unit whereas the IRR is not. The KEY TERM is "Attached" in my case. If you feel slighted and your initial decision to remove is upheld, you can request a records review after you are discharged, for service awards and decorations (Medals). see DD FM 149 Have all your evidence included, including the Regulations cited.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Depends on why you came back. If you served what your unit said and you came back advon or torch yes you completed your tour of duty. If you came home early because of personal issues than you didn't complete the tour.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
It could be a test of your character, take a copy of the AR and your TCS, show the S1 that by regulations you earned it and you deserve to keep it. I hear a lot of this is going on in various units. I read an article where the officers were making combat vets remove their combat unit patch, because it wasn't fair to the soldiers who didn't have one? You earned it Stand Your Ground!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
When you cross over back to the civilian world you find out your military awards aren't worth a lick of spit... So I wouldn't even fret over it... Just concentrate on getting your DD214 and chucking the dueces
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
You have all the regulatory backing to state a strong case for reinstatement of your OSR. Take copies of your deployment orders and the pertinent regulatory guidelines to your S1 to plead your case for reinstatement. They may not realize the length of deployment you were on and are assuming your tour of duty was cut short. But based on the regulations you stated you actually completed a full deployment. Since the unit was redeployed that should count as a complete tour of duty. Also you were only 20 days short of the original planed tour length. You need to fight for every award you can get into your records because points are hard to come by these days. As a former platoon leader and commander I think you’ve made a strong presentation, and if I were the S1 of your battalion I would reinstate the award based on the information you’ve presented.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
If S1 doesn’t correct the problem, then I would go see a JAG officer and get a legal opinion.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google