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 have one question... this post says two years ago. What happened? Did you get your award back
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I would ask my immediate officer to help me present these findings to his supervisor. You are going to have to convience your chain of command to ever get this corrected.
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You certainly have a beef. Now, how do you rectify the situation without burning bridges that you need in your command chain.
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Check for MILPO messages that can pertain to OSR and exception to policy on wearing it and what is the most resent outcome of overseas tours that underline the 12 month tours shorten to 9 months!
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MEANWHILE as I check and review Officer Record Briefs for PME and upcoming promotion boards, I have a plethora of Warrant Officers who should have been awarded the OSR concurrently with their tour award and NATO medal who do not have it and S1's arguing the opposite. Under the criteria and regulations I summarized that you did not qualify as presented in your question. In section one of the ERB/ORB/SRB, when it is longer than 9 months, it's easy to assess, however when it says 8 months, then it comes down to days as others have eluded to. Just like Overseas Service Bars (combat stripes) do not make the board members do to much work. The KISS principle has worked for many years and splitting hairs for things like this just takes to much brain energy, time for more coffee!
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I personally did 2 year in the European theatre, I believe this man deserves his ribbon...
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Notify the Commander in Chief. And as for time served, I understand some generals will visit a few hours (or days) in a war (area) just to receive that campaign ribbon.
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