What constitutes tour completion and time for the Army Overseas Service Ribbon?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 08:36:43 -0400

I have been digging through AR 600-8-22, AR 614-30, and on HRC, as well as talked to multiple S1 and previous awards clerks and I am not getting a consensus on the bare minimum time overseas that would qualify for the award.

Some say 6 months, some say 10-12, Fort Hood Civilian staff told us 8 months 15 days.

So where can we find in black and white what the minimum is because the OSR unlike a lot of other awards is not so straight forward.

EDIT

8 Months, 3 Days in Kuwait for OEF-SS.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2021 9:12 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:12:53 -0400

It's unclear because you aren't giving enough information. How long is the tour(s)? There are different requirements based on long or short tours. I received a few for doing standard 12 month deployments, but also received one for doing two 6-month deployments within 24 months.
AR614-30 table 3-2 lays it out for what constitutes a "complete tour"

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Apr 23 at 2021 9:13 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:13:22 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member The last time I looked at the Reg, it said you would need to fulfil 3/4 of your tour.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2021 11:04 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:04:40 -0400

It's not a cut and dry definition. When I got active duty the guard had to re write 17 years worth of active service on a clean ORB. The Guard G1 gave me an OSR for every tour I went on about doubling the number I had.

Response by SPC William Richardson made Apr 23 at 2021 12:31 PM

SPC William Richardson — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 12:31:56 -0400

what places are considered overseas ?

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Apr 24 at 2021 10:27 AM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 10:27:29 -0400

I got two awards---one for a year in Korea and one for 19 months in Germany.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2021 10:50 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 22:50:01 -0400

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.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2024 3:17 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:17:11 -0500

The regulation primarily deals with Active Duty for which the term "Tour length" has a specific meaning which is in the Joint Travel Regulations. Now the JTR has an exception for Reserves because, of course, our overseas tours cannot go over a year. Also, the time line is completely different. Also, in AR 614-30 Overseas Service regulation specifically addresses curtailments including medical. Given the reference to the JTR, the awards criteria and the Overseas Service regulations, I think your service qualifies. It is that exception for Reserves (National Guard) that does it.