What qualifications are needed to be awarded the Overseas Service Ribbon?

Normally, the Overseas Ribbon covers a satisfactory completion of a PCS tour overseas to continents other than North America. Since I did not handle personnel records for duty relating to deployments, I'm not sure whether the OSR covers them or not. Keep in mind that the OSR is not recognition for combat service so much as service in a location "overseas."

You would need to complete an overseas assignment. Overseas tour length varies from place to place (i.e., Germany, Korea, Kuwait, etc.), so check the AR to be certain, sergeant.

When I was in, it was 3 years in a non conus station. May have changed

I have been stationed in Korea (twice), Iraq, Kuwait, Djibouti, Bosnia, Italy, Hawaii and Fort Irwin (ok last one doesn't count, but seriously isolated from the world while there). I think I qualified for the OSR at some point in my career.

I not sure because it been many years, but I think you must serve 1 year over seas to qualify

The Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon was first proposed in 1968, but not authorized until 17 September 1986. The ribbon is awarded to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps who completes one year of consecutive or cumulative duty at a permanent overseas duty station.

For members of the reserve components, the first award is authorized upon completion of either 30 consecutive or 45 cumulative days of overseas active duty for training. For subsequent awards, the criteria of award for reservists are the same as the active duty members criteria.

In 1999, a directive of the Chief of Naval Operations permitted those personnel stationed on overseas homeported naval vessels to receive the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon. Prior to this time, such personnel were only eligible to receive the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Current regulations now permit the receipt of both ribbons for the same tour of duty.

Additional awards of the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon are denoted by service stars.

The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (SSDR) and Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) will be awarded to IAs deploying to Afghanistan (OEF) and Iraq (OIF) in accordance with SECNAVINST 1650.1H. However, the OEF and OIF AOEs may be qualifying areas for either ribbon, depending upon the circumstances of the individual. The following amplifying guidance is provided.
The 12-month accumulated sea duty requirement for the SSDR is waived for OEF (11 Sep 1 – TBD) and OIF (19 Mar 2003 – TBD) to qualify for the initial award of the ribbon only. The 12-month requirement still applies for second and subsequent awards.
Individuals with subsequent deployments to the OEF or OIF AOEs may elect to use that deployment time towards qualifying for EITHER a subsequent SSDR or the OSR. The member must elect in writing which ribbon the subsequent deployment time will be credited towards, and may NOT divide the deployment time between the two ribbons. The entire deployment time will be credited towards ONE of the ribbons.

Serving outside CONUS for at least 10 duty days. CONUS is the continuous United States, Alaska and Hawaii aren't included.

SFC Byron Perry first, thank you for the vote up and everyone else who did. I sure hope you read all my comments for which (to the one you voted up) that I admitted that I had showed the lack of professionalism towards MCPO Roger Collins when he disrespected a CAPT and I let him know about it. My first post to him was professional and respectful. His was not.

Those are the ribbons that we used to say of in the Navy, "that ribbon and 50 cents will get you a cup of coffee".

The Army Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) was established by the Secretary of the Army on April 10, 1981. Effective August 1, 1981, the Army OSR is awarded to all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status for successful completion of overseas tours.