Posted on Jul 17, 2016
SGT(P) S6 Communications Ncoic
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Posted in these groups: G1Us medals AwardsOverseas logo OverseasImgres Deployment
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FN Charlie Spivey
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I was awarded the Coast Guard Overseas Deployment Ribbon retroactively as it didn't exist in my time. As I said in an earlier post, it was for 6 months service in country or whatever. I was aboard ship and went left Port ( NY ) on 1 April '67. We didn't go on line in Vietnam until 3 Jun. '67 and were relieved on 14 Dec. '67. Arrived back home on 21 Jan. '68. We had 6 months in Vietnam, not counting the travel time.
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CW3 Thomas White
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Instead of listening to Facebook lawyers, read AR600-8-22. It has the right answer.
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SGT(P) S6 Communications Ncoic
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I read it. But its a bit unclear. Hence why I came here asking for further clarification.
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MAJ Program Technician
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I deployed to Afghanistan for 8 months and 8 days. I was told at demob that 9 months was required for the OSR but they would have rounded from 8months 15days. No OSR for me!
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CPT Personnel Officer (S1)
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Ask for an exception to policy from HRC.
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SSG(P) Casualty Operations Ncoic
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AR 614-30, Table 3-2:
Rule 1. To within 60 days of completion of the prescribed tour (see
table 2–1, note 3)
A completed tour and award new DROS
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SPC Matthew Cournoyer
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There is a whole lot of "it's automatic upon completion of tour, this is what the reg says" yes you do all that overseas stuff and complete it and you are "authorized" however I know first had it really comes down to how well your hrc section does their job. Basically take your orders stationing you wherever you went overseas and the orders that brought you back to your Personnel folks and ask them to update your erb. They know the rules of they really want to get dumb with you print out and highlight the reg for them with the orders.
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SGT Paul Johnson
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ONCE YOU SERVED MORE THAN 6 MTHS OVER SEAS YOU ARE ENTILITLED TO WERA THE RIBBON
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SSG(P) Casualty Operations Ncoic
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That's not what AR 614-30 says
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SPC(P) Mark Newman
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I "won" the OSR or Oahu Surfing Ribbon for serving two tours in Hawaii. Which is crappy I know, but then again, the E4s in our brigade who requested Airbourne school (and i even tried requesting the shorter Air Assault course) were all turned down by our own battalion COs. Maybe the OSR award was a consolation prize. I'm still disappointed: When desert shield rolled around it might have been nice logistically/strategically to have a few Morse code jockeys who could drop in instead of landing at an "airport" runway like 100 tourists visiting lovely Saudi Arabia or downtown Kuwait.
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CW4 Brad Thompson
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The Army's HRC webpage has all of the answers you need with regard to not only the OSR but any other award you may be inquiring about. Here is the short answer: AR 600-8-22, Military Awards, Paragraph 5-4.
•AR 614-30, Overseas Service, Table 3-2 and Table 3-3.
•AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.

**The Awards and Decorations Branch does not determine overseas tour completion and eligibility.

Background:

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. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before August 1, 1981, provided they had an Active Army status on or after August 1, 1981.

To receive the OSR, Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion in accordance with AR 614-30 (see Table 3-2). Soldiers who have overseas service with another branch of service (AF, Navy, Marines) must be credited with normal overseas tour completion by that service to qualify for award of the OSR.

Note: Overseas tour completion is determined by AR 614-30. If a Soldier is credited with a normal overseas tour completion, then the Soldier may be awarded the OSR. Tours lengths for Iraq and Afghanistan have NOT been established. All requests for exceptions to policy will be processed through the proponent of AR 614-30.

**The Awards and Decorations Branch does not determine overseas tour completion and eligibility.
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SGT(P) S6 Communications Ncoic
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Yeah, I read that. But in 614-30, it is unclear as to what a tour completion is for Kuwait.
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SSG(P) Casualty Operations Ncoic
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SGT(P) (Join to see) -
Rule If Soldier serves— Then credit with—1,2
8. Nine months in a continuous TCS/TDY status in areas where
the unaccompanied tour length is up to 18 months, or in isolated
areas where tour lengths have not been established
A completed tour and award new DROS
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SSG Harold Cooper
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I have 4 of these
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PO1 Shawn Willis
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You have to be overseas for a year
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Sgt James Skinner
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Discharged E4 Stationed Kadena Okinawa July 66 to Jan 68. Do I qualify?
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SSG Assistant Team Leader
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I got sidetracked in a few of the threads here however, I am back to the point of the topic:

For the Overseas Service Ribbon, an established tour length must be in place....which as I last checked was not possible in the current Afganistan/Iraq/Kuwait trifecta.

But once upon a time I was told the magic number is 9 months for them. That being said there are caveats in the regulation for tons of variables.

Of note: if the tour is shortened at the convenience of the government; also, you can add it to your record within 60 days of "normal tour completion"

Hope it helps!
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SFC Garrison Staff Training Nco
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The short answer is, to be awarded an overseas service ribbon you must complete a minimum of 3/4 of that tour. Europe, for instance, is 2 years unaccompanied or 3 years accompanied... You would have to complete 3/4 of the appropriate time to receive the ribbon.
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SSG Robert Smith
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Either finish your tour of duty at an OCONUS station or 6 months combat deployment.
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SFC Brian Loomis
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There is also an overseas training ribbon for reserve and national guard units that trail overseas for annual training or for other exercises.
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SPC Jim Johnson
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basically having an overseas orders and completing your time.
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SGT Jeff Wickes
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You used to get them when you were stationed in Alaska or Hawaii.
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CPO Personnel Specialist
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For active duty eligibility begins 90 days after reporting overseas with a minimum of 180 days overseas consecutive, additional stars are awarded for periods of 12 consecutive months (not to include leave less than 30 days, or TDY less than 180 days), for SELRES you need 45 cumulative days overseas (non consecutive or consecutive). What's it's worth? Most VFW'S will accept either a campaign ribbon or medal, or an overseas service ribbon as eligibility, that's about all.
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COL John Hudson
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From the IG Desk: It's already been established that AR 614-30 drives this award. As far as the process itself is concerned, it's only an entry on your record by a Unit Clerk...at least that's all that was required in my Unit when I was notified of such. But I want to address another aspect for ALLCON by bursting a very important bubble: The civilian world, for the most part, has no clue as to the significance of military awards nor should they. An accolade by itself does not translate into a viable job skill. On my resume, I simply wrote, "Numerous military accolades and awards" and left it at that. During my lifetime civilian career, I was never asked by any Interviewer to speak to my military awards. As far as a military career is concerned, ribbons tell a full story as to where a service member has traveled and been exposed to. I want everyone out there to understand one very simple rule locked in stone...the is NO great clerk in the sky watching out for you or the completeness of your military record for any entry whatsoever. It falls to YOU personally to stay on top of any and all personnel issues including awards, promotions, travel, retirement points and everything else having to do with your career. My office fought a continuous battle of constant complaints regarding lost service records, last-second retirement point audits, "where's the goody I shoulda got" and numerous other issues that would never had seen the light of day if the service member had done their job in the first place to stay ahead of such things. If nothing else, toss a copy of every sheet of paper the military ever gives you into a box and keep it. I did. During the 30 years I was in the Army, I was able to produce accurate copies of items that units failed to maintain and came out ahead each and every time.
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SGM Assistant Site Lead
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When stationed overseas and you have completed 2/3 of your tour is when you become eligible for the overseas service ribbon.
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SSG John Jensen
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I was awarded the RC overseas service ribbon for Team Spirit '87
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PO1 Jack Howell
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AR 600-8-22:
5–4. Overseas Service Ribbon
a. The Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, 10 October 1990. It is awarded to members of the U.S. Army for successful completion of overseas tours.
b. Effective 1 August 1981, all members of the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for this award. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an active Army status as
defined above on or after 1 August 1981.
c. Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion according to AR 614–30. Service members who have overseas service with another branch of service (USN, USAF, or USMC) must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion by that service to qualify for award of the Army OSR.
d. Numerals will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the OSR. (See para 6–4.)
e. Posthumous award of the OSR. For first award of the OSR only, an individual may be posthumously awarded (on or after 1 August 1981) the OSR before completion of the overseas tour, provided the Soldier’s death is ruled "Line of duty-Yes."
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PVT Alex Knapp
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I thought you got it during a time of war, an a normal deployment rotation.
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SSG Utilities Equipment Repairer
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So can someone break this down for me: I have 49 months of deployment with 33 months stationed in Germany. What number am I suppose to wear in my OSR?
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SGT(P) S6 Communications Ncoic
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you only get one per tour. So how many tours did you complete?
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SGT Brent Shires
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I served in Korea from 77-78 I never received any overseas ribbons for my service in Korea in the 2nd Inf. Div. at times I had to patrol in the DMZ area north of the Im Jim river. How or who do I need to contact
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SGT Team Leader
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Upon COMPLETION of your full overseas tour.

I think you mentioned Kuwait? So yes once you have completed your assignment when you return to wherever you are from, you need to inquire.
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SGT Jason Trevino
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It really doesn't matter. I did an internal resume for a job for a company I worked for. I had a manager look it over. I listed all my awards from the military as follows. 6 army achievement medals, 3 army comendation medals, good conduct ribbon, overseas
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SFC Byron Perry
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If I remember correctly it is one year for the active duty one, and two weeks for the reserve.
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SSG Ken Gilder
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This might sound like something out of the mouth of Captain Obvious, but since it is called the Overseas Service Ribbon, I would think that service overseas would be sufficient.

As I am (medically) retired, I no longer keep current on regulations, but it occurs to me, that there is a regulation that spells out the criteria for awards and decorations, including the Overseas Service Ribbon.
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PO3 Chris Stone
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You can be awarded your OSR upon completion of any overseas tour and you should get a star for the ribbon for each additional completion.
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CPT C5 Isr Planner
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The Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) was established by the Secretary of the Army 10 April 1981. It is awarded for successful completion of overseas tours. According to AR 614-30, it must be a normal tour. Numerals can be added for additional tours. Usually it is an extent of 9 months per award. So if you serve 7 months on the first tour, then another 8, that just counts as one. I could be wrong by that one but my last tour in Afghanistan that's what my J1 said. Anyone can look this up if they would like.
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TSgt Robert Reynierse
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I served for 20 years in the USAF. I did 8 years overseas in the Far East. Between 65-77 NO RIBBONS. except for Viet Nam.
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SSG Nathaniel Goodwin
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Simple ...stationed outside US for more than 6 months
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