Are ASU Overseas Service Bars reserved for Combat Deployments only?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:10:32 -0400

My unit deployed to Eastern Europe for Operation Atlantic Resolve and some of us had to get our ASU's up to date and we were curious if Overseas Service Bars were reserved for Combat Deployments only and everyone we asked was giving us different answers.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 7 at 2019 12:15 AM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:15:02 -0400

Check AR 670-1

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Jul 7 at 2019 12:16 AM

SGT Javier Silva — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:16:18 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Look up AR 670-1 Chapter 19-28

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Jul 9 at 2019 4:58 PM

SSG Keith Cashion — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 16:58:59 -0400

Unfortunately, OAR was changed to a Field Duty effective 1 July 2017. Basically it is a 9 month Training Exercise. Or as some of us would refer to it as REFORGER, but just a lot longer (lol, some will get the joke.) If you look at your TCS orders it will say something to the effect This is a Field Training Exercise, and you probably were paid a flat rate of $195 a month while being in a Field Duty Status. So to answer your question, it is not classified as a Contingency Deployment.