Can a recommendation for an award, the Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign medal, be used to verify service in Iraq?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:53:20 -0500

Okay, I dont want to sound like THAT guy. But I'm going into the national guard, verifying records from Active Duty. I BELIEVE, I am missing my OIR Campaign Medal. My PSG had told me I needed it during an ASU inspection, but I had said its not on my SRB therefore its not on my uniform. He made our commander aware of it to get it addressed however, he got out of the army. S1 needs documentation of my time in Iraq for it to be on my SRB, I was never given orders, (Young PFC at the time) my PSG put me on a flight to Iraq, and I was permanent party, I was up there for a month or so. I was awarded an AAM with a C device by our BN CSM that states I was in Iraq with my company and battalion. Can a recommendation for an award, be used to verify service in Iraq?

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Feb 10 at 2020 1:55 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:55:25 -0500

Take the citation to personnel and start there.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Feb 10 at 2020 2:07 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:07:11 -0500

You have a couple issues going on here. First, as I understand "dems da roolz", a member may NOT wear an award if there is no corresponding entry in their personnel file (I think the Army calls it a 201 file, might be mistaken though). I would say you were correct to not affix the award to your ASU given the circumstance. Second, I don't understand how a commander ETSing stopped a "got it for showing up" award. If the paperwork was already in the pipe, it should have flowed on regardless of the CO's status. Third, how did you go anywhere without orders of some type? Even as a Deployment Manager, I couldn't just "put someone on a flight" without proper authorization from the responsible Commander (for AF, usually at the Group or Wing level). Fourth, I've never heard of someone being "permanent party" for only a month. Incidentally, I believe the regulations were changed to say campaign medals could not be awarded unless the member was deployed in theater for at least 60 days (due largely to certain AF senior officers flying into VBC for an afternoon and being awarded various medals). I'd have your immediate CoC help you research the requirements and submit the appropriate paperwork as the situation dictates.

*Edited to add below link*

This link may be of use as well....

https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/award-rules-set-for-inherent-resolve-campaign-medal--2?loc=similar_main&pos=3&type=qrc

Award rules set for Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal | RallyPoint

The Army has laid out of the eligibility requirements for the award of the new Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal to soldiers who have served in Iraq and Syria since June 15, 2014.Inherent Resolve is the U. S. and allied campaign that targets military operations against the Islamic State terrorist organization.The area of eligibility, or AOE, for the campaign encompasses the land areas of Iraq and Syria, and the contiguous waters of each of those...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 2:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:26:37 -0500

I find it difficult to believe that you were put on a plane and sent downrange without orders....or at least where to access orders.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 4:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:09:59 -0500

I'm guessing you were given orders, and you just don't remember. Have you checked your iperms to see if there is a digital copy in there?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 6:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 18:06:50 -0500

Start by looking at iPERMS (which is your online 201 file)?? Your deployment time should be noted on your SRB as well. So there are orders somewhere.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 10 at 2020 11:44 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 23:44:29 -0500

Go to S1

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2020 9:17 PM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:17:14 -0500

Under IPERMS should be TCS orders to Iraq. Does your ERB not show the months under deployments?