Posted on Aug 27, 2018
Is someone authorized a deployment patch for being placed in Camp Buerhing during Operation Spartan Shield?
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A soldier I have that served in my unit during the period of July 2016 to Feb 2017 in Operation Spartan Shield as a subsection to Operation Enduring Freedom. He wants to know if he's authorized to wear the deployment patch for being place in Camp Buehring for his time there. He was authorized his Overseas ribbon, Both GWOT's as well.
Posted in these groups: 
Deployment
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Deployment Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 19
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Kuwait is not considered a "combat zone" i served their in 2015 to 2016 and it was a misconception that we could wear deployment patches after 30 days but Buehring, Ali Al-Salem and AJ wasn't considered combat rotations. Now if you had a follow on mission somewhere like say Jordan, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq then yes have orders to those locations and subsequently go there in access of 30 days,
then yes.
then yes.
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Diane Stephenson
You need to do your homework because it is a combat zone and anyone there gets combat pay like my family member is getting right now today. The IRS even lists it as a combat zone and you do not even have to file taxes on your pay while your there. The Army lists it as A Combat Zone or you could not get combat pay and they clearly do. As of right now today Kuwait is a real true Combat Zone
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SSG (Join to see)
You are 100% wrong.....Kuwait is NOT listed as a Combat Zone. We get Hazard Pay for MANY assignments, none of which are Combat Zones. And I am 99% sure Kuwait is not tax free as well.
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SSG (Join to see)
I take back the 100% wrong part. It is indeed listed on the IRS website as a Combat Zone, but the IRS does not designate what the DOD sanctions as a Combat Zone. the IRS does not however list Kuwait as having a Combat Zone tax exclusion.
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1LT (Join to see)
Diane Stephenson - Kuwait hasn't gotten combat pay aka IDP in 6 years. Your family member got hazardous duty pay but not combat pay. DOD does not consider Kuwait a combat zone. IRS does for your taxes...big difference.
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If you have orders sending you to Kuwait and Buerhing was your duty station then you are authorized to wear a deployment patch. Check with the unit would be the best way to find out. If your still not sure look at an LES see if you received hazardous duty pay. Cannot believe Buerhing was there in 17 I went through there on my to Iraq in 05. Feel so old.
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1LT (Join to see)
Just a note hazardous duty pay and combat pay are not the same. Kuwait gets hazardous duty. Iraq gets both.
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CPT William Jones
LEARN THE MEANING OF THE WORD DEPLOYED AND ALL IT VARIATIONS AND WHAT IT MEANS IN THE MILITARY. YOU CAN BE DEPLOYED AND NOT GET HOSTILE FIRE PAY. BUT YOU CANT GET IT IF YOU ARE NOT DEPLOYED. Being deployed is a type of assignment and it is not synominuos word for Hostile fire zone.
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MSG Greg Kelly
CPT William Jones - Maybe you should read the topic of conversation which the replies pertain to. I have been deployed to Germany and the Republic of Panama among other places and understand the term. Perhaps you should control your emotions and not use caps lock and use spell check. And BTW I don't normally reply to people with no picture its just a thing.
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CPT William Jones
MSG Greg Kelly - I used the caps for emphasis and want people to pay attention. So many recent think the only deployment was to the Hostile Fire zones and there are many more places to be sent on deployment. Then many assume the combat patch awarded and worn on right sleeve is a deployment patch. And it is ok with me if you ever choose to reply to any comment. I dont put pictures up for security reasons. But for you I have over 6 years active duty starting Oct 1966 including over 40 consecutive months deployed 32 in RVN and the rest Germany all as a company grade Combat Engineer.
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19–17
Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
a.
General.
Authorization to wear a SSI indicating former wartime service (FWTS) (SSI–FWTS) applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S. Army units that meet the following criteria in subparagraph (1), below:
(1) The following criteria are required for wear of the SSI–FWTS:
(a) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare the theater or area of operation as a hostile environment to
which the unit is assigned or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(b) The units must have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile0 forces in which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(c) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. An exception may be made when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other criteria, and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(d) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for
wearing the SSI –FWTS.
(13)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): between 11 September 2001 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Between 9 January 2002 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for those Soldiers deployed to the Philippines, in support of OEF, who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP. Between 31 July 2002 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for
Soldiers deployed to the CENTCOM area of operations in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by CENTCOM Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Between 1January 2008 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers deployed to Djibouti in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by Africa Command (AFRICOM) Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Soldiers who were deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than OEF are not authorized the SSI–FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OEF.
So no, SSI-FWTS ended for OEF in 2014.
Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
a.
General.
Authorization to wear a SSI indicating former wartime service (FWTS) (SSI–FWTS) applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S. Army units that meet the following criteria in subparagraph (1), below:
(1) The following criteria are required for wear of the SSI–FWTS:
(a) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare the theater or area of operation as a hostile environment to
which the unit is assigned or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(b) The units must have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile0 forces in which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(c) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. An exception may be made when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other criteria, and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(d) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for
wearing the SSI –FWTS.
(13)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): between 11 September 2001 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Between 9 January 2002 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for those Soldiers deployed to the Philippines, in support of OEF, who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP. Between 31 July 2002 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for
Soldiers deployed to the CENTCOM area of operations in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by CENTCOM Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Between 1January 2008 and 31 December 2014, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers deployed to Djibouti in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by Africa Command (AFRICOM) Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Soldiers who were deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than OEF are not authorized the SSI–FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OEF.
So no, SSI-FWTS ended for OEF in 2014.
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SSG (Join to see)
This is where my confusion starts. I was in Kuwait in 2014-15. I was there longer than 30 days in the year of 14. My unit didn't receive a patch all though we supported OEF. But when you read these regs it sounds like we should have. All I'm saying is i keep getting weird looks from people when they see my SRB and i wear no patch, I always have to argue and say we were told to not wear one.
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SPC Chris Ison
You were not in imminent danger in Kuwait, which is why you do not qualify for one. You were further not in the actual combat Theatre.
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