Can I wear a combat patch if I did not receive a memo for when I deployed to Turkey in 2012-2013 for Operation Active Fence?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:11:47 -0400

Deployed to Turkey in 2012-2013 for operation active fence, where Syria was chemically attacking their people in Aleppo and we protected civilians in Gaziantep, Turkey.

Received hazardous pay and imminent danger pay and was over there for a year.

Did not receive a memo to wear the combat patch but I have heard some say you don’t need a memo and some say you do need the memo.

Can I wear a combat patch?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 12:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:28:36 -0400

AR and DA PAM 670-1 have a detailed list by country and year to see if you are authorized. You are a 42A NCO....you should know this.

Response by SPC Brent Melton made Oct 20 at 2020 12:56 PM

SPC Brent Melton — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:56:14 -0400

I never had a memo issued stating I'm authorized a combat patch. After 30 or so days in Iraq, our Battalion Commander came to our COP and we had a 'patching' ceremony. Nothing more was ever mentioned of it, and I don't think we ever had a ceremony for the new guys who came in later on.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 1:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:09:32 -0400

According to AR 670-1....no. You are not authorized a SSI-FWTS for Turkey for that date range nor that operation. Look in AR 670-1, dated 25 May 2017, in section 19-17

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 2:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:09:44 -0400

Well...w/o memo...Never heard of it.

Response by CW4 Keith Dolliver made Oct 20 at 2020 3:02 PM

CW4 Keith Dolliver — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:02:43 -0400

No.

Short explanation: General rule of thumb, if it's not tax free then it's not a combat zone.
Longer explanation: AR 670-1 states exactly which areas during what time periods are authorized combat patches. Par 19-17.b. does not list any provisions for Turkey during the time periods you specified, so no combat patch is authorized.

A combat patch (SSI-FWTS) is only authorized for service in a designated combat area. Hazardous pay and imminent danger pay does not necessarily mean you're in a designated combat zone. There are many designated "Imminent Danger Zones" around the world that are not combat zones.

Also, for some others commenting, a memo is NOT required to be authorized to wear a SSI-FWTS (or any campaign medals). Most units provide a memo to explain what decorations you are authorized to wear for service in that theater during that specific period, however that memo is not an order, it's just an explanation of your entitlement. Whether or not you get a memo generally depends on your S-1's level of proficiency. AR 670-1 (in the case of SSI-FWTS) and AR 600-8-22 (in the case of campaign medals) are the authorizing documents that allow you to wear the aforementioned decorations. The Army does not publish any formal orders for either of those decorations. (Should they? Probably. Do they? No)

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Mar 27 at 2021 3:44 AM

CPT Andrew Wright — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 03:44:15 -0400

No. Last time I was "deployed" to Turkey you could drink beer in the town and out of the mini-bar in your room.