Has anyone heard of someone receiving a SSI-FWTS or “combat patch” for the Mexico border operations in the past couple years?

2021-12-17T08:33:05-05:00

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 8:59 AM

2021-12-17T08:59:58-05:00

No, not in this century. Though people get it in Jordan and Saudi so why not.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 9:14 AM

2021-12-17T09:14:26-05:00

No. As of today, the United States (or the border area or Mexico) is not listed as:
a Combat Zone Tax Exclusion by the IRS
a country eligible for HFP/IDP in DoDFMR Vol 7a fig 10-1 or the current table on DFAS
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/IDP-Areas/

these are the two requirements for the Army to approve an SSI-MOHC.

I think all of us here would enjoy hearing the story of the kid who is claiming they got an SSI-MOHC for the border mission, though.

Defense Finance and Accounting Service > MilitaryMembers > payentitlements > Pay Tables...

The official website of the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS)

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 10:19 AM

2021-12-17T10:19:19-05:00

I sure hope not

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 17 at 2021 11:00 AM

2021-12-17T11:00:21-05:00

LOL... no.
Don't get me wrong, Texas and Arizona are shitholes, but I don't think we've gone so far as to call them combat zones.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Dec 17 at 2021 1:00 PM

2021-12-17T13:00:49-05:00

Nope but i got to here this story, do tell!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 6:02 PM

2021-12-17T18:02:08-05:00

How did this rumor/story get started?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2021 9:07 PM

2021-12-17T21:07:45-05:00

This is not a thing. I have seen people make all types of claims about getting patches. If someone is claiming this, I would pull their ERB and scrub it to make sure they are wearing anything else that is fake.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Dec 17 at 2021 11:31 PM

2021-12-17T23:31:59-05:00

Well there is no SSI-FWTS anymore: "A significant policy update features a name change for the patch soldiers wear on their right shoulder to show wartime service.

"We also made a big change to what a lot of soldiers call the 'combat patch,'" Sanders said.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Former Wartime Service will now be called the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Military Operations in Hostile Conditions. It is authorized for soldiers who served on combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, but also those who served in certain countries considered hostile areas.

"Sometimes, we go to certain locations, and we don't plan on that to be hostile conditions, but it may turn hostile," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston said. "How do we recognize those soldiers who are out doing what we have asked them to do? ... So we allow them to wear the shoulder sleeve insignia for the unit. I think that is appropriate."

The new shoulder sleeve insignia is currently authorized for Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan and Syria."

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/27/army-rolls-out-army-green-uniform-wear-guidelines-renames-combat-patch.html

Why would anyone sent to Mexico get granted that? We aren't at war with Mexico...or in any kind of military conflict with them either.

Army Rolls Out Army Green Uniform Wear Guidelines, Renames Combat Patch

Troops have until Oct. 1, 2027, to purchase the AGSU, after which the ASU will become the Army's optional dress uniform.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Dec 21 at 2021 3:00 AM

2021-12-21T03:00:36-05:00

NO - They're focusing on getting them for Chicago ;>D

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 5 at 2023 10:11 AM

2023-04-05T10:11:38-04:00

Never heard of it in the 100 plus years since we were chasing Poncho Villa cross border. Not even sure there were combat patches back then

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Oct 5 at 2023 2:49 PM

2023-10-05T14:49:05-04:00

You do realize that was prior to our entry to WWI. Patton Sr, was a LT. That long ago. AFAIK, that last time US Army was officially in Old Mexico. Cross border raids by the Apache continued until 1921 but were handled by the Frontier Bn TX Rangers.