Overseas Service Ribbon An Overseas Service Ribbon is a decoration of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army, United States Navy, and U.S. Air Force. United States Marines receive the Navy version of the Overseas Service Ribbon and the U.S. Coast Guard does not issue an equivalent decoration. Army Army and Army Reserve Overseas Ribbons The Army Overseas Service Ribbon was first issued in August of 1981. It is presented to any member of the United States Army who completes a standard overseas tour of duty. Such tours are normally for two to three years and must be served outside the continental United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Additional awards of the Army Overseas Service Ribbon are denoted by award numerals. For those Army service members performing overseas duty prior to 1981, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon may be awarded retroactively, provided that a service member was on active duty subsequent to 1981. The Army also issues an Overseas Service Bar which is an entirely different decoration from the Overseas Service Ribbon. Army Reserve The Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon is the U.S. Army Reserve version of the Overseas Service Ribbon and is awarded to drilling members of the Army Reserve and National Guard. The Army Reserve is the only branch of the reserve components which issues an overseas ribbon separate from the active duty award. The Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon is presented to any member of the drilling reserves who completes ten or more consecutive days of active duty for training outside the continental United States. Additional awards of the decoration are denoted by award numerals. Air Force Air Force Overseas Service Ribbons The Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon was first created in 1980 by order of General Lew Allen, Air Force Chief of Staff. The decoration is issued in two grades, being that of "short tour" and "long tour." The Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon is issued for completion of an overseas service assignment greater than two years in length with additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters. The Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon is issued under the same criteria, but is awarded for less then two years of duty. Additional awards of the Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon are denoted by oak leaf clusters. Air Force regulations permit the receipt and wear of both the short and long tour ribbons simultaneously. The "A" device is authorized for any service member who performs a tour of duty at an arctic based Air Force facility. Navy and Marine Corps Navy USMC Overseas Ribbon The Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon was first proposed in 1968, but not officially approved until June of 1987. The decoration is awarded to any member of the Navy or Marine Corps who completes one year of consecutive or cumulative duty at an permanent overseas duty station. For members of the reserve components, the decoration is authorized upon completion of either thirty consecutive or forty five cumulative days of overseas active duty for training. In 1999, a directive of the Chief of Naval Operations permitted those personnel stationed on overseas homeported naval vessels to receive the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon. Prior to this time, such personnel were only eligible to receive the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Current regulations now permit the receipt of both decorations for the same tour of duty. Additional awards of the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon are denoted by service stars. Related articles Awards and decorations of the United States military FAVORITE ARTICLES: History of the World    History of the United States    History of Europe    Ancient History    History    Military History    World War I    Bombing of Dresden    California    US Constitution    Frank Sinatra    Boston    Marbury v. Madison This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Service_Ribbon