It should show on your orders as Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield) and qualifies you for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM). BOISE, Idaho More than 600 members of the Idaho National Guard's 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team are deploying to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Didn't know if it fell under the umbrella of OIR or not. Its mission is to maintain a forward presence and. You were further not in the actual combat Theatre. I was on that exact same set of orders that gave me mine. FILE Arkansas National Guard Staff Sgt. 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. At the same time, there's other days where you're just so sad to miss a full year with your family.". Am I authorized to wear a deployment patch. 1 Jun 1992 - 19 Dec 1996 : Southwest Asia VIGILANT SENTINEL 1 Dec 1995 - 15 Feb 1997 Southwest Asia Maritime Intercept Operation 1 Dec 1995 - 18 Mar 2003 Southwest Asia SOUTHERN WATCH 1 Dec 1995 - 18 Mar 2003 Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. When we came back we were told OSS doesn't qualify for the GWOTEM and will not award it to anyone in the unit. BOISE, Idaho More than 600 members of the Idaho National Guard's 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team are deploying to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield. 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, From June 2018 - March 2019. Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Broken Shield 300; Command Live: The King of the Border; Command Live: Kuril Sunrise . U.S. Army Becky Vanshur/Idaho Army National Guard, 'It allows no judicial discretion': Bipartisan bills to change Idaho's mandatory minimum laws are not winning over police, Defense lawyers in Idaho killings case want gag order kept, Brief dry break to end, more snow Saturday and Sunday, Crashes, highway closures, slick roads around southwest Idaho in latest snowstorm, A group of Idaho soldiers also from the 116th mobilized for OSS in November 2021, Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy celebrates 119 graduates, 'A small token of our appreciation': Memorial Day Dedication held at Gowen Field, BLM, Idaho National Guard seek public opinion on expanding Orchard Combat Training Center. Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, stand at attention to receive their shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, commonly referred to as a combat patch, in a ceremony in Southwest Asia, Nov. 26, 2020. This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 03:22. c. Combat service identification badge. You want that shit, that counts as a campaign medal and unlocks more veteran benefits. In such cases, the unit will wear the SSI of the lowest echelon Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command as the SSI-FWTS. A soldier scans a sector of fire from a military fighting vehicle while escorting the United Kingdom Bridge Training Team to a bridge being built in Mosul, Iraq, March 21, 2018. [2] 35th Infantry Division from July 2017. be reflected? 430 Featured. (b) A deployed unit will not wear its assigned SSI as its SSI-FWTS when the SSI belongs to a major command, such as an ACOM/ASCC/DRU or State Area Command, or a non-deployable unit. The 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade plays a key, recently re-energized, role in that focus. Operation Spartan Shield which is lead by Task Force Spartan in the CENTCOM area of responsibility is comprised of Active, Guard, and Reserve units and provides area support and acts as a reserve force for the theater should additional troops be needed in the region. (3) Unless otherwise approved by this regulation, Soldiers attached or under operational control (OPCON) to other services are not authorized to wear their patches as their SSI-FWTS without written approval from DCS, G-1 or a designated representative. Personnel are authorized to wear one of the following organizational SSI: XVIII Airborne Corps; 82d Airborne Division; 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne); 1st Corps Support Command; 20th Engineer Brigade; 35th Signal Brigade; 16th Military Police Brigade; 44th Medical Brigade; 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Ranger Regiment; 2d Battalion (Ranger), 75th Ranger Regiment; and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). For Staff Sgt. Terms of Use 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. Operation Spartan Shield plays a role both in deterring regional aggression and reacting to possible threats within the Middle East. First Class Jacobe Wood has been deployed for active duty before, but he says this time will be different. The deploying soldiers are from A Company in Walnut Ridge and Harrison, B Company from Batesville and Augusta, C Company from West Memphis, Headquarters and Headquarters Co. from Searcy, in addition to a platoon from the Missouri National Guard. The brigade spent its time at the National Training Center last fall, training for decisive action missions, which meant that they were ready for large-scale combat operations. 36th Infantry Division (TXARNG), Jordan U.S. Youll know if you get a patch because your leadership will tell you. From my understanding, OSS falls under OEF and our orders even say we are deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield). Everything I can find online says that you are awarded the GWOTEM for deploying in support of the global war on terrorism and specifically list OEF as . Win Burkett, deputy commanding general of operations, Task Force Spartan. There are no time-in-theater requirements for authorization to wear the SSI-FWTS. OSS is a combined forces contingency operation designed to deter and react to possible threats within the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). (18) Future Operations: Combatant commanders may request wear of the SSI-FWTS for future areas of operation designated and approved by the Secretary of the Army. By Capt. Soldiers who are authorized the SSI-FWTS for periods listed above are also authorized the corresponding combat service ID badge. This training prepared them to assume the role as the maneuver brigade for Task Force Spartan during Operation Spartan Shield. Col. John Woodward, commander of the Greywolf Brigade, said this deployment was unlike any that he had been on in his more than 20-year career. The brigade not only partnered with land forces from Kuwait, but also Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan. Soldiers who were deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than OFS are not authorized the SSI-FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OFS. (c) When echelons below company level (such as teams or squads) deploy, members of these units will wear the SSI of the lowest echelon deployed Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command (based on written orders) as the SSI-FWTS. The Operation Spartan Shield mission alone is enough to keep most brigades busy over a nine-month deployment, but the ongoing fight in Iraq and Syria against ISIS played a significant role in brigade operations and tested Greywolf's ability to respond and execute while maintaining its flexibility. OSS is a follow on operation to OEF. (d) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for wearing the SSI for FWTS. Being deployed is a type of assignment and it is not synominuos word for Hostile fire zone. Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) is a United States Army Central operation in the Middle East. Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) is a USCENTCOM (United States Central Command) . (16) Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR): between 15 June 2014 and a date to be determined, for Soldiers deployed to Iraq, Jordan, or Syria in support of OIR, who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by CENTCOM Command Center-Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration. [citation needed], The 408th Contracting Support Brigade supports contracting requirements for Operation Spartan Shield, described in Army Lawyer as "USARCENT's steady state operation to Build Partner Capacity [that is, to conduct Capacity building) in the Middle East. U.S. Army Title. "They don't grasp the gravity of what's actually going to happen. The 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team ( 30th ABCT [2] or " Old Hickory ") [1] is a modular heavy brigade of the United States Army National Guard. <p>The Crimson Trace Laserguard Pro is a powerful laser sight and LED white light in a single compact unit. If you are wondering if you will be getting the OIR medal/ribbon, no you will not unless you have met the criteria set forth in the regulations. Won't be in kuwait but another area. In Spring 2021, more than 500 Soldiers of the 29th will . More than 3,500 soldiers with the 155th ABCT, which included elements of both the Mississippi and Kansas National Guard, deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield in U.S. Central. The game lags a lot if you don't press pause. The soldiers deploying this week left Boise in two groups, on Tuesday and Wednesday. U.S. Spartan Shield is largely underpinned by an undisclosed chunk of the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) budget, which is not subject to spending caps and has been criticized as a "slush fund" that allows the military to expand regional endeavors at the cost of strategic priorities. Article may contain affiliate links. Copyright HCDMAG.com - All Rights Reserved. - Front sight FOCUS-LOCK ring . My unit just deployed to Kuwait for Operation Spartan Shield. Each day our Soldiers perform their assigned duties at 100% of their ability, not only because its their job, but because they are dedicated to taking care of the Soldiers to their left and right. Department of Defense (DoD) Contingency Operations (Base Budget) FY 2016 President's Budget . I was deployed to Jordan. Greywolf, one of five brigades that fell under Task Force Spartan, provided fire support and maneuver capability to the region while training alongside numerous partner nations to improve interoperability and partner cohesion. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Naval Forces Central (d) Individual Soldiers who are attached (to include OPCON, cross-leveled, assigned, or augmenting deployed units) will wear the same SSI-FWTS worn by members of the deployed Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. Its something that no one will be able to take away from them, and I look forward to seeing each Soldier wear it with pride., Terms of Use I believe my orders grouped it with OEF but I think they use that term for everything in the middle east. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK: Department of Defense (DoD) Contingency Operations (Base Budget) FY 2022 President's Budget . According to AR 670-1, for Combat SSI (combat patch) you can only get it if you are part of Operation Inherent resolve ops. The Battalion was awarded campaign streamers for the defense of Saudi Arabia and the Liberation and Defense of. USA.gov Yeah you're missing the GWOT-EM. The unit features . MORE The service plans to deploy three brigade combat teams, two combat aviation brigades, one division-level headquarters and a security forces assistance brigade to relieve units taking part in. (2) Subdued. I appreciate it. (3) The Vietnam theater, including Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia: between 1 July 1958 and 28 March 1973, both dates inclusive. Authorization to wear a SSI indicating FWTS applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S. Army units that meet the following criteria in subparagraph (1) below: (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. Soldiers will reset their vehicles and reset themselves and be ready for any mission that the Army calls them to next, said Woodward. 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. c. Soldiers who are authorized to wear more than one SSIFWTS have the option of choosing which SSIFWTS they will wear. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. They didn't just come [to Kuwait] and sit in the desert and shoot a couple of gunneries. I'm looking at mine right now and it is so good. The strikes were conducted to support the An M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division engages targets at a company-level combined arms live-fire exercise, May 14, in Wadi Shadiya, Jordan as part of Exe Infantrymen assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conduct squad maneuvers while approaching an objective during a squad live-fire, May 11, in Wadi Shadiya, Jordan as part of Staff Sgt. A zone is typically a chase ensues. b. Check with the unit would be the best way to find out. Army Careers, An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. James Reichhold, who in turn presented patches to his platoon leaders, and finally they placed patches on the rest of the formation. Overseas Service Bar for Operation Spartan Shield. Naval Forces Central, U.S. Central Command Does spartan shield fall under Operation Inherent resolve? Soldiers who served with the USMC during World War II from 15 March 1943 through 2 September 1946 may wear the SSI-FWTS for the designated Marine Corps unit. The SSI-FWTS is presented to Soldiers in units that have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile forces in which they were exposed to the threat of enemy. This is according to Army Regulation 670-1. Soldiers assigned to the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, bound toward an objective during a rehearsal for a live-fire exercise near Alexandria, Egypt, Sept. 10, 2018.. to try to explain to somebody that's still in elementary school that you're going to be gone for, you know, 12 to 13 months in a potentially hazardous area and not be able to come home is kind of the-- it's a hard thing for them to understand.". Soldiers who were deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than OEF are not authorized the SSIFWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to OEF. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Twitter No pushing or feeding pressure is required, leaving your hands free to do other case preparation tasks such as chamfering, deburring or primer pocket cleaning. Isaac Zimmerly. He wants to know if he's authorized to wear the deployment patch for being place in Camp Buehring for his time there. The Laserguard Pro offers four modes of operation: laser + light, laser only, light only and laser + light strobe. Sign up for the Daily 7 newsletter: Your forecast. The ceremony marked a key point in the deployment for the unit assigned to Task Force Spartan in support of Operation Spartan Shield. <p>Having the same improved spring-loaded universal shell holder of the manual trimmer, the Power Case Trimmer features a high torque low RPM motor. The brigade has trained for more than a year in anticipation of this mobilization. A Soldier who is further attached (to one or more units) during one deployment will only wear the SSIFWTS for the first Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. (1) Nonsubdued. Operation Spartan Shield is a joint mission under U.S. Central Command, providing capabilities such as aviation operations, logistics, and . (4) Soldiers of all Army components (Active, ARNG, and USAR) who deploy during periods of service designated for wear of the SSI-FWTS are authorized to wear a SSI-FWTS. Operation Spartan Shield plays a role both in deterring regional aggression and reacting to possible threats within the Middle East. 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. Travis Mueller 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade FORT HOOD, Texas - Despite COVID-19 challenges, Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade completed training at Fort Hood to prepare for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. FOIA, U.S. Air Forces Central The Operation Spartan Shield mission alone is enough to keep most brigades busy over a nine-month deployment, but the ongoing fight in Iraq and Syria against ISIS played a significant role in. Naval Forces Central, Contact Us Tony Cantu , Patch Staff Posted Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 11:08 am CT . (15) Operation New Dawn (OND): between 1 September 2010 and 31 December 2011, both dates inclusive, for Soldiers assigned to units participating in OND. Gwotem is allowed. This is the first time I've done this with a family," Wood said. 352nd Civil Affairs Command (Forward), also known as, Civil Affairs Planning Team (CAPT), from July 2015 to present (?). Lt. Col. Ben Flynn, the 1-35th AR commander, began the ceremony with a short speech on the history of the combat patch and how it was developed during World War I to help identify the different units. B Company, 8:30 a.m., Batesville Armory, 1690 White Dr., Batesville. Just have to wait. Flickr Note: Units are not authorized to modify their SSI or SSIFWTS without prior approval from the DCS, G-1. (c) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. Just a note hazardous duty pay and combat pay are not the same. Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, stand at attention to receive their shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, commonly referred to as a combat patch, in a ceremony in Southwest Asia, Nov. 26, 2020. "He's everything to us and he does everything out there. The Vietnam War was a conflict in Southeast Asia between South Vietnam and North Vietnam in which North Vietnam wanted to reunite the two countries under its Communist government. a. We are not just professionally better, but personally better. Only Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and briefly UAE get the patch now in the middle east iirc. Is someone authorized a deployment patch for being placed in Camp Buerhing during Oper? Operation Torch Now! The 212th Combat Operational Stress Control, supported five different missions in 2020. (5) Grenada, to include the Green and Carriacou Islands: between 24 October 1983 and 21 November 1983, both dates inclusive. The U.S. Army's 511th Engineer Dive Detachment, from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, deployed eight Soldiers to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield 2023 in support of Task Force Spartan. Press Kit [ Read More] Army Careers, U.S. Air Forces Central BUT YOU CANT GET IT IF YOU ARE NOT DEPLOYED. I'm sure it will be in the future though, and be backdated. The exercises helped develop capabilities and partnerships, as well as gave young Soldiers the opportunity to experience other cultures, said McCarthy. Not only was the Brigade responsible for conducting partnership exercises, but it also maintained ready-to-deploy elements that could be sent anywhere within the AO on a moment's notice. My understanding is tha OSS is a component operation of OFS. U.S. Central Command ALPENA, Mich.. A sendoff for the members of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is Wednesday morning in Boise. Raptor was established in . No FEAR Act When TFX PRO sights immediately took off and gained critical acclaim we noticed that the world of TRITIUM night sights needed a similar upgrade. DVIDS, U.S. Air Forces Central While their mission is very important, its the easy part. My unit didn't receive a patch all though we supported OEF. Every battalion within the brigade played a role in the support to the coalition -- from combat, to logistics, to advise and assist, and route clearance. Alpha Company Soldiers known as, Team Annihilator, held their ceremony at a remote outpost where they are assigned to security operations. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She recently earned her master's degree at a physicians assistant graduate, As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. a. It is pretty much covered by the GWOT-E. He wants to know if he's authorized to wear the deployment patch for being place in Camp Buehring for his time there. (9) Panama: between 20 December 1989 and 31 January 1990 for Soldiers assigned to the following units who participated in Operation Just Cause: XVIII Airborne Corps; U.S. Army Special Operations Command; U.S. Army South; 7th Infantry Division (Light); 82d Airborne Division; 5th Infantry Division (M); 1st Special Operations Command; 193d Infantry Brigade; 1st Corps Support Command; 16th Military Police Brigade; 18th Aviation Brigade; 35th Signal Brigade; 7th Special Forces Group; 75th Ranger Regiment; 1st , 2d, and 3d Battalions, 75th Ranger Regiment; 470th Military Intelligence Brigade; 525th Military Intelligence Brigade; 44th Medical Brigade; 1109th Signal Brigade; Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command; and Criminal Investigation Command. Army Staff Sgt. Muslim governments and populations in the Trans-Sahara region to combat the spread of extremist ideology and terrorism in the region. How do we control direct and indirect fires? Operation SPARTAN SHIELD (OSS)/1 - 445,452 - TOTAL 1,259,502 1,661,128 1,276,754. We get Hazard Pay for MANY assignments, none of which are Combat Zones. 2022 Objectives Prior to deploying, Greywolf received an order directing some elements of the brigade to be sent to support the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve and their Iraqi Security Force partners in the fight against ISIS. One of the most dynamic regions of the world, this AO has tremendous impact on U.S. vital interests - specifically the free flow of resources through key shipping lanes, the defense of our homeland against the pervasive and persistent threat of terrorism and extremism, and the prevention of the proliferation of WMD. "One; we did a very stressful, realistic train-up to get here and when we got here performed flawlessly in support of OIR as well as made our partner nations stronger because of the training we provided them. I was in Kuwait in 2014-15. 1st Class Darryl Honick work together to control coordination efforts with a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super. One of the units that rotated Soldiers into Iraq was the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment. Tag: Operation Spartan Shield New Mexico Guard's 3631st Signal Company Ends Deployment November 17, 2022 RIO RANCHO, N.M. - Approximately 30 Soldiers from the 3631st Signal Company have reunited with their families, ending a deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to support. Steam Workshop: Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Tracking. Your news. [2] 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division until November 2017. The Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division "Iron Eagles" was first constituted April 16, 1986, at Ansbach, Germany. Look up AR 600-8-22, some shithouse unit can't override Army regs. The unit deployed teams in support of Kosovo Force, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Spartan Shield, and COVID-19 Response. Operation Spartan Shield Subscribe 14 Media Request Operation Spartan Shield builds partner capacity in the Middle East to promote regional self-reliance and increase security. Thanks. Through Operation Spartan Shield (OSS), Task Force Spartan maintains a U.S. military posture in Southwest Asia sufficient to strengthen our defense relationships and build partner capacity. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. When we came back we were told OSS doesn't qualify for the GWOTEM and will not award it to anyone in the unit. Privacy and Security Soldiers must have been assigned or attached to, or under the OPCON of, a unit whose mission was direct support to Operation Desert Storm; they must have received imminent danger pay and had been under the command and control of the U.S. Army Element of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). It absolutely is allowed. ", US Army artillery enhances Iraqi ground forces' capability from Hamam al-Alil, Greywolf kicks up dust, builds partnership in multinational exercise, Earned not given: Cav Soldiers battle exhaustion, the elements, the standard, Cavalry Troopers promote partnership, interoperability at Bright Star 2017, Up, up and away: Cavalry Soldiers conduct air assault training with Kuwaiti partners. Authorization applies only to members of the Army who were assigned to the designated location overseas with U.S. Army organizations during the following periods: (1) World War II: between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1946, both dates inclusive. ago "I got some visuals at home for the kids to kind of count the days down and be there for each other," she said. Timothy Luke Manchester died while supporting Operation Spartan Shield in Southwest Asia, military officials said. The batteries provided fire support as well as force protection for the coalition. Check out Task Force Spartan on social media! The exercises ranged from simulated command post exercises to force-on-force and combined arms live-fires. Following the speech, Flynn bestowed the honor on the Alpha Company commander, Cpt. 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, was in Kuwait, now in Syria September 2020, to protect the troops there. Should a Kuwait deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield (2015?) Edit: you can also get a patch for going to turkey. The ongoing OSS operation is supported primarily by Army National Guard units from around the country. You are 100% wrong..Kuwait is NOT listed as a Combat Zone. Mark Scovell You were not in imminent danger in Kuwait, which is why you do not qualify for one. Additionally, Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Forces Patriot Defender, Elusive Concept, and Proven Force are authorized to wear SSIFWTS even though they were not under the command and control of the U.S. Army Element of CENTCOM. TOTAL 1,142,857 1,117,341 970,545 . Gen. "This mission is pretty diverse where we have everything from the range of full combat operations to theater security cooperation missions where we are conducting training with our partners in the region," he said. U.S. Haiti UPHOLD DEMOCRACY 16 Sep 1994 - 31 Mar 1995 Bosnia-Herzegovina & Croatia. Sundays departure ceremonies for the deploying companies are scheduled as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 9:30 a.m., Searcy Armory, 3105 South Main St., Searcy. (8) Persian Gulf: between 27 July 1987 and 1 August 1990 for Soldiers assigned or attached to, or under the OPCON of, a unit whose mission was direct support to Operation Earnest Will. If you arent getting the extra pay, you arent getting the patch. 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 CenterJoint Staff for Personnel and Administration. Everything I can find online says that you are awarded the GWOTEM for deploying in support of the global war on terrorism and specifically list OEF as qualifying.
