USAF Overseas Short and Long Tour
Service Ribbon Display Recognition
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Sample Display Recognitions
You have three display types to choose from: Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display
Black & White (No Color)
Document Only
Heavy Bond Enclosure
Heavy Bond Enclosure
Trimmed in Appearance Gold
This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions. You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:
Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment. |
Personnel Branch
Processing and Delivery
Style | Price | Shipping | Total | Full Color .PDF (Printable) | $7.50 | Emailed | $7.50 | Published Document only (Full Color) | $14.00 | $10.77 USPS | $24.77 | Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) | $19.00 | $10.77 USPS | $29.77 | Full Color Printable Certificates on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates) |
$7.50 | $7.50 | By Count |
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You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...
(* Upon reception of required documentation)
Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
Don't forget to include a copy of your DD-214 or other pre-arranged document(s).
Email: USAF Overseas Short Tour Recognition Inquiry
Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)
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Issue Regulations: Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour)
Click here for Long Tour Issue Regulations
Establishing Authority
Click for larger image The Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour) was established on October 12, 1980, by the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Lew Allen, Jr.
Effective Dates
When originally established in 1980 no criteria was set for retroactivity which made the OSST retroactive to WW2 AAF personnel. In 1986 the Air Force re-set retroactivity to allow any current active or Reserve member who served overseas prior to 1980 to be authorized the ribbon.
Criteria
This ribbon is awarded to Air Force members credited with completion of an overseas assignment defined as a "short tour" by Air Force regulations and that is not recognized by any other medal or ribbon.
Order of Precedence
This ribbon is worn after the Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal and before the Overseas Service Ribbon (Long Tour).
Restrictions
The Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour) may not be worn on the Navy or Marine Corps uniform.
Devices
Additional awards are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters (a silver oak leaf cluster denotes a sixth award).
Additional awards are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters.
A Short Tour is whatever the Air Force determines it to be. A Short Tour is shorter than a normal tour for any given assignment area.
Example Number One:
If a normal tour of duty to Siberia is 12 months (which is the minimum requirement for receiving the Siberian Service Medal) but you were sent on special assignment to Siberia to be there only 4 months you would be eligible for the Short Tour Ribbon but not the Siberian Service Medal. Also, if your 4 month tour was extended to 5 months (or 4 months and 1 day) you would be eligible for the Long Tour Ribbon, but again, not the Siberian Service Medal because you were not in Siberia for 12 months (which is the criteria for receiving the Siberian Service Medal).
Example Number Two:
The Air Force has designated a normal overseas tour of duty to be 18 months. You receive orders to spend 10 months in Roguestan where:
Upon completing your 10 months in Roguestan you are eligible for the Short Tour Ribbon. However, if you agree to spend any additional days, weeks or months in Roguestan beyond your 10 month assignment you will be eligible for the Long Tour Ribbon... unless you remained in Roguestan for 12 or months at which point you would be eligible for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. (Both your Short and Long Tour ribbons for Roguestan service would automatically be voided/rescinded at the point you became eligible for the AFEM medal. [Long or Short tour ribbons awarded for other service areas/periods would remain valid.])
Additional awards are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters (a silver oak leaf cluster denotes a sixth award).
Issue Regulations: Overseas Service Ribbon (Long Tour)
Establishing Authority
Click for larger imageEstablishing Authority
The Overseas Service Ribbon (Long Tour) was established on October 12, 1980, by the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Lew Allen, Jr.
Effective Dates
When originally established in 1980 no criteria was set for retroactivity which made the OSST retroactive to WW2 AAF personnel. In 1986 the Air Force re-set retroactivity to allow any current active or Reserve member who served overseas prior to 1980 to be authorized the ribbon.
Criteria
This ribbon is awarded to Air Force members credited with completion of an overseas assignment defined as a "long tour" by Air Force regulations and that is not recognized by any other medal or ribbon.
Order of Precedence
This ribbon is worn after the Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour) and before the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon.
Restrictions
The Overseas Service Ribbon (Long Tour) may not be worn on the Navy or Marine Corps uniform.
Devices
Additional awards are denoted by bronze oak leaf clusters (a silver oak leaf cluster denotes a sixth award).