Authorization: SECNAVINST 1650.35 of 26 January 1981.

Eligibility Requirements:

(1) General. Awarded to officer and enlisted personnel of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Each service has distinct criteria that delineates eligibility; Navy personnel assigned to Marine Corps units follow Marine Corps policy, and vice versa.

(2) Specific

(a) For Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska) homeported ships/deploying units or Fleet Marine Force (FMF) commands, 12-months accumulated sea duty or duty with FMF which includes at least one 90- consecutive day deployment. A standard 14-day waiver of the 12- month accumulated sea duty/duty with FMF is authorized as long as the 90-consecutive day deployment requirement is met. The 12-month accumulated sea duty requirement is waived for those Navy and Marine personnel who were called to sea duty or deployed for Operations DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM (during the period 2 Aug 90 - 31 Dec 91) to qualify for this initial award. This waiver does not affect second and subsequent awards of this ribbon. Second and subsequent awards will be earned for each additional 12-months of qualifying service in which a 90- consecutive day deployment occurs.

(b) For Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to overseas homeported ships/deploying units or FMF commands, SECNAVINST 1650.1G 12-months accumulated sea duty or duty with the FMF. For those in this category, the 90-day deployment is not required. Second and subsequent awards will be earned for each additional 12- month period of qualifying service. In addition, for Navy units only, the SSDR does not conflict with the Overseas Service Ribbon after 01 October 1999.

(c) Changes to deployment patterns to meet operational commitments within fiscal constraints have resulted in the reduction of some service force ships deployment lengths to less than 90 days with an increase in the frequency of deployments. Consequently and effective 18 October 1991, the awarding of the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon to members of units that complete two deployments of at least 80 days each within a given 12-month period is authorized. This change is not retroactive.

(d) The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon will be awarded retroactive to 15 August 1974. Only one award may be earned for the period 15 August 1974 to 1 January 1979 regardless of the number of years of sea duty or number of deployments made.

(e) No subsequent changes to the SSDR requirements are retroactive to meet individual eligibility.

Definitions:

(1) Sea Duty. Duty performed in commissioned vessels or units which operate away from their homeport/homebase for extended periods.

(2) Deployable Units. A ship (USN, USNS), aircraft squadron, detachment, battalion or other unit which operates away from its assigned homeport/homebase for a period of at least 90 consecutive days.

(3) Deployment. Either a period of at least 90 consecutive days with a deployed unit or two deployments of at least 80 days each with a given 12-month period. No waivers of this requirement will be made.

Examples of Qualifying and Disqualifying Service:

(1) A person who serves in TAD status with a U.S. SECNAVINST 1650.1G homeported ship/deploying unit or FMF commands may qualify upon accumulation of 12-months sea duty or duty with FMF commands. Such duty must include at least one 90-consecutive day deployment.

(2) A person who serves in TAD status with an overseas homeported ship/deploying unit or FMF command may qualify upon accumulation of 12-months duty with such ships or units.

(3) A person who first reported to a ship homeported in Norfolk on 1 July 1978, completed a deployment on 1 December 1978 will establish eligibility on 1 July 1979.

(4) A person who served on a ship or deploying unit homeported overseas from 1 January 1975 to 1 January 1979 will only be eligible for one award.

(5) A person who served on a ship or deployed unit homeported overseas from 30 June 1977 to 30 June 1980 will be eligible for two awards, i.e., the initial award for the period ending 1 January 1979 and a second award for service ending 1 January 1980.

(6) A person who is attached to a U.S. homebased Marine unit which goes on one rotational deployment for 6 months and remains with that unit for 2 years will rate only one award because of the single deployment.

(7) A person who is transferred to the 3RD Marine Division, completes first 1-year tour and extends for 12 months will be eligible for two awards -- one for the first tour and one for the 12-month extension.

(8) A person who is attached to a U.S. homeported ship for 1 year subsequent to 1 January 1979 but does not deploy for 90 consecutive days is not eligible. The same person is then given Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to another U.S. homeported ship and immediately goes on a deployment. This person will be eligible upon the completion of the 90-day deployment.

(9) A person having served 12 months on a ship homeported in Newport, Rhode Island during which time the ship deployed for 30 days and immediately proceeded to Portsmouth, Virginia for an SECNAVINST 1650.1G overhaul of 185 days duration and then returns to Newport does not qualify.

(10) A person assigned on PCS orders to the Naval Air Station, Guam serving on shore duty that counts as sea duty will not be eligible for the ribbon regardless of the length of time assigned. The Overseas Service Ribbon is applicable.

(11) A person who is assigned to Marine Corps Base (MCB), Camp Lejeune, goes TAD to Marine Division for 5 months, completes a 90-consecutive day deployment and returns to MCB Camp Lejeune upon completion of the deployment will not be eligible because 1 year was not spent with a FMF unit. Upon completion of an additional 7 months FMF duty, the person will qualify for the award.

(12) A person who is assigned to 2ND Marine Division for a 3-year tour of duty but never completes a 90-consecutive day deployment will not be eligible.

(13) A Marine who is assigned to a Marine Detachment aboard a U.S. homeported ship which does not make a 90-consecutive day deployment will not be eligible.

(14) A person who is assigned to MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa will not be eligible since it is not an FMF unit.

(15) A Marine who is attached to a Marine Detachment aboard a ship homeported overseas will be eligible upon completion of 12-months sea duty.

(16) A person assigned to a 36-months accompanied tour overseas with the FMF will be eligible for three awards.

(17) A Marine whose 12 months overseas FMF tour is terminated early but who receives full credit for his/her tour in under Marine Corps Order P1070.12H (NOTAL) is eligible for the award.

(18) A person assigned to a ship that has made two deployments of 80 days or more with any 12-month period after 18 October 1991 is eligible for the award.

Awarding Authority:

Commanding officers determine eligibility from service records, affidavits or upon completion of SECNAVINST 1650.1G eligibility requirements at current command and make appropriate service record entries for enlisted personnel and issue letters of eligibility for officer personnel. No citation or certificate will be issued.