Members of the Army National Guard (ARGN) and United States Army Reserve (USAR) who successfully complete a training period of at least ten consecutive days on foreign soil are eligible for the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (ARCOTR), sometimes informally called the Army Reserve Overseas Service ribon. Established in July, 1984 by Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, the ARCOTR is a training ribbon and, as such, does not conflict with other decorations or service medals.
The overseas training can be either annual training or active duty for training, and all Soldiers who accompany the unit to which they are assigned or attached as active duty for operational support during training also qualify for the ARCOTR. Active Guard Reserve (AGR) personnel not assigned to a Troop Program unit who are ordered overseas in support of operations of RC units are also eligible for the award, but they must spend ten consecutive days overseas; AGR personnel overseas for other reasons do not qualify for the ARCOTR.
When calculating the number of days that can be credited toward ARCOTR eligibility, the day of departure counts, but the return day does not. Overseas is defined as outside the 50 States, District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions and territories; the ten consecutive days must be spent in the performance of duties in conjunction with Active Army, Joint services, or Allied Forces.
Soldiers may earn more than one ARCOTR, with numerals used to indicate second and subsequent awards of the ribbon.