PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            29 July 1999      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998013379

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Kenneth Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Charles H. Loundermon		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 be corrected to show that he received two awards of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), vice one; that he received two awards of the Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM), vice one; that he received two awards of the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation; that he received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and that form reflect orders authorizing the shoulder sleeve insignia for wartime service.  He also requests that his DD Form 214 show that he completed the special forces assessment and selection course, the combat leadership course, the vehicle operator safety course, and the doppier radar course; and that the remark showing that he completed the air assault course in 1990 be deleted.  He requests that block 15a of that form show that he did contribute to the post-Vietnam era veteran’s educational assistance program (VEAP).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 should be corrected as requested and he submits supporting documentation as evidence.   

4.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the he entered active duty on                17 September 1987 and was discharged on 9 October 1995.  He had 8 years and 23 days of service.  His DD Form 214 does not show the awards that he is requesting; and does not show completion of courses that he requests to be added to this form.  That form also shows that he did not contribute to the post-Vietnam VEAP. 

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal on 13 January 1992 and again on 1 September 1995.  He was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) on 2 July 1992 for services rendered in support of the Haitian migrant humanitarian relief operations.  The applicant was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) on          8 June 1993 for his participation in Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope. 

6.  The applicant was a member of Unified Task Force Somalia which was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for the period 5 December 1992 to      4 May 1993.     

7.  The applicant submits a copy of a 6 June 1995 order from the Joint Staff awarding the Joint Meritorious Unit Medal to Joint Task Force 160 from             20 May 1994 to 19 May 1995, and a copy of a 19 June 1995 memorandum from the Joint Staff authorizing award of the HSM for those personnel assigned to 

Joint Task Force 160 during the period 20 May 1994 to 19 May 1995; and he submits a copy of a 29 August 1994 manifest report, which includes his name, with a destination of Guantanamo, however, that manifest does not show that he or his assigned unit were part of that task force.

8.  The applicant submits certificates showing that he completed a special forces assessment and selection course, a light fighter combat leader course, a one week radar operator course conducted by the state of Oklahoma, and a one day vehicle operator course.  He submits copies of pay vouchers showing that he contributed $100.00 monthly to the GI bill from October 1987 to September 1988.

9.  He also submits a copy of a message authorizing the wear of the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service for those personnel participating in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia on or after 5 December 1992.

10.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that item 14 (military education) will list formal in service training courses successfully completed, e.g., medical, dental, electronics, supply, administrative, personnel, or heavy equipment, during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills are not listed.

11.  The aforementioned regulation states in pertinent part that item 13 of the   DD Form 214 will reflect decorations received during all periods of military service.  The shoulder sleeve insignia denoting former wartime service is considered a uniform item, like overseas service bars, and therefore is not recorded on the DD Form 214.  Additionally, there are no orders issued authorizing the wear of the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service.  The mere fact that a soldier was assigned to an area authorizing the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service during the period of authorization is sufficient to begin wearing the unit patch associated with that assignment on the right shoulder of the military uniform. 

12.  The VEAP was an educational incentive program offered to individuals who enlisted between 1 January 1977 and 30 June 1985.  The program was designed for post-Vietnam era soldiers as a means of establishing a fund to support their educational objectives following their military service.  For every dollar contributed by a soldier, the government matched with a two dollar contribution to the individual's VEAP account.  Participation in the VEAP was a voluntary option and was replaced, in July 1985, by the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund Program.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant received two awards of the Army Commendation Medal.  Both of these awards should be indicated on his DD Form 214.  He was also awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and was a member of Unified Task Force Somalia, which was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.  Both those awards should be reflected on his DD Form 214.  

2.  The evidence submitted by the applicant does not show that he was assigned to Joint Task Force 160 from 20 May 1994 to 19 May 1995, notwithstanding the documents that he submits with his application.  He is therefore not entitled to a second award of the Joint Meritorious Unit Medal or a second award of the Humanitarian Service Medal. 

3.  There is no provision for an entry of a remark showing award of shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service on the DD Form 214.       

4.  The courses that the applicant completed are not appropriate for entry on his DD Form 214.   

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that he enlisted after 30 June 1985, and therefore did not participate in the VEAP.  The entry so indicating is correct on this DD Form 214.

6.  The applicant has stated that he did not complete an air assault course in October 1990.  That remark should be deleted from his DD Form 214.

7.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, 1st oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Medal.  That his DD Form 214 also be corrected by deleting the remark showing that the completed the air assault course in October 1990. 

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied. 

BOARD VOTE:  

___chl__  __slp___  __clg___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013379	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990729	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 100.07		
2. 110.00		
3. 107.00		
4.		
5.		
6.