PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:        9 December 1998       
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-12593
			              AR1998012218

	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	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Member	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		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 military records be corrected to reflect award of a Bronze Star Medal, two overseas service bars and an expert qualification badge for the rifle.  He also asks that his infantryman advanced individual training course and completion of the NCO-Leadership Preparation Course (LPC) be reflected on his separation document.  He notes that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in October 1967 and qualified as an expert on the rifle in June 1966.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant was inducted and entered active duty on 19 April 1966.  He successfully completed basic training and was then assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana were he completed a 2 week leadership course and the 8 week infantry advanced individual training course.

4.  The applicant was assigned to Vietnam in October 1966 where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.  Shortly before his departure from Vietnam he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service for the period October 1966 through October 1967. The award was confirmed in orders issued by the 1st Cavalry Division.  Although the other awards are reflected on his separation document the Bronze Star Medal was omitted.

5.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (enlisted qualification record) indicates the applicant completed a familiarization course with the M-14 rifle in September 1967 and qualified as a sharp shooter with the M-16 automatic rifle in August 1967.  There is no evidence confirming that he qualified as an expert with the rifle prior to his separation from active.

6.  On 24 January 1968 the applicant was released from active duty in pay grade 
E-5 , with 1 year, 9 months, and 6 days of active federal service.

7.  Army Regulation 635-5, which establishes the policies and provisions for the preparation and distribution of the DD Form 214 indicates that in-service training course of at least one weeks duration may be recorded in item 25 (education and training completed) on the separation document.  However, overseas service bars, issued to denote 6 months of service in an overseas area are considered uniform items and as such are noted recorded in the awards and decoration portion of the separation document.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.  There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him for award of the Good Conduct Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during the period October 1966 through October 1967 and as such is entitled to have the award reflected on his separation document.

2.  The evidence also confirms the applicant successfully completed a 2 week NCO-Leadership Preparation Course in July 1966 and an 8 week infantryman advanced individual training course in September 1966.  Both course may be recorded in item 25 (education) on his DD Form 214.

3.  Although the applicant contends he qualified as an expert on the rifle there is no evidence to support that contention and as such no basis for the Board to correct his record to reflect that level of qualification.  However, his record does show that his last qualification on the rifle was as a sharpshooter, not as a marksman.

4.  While the applicant may be entitled to two overseas service bars because those items are considered uniform items and not individual decorations they are not recorded on his separation document.

5.  The Board notes that the applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Good Conduct Medal on 24 June 1968 when he was released from active duty.  There is no evidence in available records which would serve as a basis to deny award of the Good Conduct Medal.  As such the applicant should be awarded the Good Conduct Medal for the period 19 April 1966 through 24 January 1968.

6.  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:

	a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during the period October 1966 through October 1967;

	b.  by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 19 April 1966 through 24 January 1968; 

	c.  by showing that he is entitled to a sharpshooter, rather than marksman, badge for the rifle; and

	d.  by showing in item 25 (education) of his DD Form 214 that he completed a 2 week NCO-Leadership Preparation Course at Fort Polk, Louisiana in June 1966 and the 8 week infantryman advanced individual training course at Fort Polk in July 1966.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__jh____  __fne___  ___tbr__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON