PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                12 August 1999
DOCKET NUMBER:       AR1998012755

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. James M. Alward		Member	
	Ms. Meta Waller		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 award of the Multinational Force and Observer Medal and correction of his records to show six months of foreign service in the Sinai, two Army Achievement Medals, completion of the Unit Armorer Course, and Expert Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

3.  The applicant states the aforementioned items were left off of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 27 December 1990 and completed training as an infantryman and a parachutist.  He was honorably discharged on 24 April1995.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Multinational Force and Observer Medal as an authorized award.  The applicant submitted an unsigned certificate showing that he served in the Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers from January 1993 to July 1993.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s records which shows that he completed any overseas or foreign service.  However, review of the applicant’s military Leave and Earnings Statements revealed that he received foreign duty pay for the period 26 January 1993 through 19 July 1993, a total of 5 months and 24 days.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows no years, months or days in item 12f (Foreign Service).  

7.  The applicant provided an award certificate for the Army Achievement Medal which shows the applicant received this award based on Headquarters, 1-504 Parachute Infantry Regiment (82d Airborne Division) Permanent orders 31-02, dated 3 June 1994.  The applicant provided a second award certificate for the Army Achievement Medal which shows the applicant received this award based on Headquarters, 1-504 Parachute Infantry Regiment (82d Airborne Division) Permanent orders 6-10, dated 18 June 1995.  Only one award of the Army Achievement Medal is shown on the applicant’s DD Form 214.

8.  The applicant provided a Department of the Army Certificate of Training which shows that he completed the Unit Armorer Course (80 hours) on 17 December 1993.

9.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) that he was authorized the “Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar”.  There is no evidence in the records available to the Board which shows that he qualified as an expert with the rifle.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) Medal which was accepted by the President on 28 July 1982.  To qualify for the award, personnel must have served with the MFO at least 90 days cumulative after 3 August 1981. Effective 15 March 1985, personnel must serve six months (170 days minimum) with the MFO to qualify for the award.  Periods of service on behalf of the MFO outside of the Sinai and periods of leave while a member is serving with the MFO may be counted toward eligibility for the MFO medal.  If an individual has not completed a cumulative six month tour, then he or she is not eligible for award of the MFO medal unless the award is to be made posthumously, the member is medically evacuated due to service incurred injuries or serious illness,  or the member is withdrawn at the request of the parent government for national service reasons under honorable conditions.  Qualifying time for award of the MFO medal may be lost for disciplinary reasons.

11.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that foreign service performed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 will be entered in item 12f.  The regulation also states that the amount of foreign service will be taken from the soldier’s Enlisted Qualification Record or, if necessary, verified from the soldier’s Military Personnel Records Jacket.

12.  The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of a certain decorations, among which is the Army Achievement Medal.

13.  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 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.

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of basic marksmanship qualification badge.  The qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course, and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which the individual has qualified.  The qualification badges are in three classes:  Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served a period of qualifying service from 26 January 1993 through 19 July 1993 required for award of the Multinational Force and Observers Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Multinational Force and Observers Medal and correction of his records to show this award.
2.  The applicant’s pay records verify that he served 5 months and 24 days of foreign service as a member of the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show in item 12f the entry “00 05 24”.

3.  The applicant was awarded two Army Achievement Medals; however, only one is shown on the applicant’s DD Form 214.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to award of the Army Achievement Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster). 

4.  Evidence of record shows the applicant completed the Unit Armorer Course which was 80 hours or 2 weeks in duration in December 1993.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of item 14 (Military Education) on his DD Form 214 to show the entry “Unit Armorer Course (2 weeks) December 1993”.

5.  The Board notes that the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) shows that he is authorized the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was awarded to the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar or that he qualified as an expert with the rifle.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

6.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Multinational Force and Observers Medal for the period of qualifying service from 26 January 1993 through 19 July 1993;

b.  by correcting item 12f (Foreign Service) of his DD Form 214 to show the entry “00 05 24”;

c.  by showing he received two awards of the Army Achievement Medal (Army Achievement Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster); and 

d.  by showing in item 14 (Military Education) the entry “Unit Armorer Course (2 weeks) December 1993”.
2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied 

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  JMA____  MW_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012755	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990812	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19950424	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	ETS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	100.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.