MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           24 November 1998                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10350

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

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi 		Member	
	Mr. Robert W. Garrett		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his records be corrected to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism , the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Armed Forces Service Medal and the Senior Parachutist Badge. 

APPLICANT STATES:  That he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal which was awarded to all special forces group personnel for service in Kuwait.  He states he is entitled to the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism and the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service in El Salvador while he was on temporary duty during the period 1987 to 1989 and the Armed Forces Service Medal for service in Egypt.  He claims he is entitled to the Senior Parachutist Badge, but it was not placed on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show that he entered active duty on15 October 1982 with 4 years, 1 month and 16 days of prior active service.  His specialty was intelligence.  He served in Panama from 19 April 1987 to 13 March 1989; Southwest Asia from 5 to 23 February 1992 and in Egypt from 3 to 19 November 1993.  He requested voluntarily early retirement and was honorably separated on 30 November 1996 and was placed on the retired list the following day.

The applicant’s DA Form 214 does not show the BSM, the ARCOM(V), the CIB, the AFSM or the Senior Parachutist Badge as authorized awards.  There is no indication he served in El Salvador.

There is no indication in his personnel records that he was recommended or awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism, or the Combat Infantryman Badge.  There also is no indication that he completed qualifying service for award of the Armed Forces Service Medal or met qualification for the Senior Parachutist Badge. 

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.  Recommendations must be made within 2 years or the event or period of service and the award must be made within 3 years.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after              6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), indicates, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry military occupational specialty. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit or brigade, regimental or smaller size.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) indicates, in pertinent part, that the Armed Forces Service Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, after 1 June 1992, participate, or have participated, as members of U.S. military units, in a U.S. military operation that is deemed to be a significant activity; and encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action.  To qualify for award of the AFSM, service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating for one or more days in the operation within the designated area of eligibility, must be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility (or for the full period when an operation is of less than       30 days duration), or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided that support involves entering the area of eligibility.  Currently, this award has been authorized for service in the former Republic of Yugoslavia (Operation Joint Endeavor) during the period 1 June 1982 to 19 December 1996 and Operation Joint Guard from 20 December 1995 to a date yet to be determined.  In addition, it was authorized for service in Haiti.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of the Senior Parachutist Badge.  Award of the Senior Parachutist Badge requires a rating of excellent in conduct and efficiency, completion of 30 jumps (15 with combat equipment, two night jumps with one as jump master, two mass tactical jumps culminating in an airborne assault problem), graduation from the Jumpmaster Course, and service on jump status for at least 24 months.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  There is no evidence of record showing the applicant was recommended for or that orders were published awarding him the Bronze Star Medal: therefore, he is not entitled to the award.

2.  There is no evidence of record showing the applicant was recommended for or that orders were published awarding him the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism; therefore, he is not entitled to the award.

3.  There is no evidence of record showing the applicant was qualified for or had orders published awarding the Combat Infantryman Badge; therefore, he is not entitled to the award.  Additionally, during the period in question, his branch was intelligence, not infantry.

4.  There is no evidence of record showing the applicant was qualified for or had orders published awarding the Armed Forces Service Medal; therefore, he is not entitled to the award.  In addition, there is no evidence he served in a qualifying zone.

5.  There is no evidence of record showing the applicant was qualified for or had orders published awarding the Senior Parachutist Badge.

6.  In order to justify correction of a military record, the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

7.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

GDP____  CLA_____  RWG___  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						       Director