PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:                              
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC9810558

	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	
	M .		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. 		Chairperson	
	Mr. 		Member	
	Mr. 		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 correction of his DD Form 214 to show he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal (AAM) 5th oak leaf cluster.

3.  The applicant states the AAM was received after the DD Form 214 was completed.  He attaches a copy of his AAM orders.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 April 1990 after having had some prior active service.  He was discharged on 13 February 1995 to accept a warrant in the Army.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the AAM 3d oak leaf cluster.

5.  The DA Form 638-1 shows the applicant was recommended for award of the AAM 5th oak leaf cluster; his previous awards included the AAM second award; and his approved award was the AAM 4th oak leaf cluster.

6.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Military Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command.  The Military Awards Branch reviewed the applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), which revealed he had received four awards of the AAM (AAM 3d oak leaf cluster) prior to his separation on 13 February 1995.  There was no evidence on his OMPF to document a fifth award, or 4th oak leaf cluster, of the AAM.  That Branch did recommend his DD Form 214 be corrected to show he was awarded the AAM 4th oak leaf cluster.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The DA Form 638-1 has three bits of contradictory information on it concerning the applicant’s AAM.

2.  The applicant’s OMPF shows that prior to his discharge on 13 February 1995 he had been awarded four awards of the AAM (AAM 3d oak leaf cluster).

3.  The applicant has provided no evidence to show he was ever awarded an AAM 4th oak leaf cluster prior to his discharge.

4.  The applicant’s approved separation award was for the AAM 4th oak leaf cluster, which fits with the evidence of his OMPF.

5.  In view of the foregoing, it would be proper to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That the applicant’s DD Form 214 be corrected to delete the Army Achievement Medal 3d oak leaf cluster and to add the Army Achievement Medal 4th oak leaf cluster.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

________  ________  ________  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON