PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            2 December 1998                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10637

	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. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		Member	
	Mr. John H. Kern		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 records be corrected to show award of any overseas service ribbons or awards to which he might be entitled.

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows 1 year and 5 months of overseas service.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 14 December 1966. He served in Germany during the period 28 May 1967 to 24 November 1968.  He was honorably separated on 26 November 1968.

5.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Good Conduct Medal, which is not shown on his separation document.

6.  The applicant’s records do not show he completed a period of qualifying service for award of the Overseas Service Ribbon.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) shows the Overseas Service Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981.  The regulation states, in pertinent part, that effective 1 August 1981, all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for the award for successful completion of overseas tours.  The award may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981 and the overseas service is not recognized with another U.S. service medal.  Numerals are used to denote the second and subsequent awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant did not serve a period of qualifying service for the Overseas Service Ribbon.

2.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal based on completion of a period of service ending with termination of Federal service.

3.  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 awarding the individual concerned the Good Conduct Medal for the period 14 December 1966 to 26 November 1968.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  GDP____  JHK_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON