PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           22 October 1998    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10645

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Member	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell 		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 military records to show award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM).

3.  The applicant states he served in Kuwait during March and April 1994.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he entered active duty on 1 June 1992. He trained as a combat engineer, served in Germany for 36 months and was separated with an honorable discharge on 30 September 1995.  

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) does not show the SWASM as an authorized award.

6.  The Defense Manpower Desert Shield/Desert Storm Data Base shows the applicant served in Southwest Asia from 1 September 1993 through 
31 October 1993. 

7.  The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) compiled the Desert Shield/Storm Data Base.  The primary Desert Shield/Storm file contains one record for each active duty member who participated in-theater between 2 August 1990 and 31 July 1991 and one record for each Reservist, National Guard member or retiree who was activated or federalized in response to Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  For Reservists and Guard members the file includes those persons activated or federalized from 2 August 1990 through 31 December 1991.  A Phase II file lists active duty personnel who served in-theater between 1 August 1991 and 31 December 1993.  There are also separate files covering calendar years 1994 and 1995.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that service in the Persian Gulf War is to be recognized by award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) to Army members who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the designated area on or after 2 August 1990.  A bronze service star is authorized for the Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991) and the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991, and the Cease-fire Campaign (12 April 1991 to 30 October 1995).

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Notwithstanding the applicant’s contention that he served in Kuwait during March and April 1994, records show he served in Southwest Asia from 
1 September 1993 through 31 October 1993.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the SWASM.  

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the SWASM.

BOARD VOTE:  

JH_____  FKM_____  SLP_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON