MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:                              
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-11874

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. 		Chairperson	
	Mr. 		Member	
	Mr. 		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 that he was awarded the Air Medal and the Aircraft Crewman Badge.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he captured three enemy soldiers.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 20 February 1967.  Following completion of all required military training, he was assigned to a unit at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with duty as an Aircraft Parts Specialist, a job specialty (MOS 76T20) that involves procuring and stocking repair parts for aircraft. During the period 18 December 1967 to 17 December 1968, he served in Vietnam as an Aircraft Parts Specialist; there is no evidence in the record to indicate that he ever held an MOS in Army Career Group 67, or flew combat missions as a member of an aircrew.  (NOTE:  He also held MOS 76H (Transportation Supply and Parts Specialist), MOS 76P (Stock Control and Accounting Specialist) and served as a Duty Soldier (MOS 56A) during his period of service.)

Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides in pertinent part, that the Aircraft Crewman Badge may be permanently awarded for successful completion of formal AIT in one of the Army Career Group 67 MOS’s.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight.  This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status, but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly, for example personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.  U.S Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal.  It established that passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point.  Nothing created an entitlement to the award.  There was no provision for making the award simply because an aircraft was struck by enemy fire.

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.  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.

2.  The applicant was not school-trained in, and did not possess an MOS in, Army Career Group 67 (Aviation).  He was trained in Army Career Group 
76 (Supply) and held MOS 76T20, Aircraft Parts Specialist, while in Vietnam.
As such, he did not qualify for an Air Crewman Badge.

3.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s file to support that he ever flew as an aircraft crew member, or that he ever participated in a Category I mission.  As such, he is not entitled to the Air Medal.

4.  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

      TDH          LLS            MDM    DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012710	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990106	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0018	
2.	107.0118	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.