PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               2 December 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AC98-12265

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		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 award of the Good Conduct Medal.

3.  The applicant states he qualifies for award of the Good Conduct Medal because he was released from the Army due to service connected disability.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 18 October 1988 and served as a light wheel vehicle mechanic.  He was retired from active duty with an honorable discharge on 6 September 1991 and placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List.  His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) does not show the Good Conduct Medal as an authorized award.

5.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There is no indication of indiscipline in his records.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no indication in the applicant’s records that he was recommended for or awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  

The applicant’s service ended with the termination of a period of Federal military service prior to completion of 3 years of active duty.

3.  There is no basis in the applicant’s records for disqualifying him for award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period of his service from 18 October 1988 to 6 September 1991.

4.  In view of the foregoing conclusions, the applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 18 October 1988 to 6 September 1991 and correction of his records to show this award.

5.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  GDP____  JHK_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12265/AR1998912338	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19981202	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.