PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            22 July 1999      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999020629

	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:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas N. Kuhn		Member	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		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 completion of Jump School (correctly known as Basic Airborne Training), Jungle School (correctly known as the Jungle Operations Training Course), the Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) Academy and the Drill Instructor School (correctly known as the Drill Sergeants Course).  He also requests, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show an entry pertaining to his hospitalization/injury in Vietnam.  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not show these items.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 28 September 1965 for a period of 3 years.  He successfully completed training and was transferred to Vietnam for duty as a light weapons infantryman.  He served in Vietnam from 21 April 1966 to 20 April 1967 and was honorably discharged on 6 September 1968. 

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show completion of Basic Airborne Training, the Jungle Operations Training Course or the Noncommissioned Officers Academy.  The Board notes the DD Form 214 does show completion of the Drill Sergeants Course.  Therefore, this course will not be discussed further in the proceedings.  The Board also noted that the DD Form 214 does not contain an entry pertaining to his hospitalization/injury in Vietnam.  

6.  Item 28 (Specialized Training) of the applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he completed Basic Airborne Training on 18 March 1966.  

7.  The applicant’s personnel records fail to show that he completed the Jungle Operations Training Course.   

8.  Item 27 (Military Education) of the applicant’s DA Form 20 shows he completed the NCO Academy in 1967.

9.  Item 38 (Record of Assignments) on the applicant’s DA Form 20 indicates he was a patient on 20 December 1966 in Vietnam.  His medical records show that he was admitted to the 3rd Surgical Hospital in Vietnam on 20 December 1966 for abdomen pain.

10.  Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) of the applicant’s DA Form 20 shows he was awarded the Parachute Badge.  This award is not shown on the DD Form 214. 

11.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that item 25 (Education and Training Completed) will list formal in service training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills are not listed.

12.  The regulation also states that item 30 (Remarks) is used for entries required by Headquarters Department of the Army for which a separate block is not available and for completing entries that are too long for their blocks.   

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant completed Basic Airborne Training and the NCO Academy.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show completion of these courses.    

2.  Contrary to the applicant’s contention that he completed the Jungle Operations Training Course, there is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he completed the Jungle Operations Training Course.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his military records to show this course. 

3.  The applicant’s contention that his DD Form 214 be corrected to show his hospitalization/injury in Vietnam was noted by the Board.  However, the Board determined that the evidence of record pertaining to the applicant’s hospitalization in Vietnam is properly reflected in his medical records and on his DA Form 20.  Also, in accordance with the governing regulation, item 30 (Remarks) is used for entries required by Headquarters Department of the Army for which a separate block is not available and for completing entries that are too long for their blocks.  Therefore, he is not entitled to the addition of medical information on his DD Form 214 as requested.  

4.  The applicant was awarded the Parachute Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended as below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:   

	a.  by showing in item 25 (Education and Training Completed) the entries  “Basic Airborne Training, 3 weeks, March 1966” and “NCO Academy, 1967” on the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned; and

	b. by showing that he was awarded the Parachute Badge.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

CMF____  TNK_____  RJW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Calvin M. Fowler______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999020629	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990722	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19680906	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200   	
DISCHARGE REASON	Early release to attend school	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.0700	
2.	100.0000	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.