PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            13 April 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR1999021508

	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.  

	Ms. Gale J. Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred Eichorn 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		Member	
	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		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 her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected by changing item 4 (Grade, Rate, or Rank) to show she was separated in the pay grade of E-3; that item 11 (Primary Specialty) be changed to show she held 63S10 (Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic) for 9 month instead of 7 months; that item 12f (Foreign Service) be changed to show 5 months of foreign service; that item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) show she was awarded the NATO Medal (which the applicant refers to as the NATO Badge) and a Sharpshooter Badge; that item 14 (Military Education) be changed to show the duration of the Heavy Wheel Mechanic Course as 11 weeks instead of 8, and that it was completed in August 1996 not October 1996; and that item 15a (Member Contributed to Post-Vietnam Era Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)) be changed from “No” to “Yes.”

3.  The applicant’s military records show she enlisted in the Regular Army on       2 April 1996, in the pay grade of E-2.

4.  The applicant’s DA Form 20, Enlisted Qualification Record, shows she completed an 8 week Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic Course in 1996, although the month of completion is not reflected. 

5.  Documents in the applicant’s records show she was deployed to Bosnia on  16 September 1996 in support of Operation Joint Guard, and reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas on 16 February 1997.

6.  The applicant’s records indicate she was awarded the Marksman Qualification Badge for the M16 Rifle.

7.  The applicant was discharged on 17 March 1998.  Her Report of Separation indicates she had 1 year, 5 months and 4 days of creditable service.

8.  The VEAP was an educational incentive program offered to individuals who enlisted between 1 January 1977 and 30 June 1985.  The program was designed for the post-Vietnam era soldier as a means of establishing a fund to support their educational objectives following their military service.  For every dollar contributed by a soldier, the government matched with a two dollar contribution to the individual's VEAP account.  Participation in the VEAP was a voluntary option and was replaced, in July 1985, by the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund Program.  

9.  In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved the offer of the NATO Medal made by the NATO Secretary General for operations relating to the former Republic of Yugoslavia.  To qualify, U.S. Military and civilian personnel must have served under orders, under the direct command and control of NATO in designated NATO operations related to the former Republic of Yugoslavia from  1 July 1992 to a date to be determined.

10.  The Secretary of Defense approved award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal to participants in or those providing direct support of Operation Joint Endeavor or Joint Guard in countries of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia during the period 20 December 1996 to 20 June 1998.

11.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  It states that item 11 (Primary Specialty) will list the number, title and years and months a member served in a specialty for at least one year; that item 12f (Foreign Service) will show the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered; and that item 14 (Military Education) will list training courses successfully completed during the period of service by showing the course title, number of weeks, and the month and year completed.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s available records to indicate that she was promoted higher than pay grade E-2.

2.  The VEAP was an educational incentive program offered to individuals who enlisted between 1 January 1977 and 30 June 1985.  The applicant enlisted on   2 April 1996 and was therefore, ineligible to participate in this program.  

3.  While the applicant’s records confirm that the duration of her Heavy Wheel Mechanic Course was only 8 weeks, as stated in item 14 (Military Education) on her DD Form 214, there is no confirmation of the completion date.  However, based on the fact that the applicant’s records indicate she was deployed to Bosnia in September 1996, it is reasonable to assume that she completed the course in August 1996, as the applicant contends.

4.  The applicant was stationed in Bosnia from September 1996 to February 1997, therefore item 12f (Foreign Service) of her DD Form 214 should be changed to reflect 5 months of foreign service.

5.  The applicant held the primary specialty of 63S10 from August 1996 until her separation in March 1998, and as such item 11 of her DD Form 214 should reflect 1 year, 7 months. 
6.  The applicant participated in Operation Joint Guard from September 1996 to February 1997, while stationed in Bosnia, and is entitled to award of the NATO Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal.  These awards should be reflected on her DD Form 214.  

7.  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:  

	a.  by changing her DD Form 214, item 12f, to show 5 months of foreign service;

	b.  by changing her DD Form 214, item 11, to show the number of years and months in the primary specialty of 63S10 as 1 year, 7 months.

	c. by changing her DD Form 214, item 14, to show the month and year of completion of the Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic Course as August 1996.

	d.  by awarding the applicant the NATO Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Medal for her participation in Operation Joint Guard from September 1996 to February 1997.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___fe___  ___cla___  ___svw__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021508	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000413	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 110.00		
2. 107.00		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.