PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:           13 January 2000 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999023794

	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. Gerald E. Vandenberg		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 his records be corrected to show the award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) for heroism, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) and the Senior Parachutist Badge with bronze service star. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was offered but declined the awards of the BSM and ARCOM as he felt, at the time, that he was just doing his job.  He now requests that these awards be afforded him.  The applicant also indicates that authorization for the CIB and AFSM has been amended to now include his periods of service in El Salvador, Panama, and Egypt.  He indicates that copies of his jump records will show that he had the necessary number and type of jumps for the Senior Parachutist Badge.

4.  The Memorandum of Consideration reflecting the Board’s 24 November 1998 review of the applicant’s request is incorporated herein by reference as if wholly set forth.

5.  The applicant submits a copy of his Individual Jump Record that documents a total of 31 jumps, 27 administrative or non-tactical, 2 mass tactical and 2 tactical. Of the total number of jumps 7 were with combat equipment, 6 jumps list him as jumpmaster and 5 were night jumps with 2 listing him as jumpmaster.  There is no indication of any combat jump.

6.  He submits two copies of DA Form 638, Recommendation for Award showing recommendations for the award of the ARCOM, for the period 15 February to 15 May 1988, and for the Meritorious Service Medal second award (MSM 1OLC), for the period 19 April 1987 to 14 March 1989.  Additionally he submits a magazine article that notes in 1996 authorization for award of the AFEM was granted and in 1998 for the CIB for service in El Salvador during the period of 1 January 1981 to 1 February 1992.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards.  Paragraph 1-15, provides, in pertinent part, for lost recommendations but not for late recommendations, reconsideration, nor for upgrading to a more prestigious award.  The regulation also provides that there is no automatic entitlement to an award upon departure either from an assignment or from the service.  Furthermore the Army discourages self-aggrandizement and precludes individuals from recommending themselves for awards.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the CIB.  That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat. MILPER MESSAGE number 98-095, in pertinent part, extended the award authorization for the CIB to include service in El Salvador during the period 1 January 1981 to 1 February 1992.  The member must have been serving with a mobile training team or infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, been personally present and under hostile fire.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, paragraph 8-2, sets forth requirements for award of the Senior Parachutist Badge.  Award of the Senior Parachutist Badge requires a rating of excellent in conduct and efficiency, completion of 30 jumps (15 with combat equipment, two night jumps with one as jumpmaster, two mass tactical jumps culminating in an airborne assault problem), graduation from the Jumpmaster Course, and service on jump status for at least 24 months.  

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, paragraph 8-10g states that a bronze service star is authorized to be worn on the parachutist badge to denote a soldier’s participation in a combat parachute jump.  The regulation also states that credit for a combat parachute jump is related directly to credit for a combat assault landing for the unit to which the soldier is assigned at the time of the assault.  The regulation specifically requires that the unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the soldiers to receive the parachutist badge with the bronze service star. 

11.  MILPER MESSAGE NR 96-098, sets forth the policy, award and design of the Armed Forces Service Medal for operations relating to the former Republic of Yugoslavia (Bosnia).  In pertinent part the AFSM is awarded for participation, after 1 June 1992, in a US military operation that is deemed to be a significant activity and encountered no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action.  The AFSM is awarded only for operations for which no other US campaign or service medal is approved.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s jump record shows that he meets the requirements for award of the Senior Parachutist Badge.  While the applicant’s records document entitlement to the Senior Parachutist Badge, the bronze service star is not warranted, as there is no indication of a combat jump.

2.  The applicant as submitted no evidence that he was under hostile fire while serving in El Salvador for entitlement to the CIB; that he served in the former Republic of Yugoslavia to show entitlement to the AFSM or that he was recommended for either a BSM or the ARCOM for heroism.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, the interest of justice would be served by correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

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

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__emw___  ___ewl__  _mvt___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_____Robert G. Hinkle_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999023794	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	20000113	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	GD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT partial	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0014	
2.	107.0020 	
3.	107.0072	
4.	107.0111	
5.	107.0120	
6.