PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            10 February 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999024503

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 in two separate applications that he be awarded the Good Conduct Medal for his enlisted service from 1978 to 1981, and that his award of the Parachutist Badge, and permission to wear same, be reinstated.

3.  The applicant states that he served a complete 3-year enlistment, but was not given the Good Conduct Medal when he was honorably discharged.  He also states that he was awarded the Parachutist Badge upon completion of the Basic Airborne Course, but when he terminated his assignment to a Ranger Battalion, his Parachutist Badge was revoked.  He says that he heard that the rules have changed and he can, once again, wear the badge.

4.  In support of his two applications, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty; a copy of his DA Form 2-1, Personnel Qualification Record; a copy of DA Form 1307, Individual Jump Record showing 5 training jumps; a copy of his Airborne Course diploma, dated 13 July 1978; a copy of Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division and Fort Lewis Orders 222-16, dated 1 November 1978, revoking his parachute jumping status, withdrawing his parachutist skill identifier, and revoking his authorization to wear the Parachutist Badge; and a copy of a 24 March 1992 letter from the applicant to the Commander, ARPERCEN, asking that he be allowed to wear the Parachutist Badge.

5.  The applicant’s available military records show that he served in the Regular Army for 3 years from 1 February 1978 through 31 January 1981.  He served as a radio operator and unit armorer and achieved the rank of Specialist (E-4).  In July 1978, he successfully completed the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was awarded his Parachutist Badge.  He then was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 75th Rangers at Fort Lewis, Washington.  He served in this airborne-qualified position for a very short period and, upon his departure, his airborne status was withdrawn by orders.

6.  The applicant successfully completed his initial 3-year enlistment and was honorably discharged at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  His DD Form 214 does not reflect the award of the Good Conduct Medal and there is nothing in the record to indicate that action was initiated to deny awarding the medal.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes the policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  It provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to enlisted soldiers who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty 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.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that to be eligible for award of the basic Parachutist Badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.  Any parachutist badge may be revoked when the awardee initiates action which results in termination of airborne status or withdrawal of any Career Management Field (CMF) 18 military occupational specialty (MOS), 180A or specialty skill identifier (SSI) 18A before he or she completes 36 cumulative months of airborne duty.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Good Conduct Medal for service from 1 February 1978 to 31 January 1981.  He completed his term of enlistment and there is no record that the award was purposely denied him.

2.  The applicant earned the Parachutist Badge on 13 July 1978 and was assigned to an airborne position with the 75th Rangers at Fort Lewis.  He terminated that assignment in October 1978 without serving the requisite 3 years required by regulation for wear of the badge.  The Parachutist Badge was withdrawn by valid order; there is no provision of regulation to provide for its reissue.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding to the individual concerned the Good Conduct Medal for his service from 1 February 1978 to 31 January 1981.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__VBC__  ___JPS__  __KLW__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999024503	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000210	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	107.0056	
2.	107.0120	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.