PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 29 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999025653

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Robert G. Hinkle		Chairperson	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Member	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		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 effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show his primary military occupational specialty (PMOS) as 11B and his secondary MOS as 11H.  He also requests that he be awarded the Government Commendation Medal (correctly known as the Army Commendation Medal); authorization to wear the infantry blue cord, German green and red rope (Correctly known as the French Fourragere); award of the Expert Badge (with M16 Rifle Bar), the 45 Caliber Pistol, the M203 Grenade Launcher or any additional Machine Gun Qualification Badges; and to show that he completed Jungle and Vietnam Training.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his records are incorrect.  He also states that before he was discharged he was receiving medication for his nerves.  He further states that he was escorted to the Frankfurt Airport and the commander’s secretary provided his records to him in the jeep.  He goes on to state that he took all his papers and threw them in the street on his way to the airport.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 15 June 1977 as a light weapons infantryman (11B).  He continued to serve until he was discharged under honorable condition under the provisions of Army Regulation 635–200, chapter 5-31, under the Expeditious Discharge Program due to his failure to maintain acceptable standards for retention.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was only awarded the Marksman Marksmanship Badge (M16).

6.  The applicant’s records contain a DA Form 1966/1 (Application for Enlistment-Armed Forces of the United States) and a DA Form 3286-40 (Statement for Enlistment Delayed Entry Program) which shows he enlisted as a light weapons infantryman (11B).

7.  178th Personnel Service Company Orders 26-18, dated 1 February 1979, awarded the 11H10/heavy anti armor weapons crewman as the applicant’s PMOS.

8.  There is no indication in the applicant’s service personnel records that show he was recommended for or awarded the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM).

9.  The applicant’s DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows that he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry from 14 December 1977 to 17 July 1979.

10.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that shows he was awarded or entitled to the Expert Marksmanship Badge (with M16 Rifle Bar), or completed any qualification with the 45 Caliber Pistol, M203 Grenade Launcher or any additional Machine Gun.
11.  The applicant’s records contain a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 25 August 1995, which shows the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Marksman Marksmanship Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar.  The Amy Personnel Center also indicated that they were unable to verify entitlement to any additional awards from the available records.

12.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records, which shows that he completed Jungle or Vietnam Training.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

14.  Army Regulation 670-1 provides in pertinent part that the Infantry blue shoulder cord will be worn by officers and enlisted personnel of the infantry, holding an infantry primary military occupational specialty (PMOS).  The award
is worn during periods of assignment to an infantry regiment, brigade, separate infantry battalions, infantry company, infantry platoon, or infantry TDA unit.  In addition, infantrymen assigned to infantry sections/squads within other than infantry units may wear the cord when authorized by commanders of battalion or higher level.  The Infantry blue shoulder cord is not awarded as a personal decoration it is only worn when assigned to an authorized unit.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the French Fourragere as an approved foreign unit award.  The French Fourragere may be awarded by the French Government when a unit has been cited twice for award of the French Croix de Guerre.  When a unit is cited twice for the Croix de Guerre, then the colors of the fourragere are red and green.  When a unit is cited four times, the colors of the fourragere are yellow and green.

16.  Army Regulation 670-1 (Uniforms and Insignia) states that an individual who was not present with a unit during the period cited for permanent wear of a unit award may be authorized temporary wear only for the duration of assignment to the unit.

17.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of basic marksmanship qualification badge.  The qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course, and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which the individual has qualified.  The qualification badges are in three classes:  Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman.
18.  Recondo, Raider and Jungle Warfare Training Courses are conducted by brigade and division level units throughout the Army as local training courses in combat skills.  The badges awarded upon completion of these courses are awarded in accordance with local policies governing these training courses.   These badges are not governed by the Department of the Army awards regulation and, as a result, they are not annotated on the DD Form 214.  In accordance with Army Regulation 635-5, which governs preparation of separation documents, Recondo, Raider and Jungle Operations Training Courses are not entered under education and training of the DD Form 214 because training course for combat skills are not listed on the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that he enlisted as a 11B/light weapons infantry; however, his records failed to show that he was awarded the PMOS of 11B.  Evidence of record shows that he was awarded 11H/heavy anti armor weapons crewman as his PMOS on 1 February 1979.  Therefore, there is no basis to correct item 23a (Primary Specialty Number and Title) of his DD Form 214.

2.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was considered for or awarded the ARCOM.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  Although the applicant was authorized to wear the Infantry blue shoulder cord while assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry, it is not a personal decoration nor is it authorized to be entered on the DD Form 214.  Therefore, there is no basis to approve that portion of his request.

4.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records that shows he was a member of a unit at the time that unit was awarded the French Fourragere by the Government of France or that he was authorized permanent wear of the French Fourragere.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records to show authorization for permanent wear of the French Fourragere.

5.  The applicant was awarded the Marksman Marksmanship Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

6.  There is no evidence of record to show that he was awarded or entitled to the
Expert Marksmanship Badge (with M16 Rifle Bar), the 45 Caliber Pistol, M203 Grenade Launcher or any additional Machine Gun Qualification Badges.  Therefore, there is no basis to correct his records to show these awards.

7.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he completed Jungle or Vietnam Training; therefore, there is no basis to correct his records.  Additionally, these
are combat skills and would not be shown on the DD Form 214, in any event. 

8.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to 
correct the applicant’s records, but only 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 Marksman
Marksmanship Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

RGH____  MDM____  JPS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____ Robert G. Hinkle___________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999025653	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000329	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	GD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19790719	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT/ DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46		
2.  1021		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.