PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           29 March 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999027574

	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.  

	Mrs. Joyce A. Hughes		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, that he be awarded the Good Conduct Medal and that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected to show the award.

3.  The applicant states that he didn’t receive his Good Conduct Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 
9 February 1989, as a infantryman.  He continued to serve until he was honorably discharged on 10 February 1992,  He completed 3 years and 2 days of creditable active service.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge and the Army Lapel Button.  His discharge document does not show the Good Conduct Award as an authorized award.

6.  There is no indication in the available records that show he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence that the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There is no evidence of derogatory information contained in the available records.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 9 February 1989 to 10 February 1992, based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by 

     a.  awarding the Good Conduct Medal to the individual concerned; and

     b.  by correcting item 13 of his DD Form 214 to show that he was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 9 February 1989 to 
10 February 1992.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rgh___  __mdm___  __jps___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Robert G. Hinkle
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999027574	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000329	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0056	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.