MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF

	BOARD DATE:            8 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999028386

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Ms. Rosa M. Chandler		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz Jr.		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, that his records be corrected to show that he is entitled to wear the shoulder sleeve insignia as a result of his participation in Operation Joint “Guard” sic Forge.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he served in Bosnia from September 
1998-April 1999.  He submits a public media message dated 6 April 1999.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

That he was a member of the United States Army Reserve from Minnesota.  
On 20 August 1988, he was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Joint Forge.   He served in Bosnia from 18 September 1998-1 April 1999.  

On 29 April 1999, he was honorably discharged from active duty and returned to his Reserve unit.  He had served 8 months and 10 days of active military service. 

The message that the applicant submitted shows that those soldiers serving in Allied Forces in and around Yugoslavia were entitled to tax breaks as a result of the area being declared a combat zone.

His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows that he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal (3 awards), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (2 awards), the “NATO” Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Medal. 

Army Regulation 670-1 governs the requirements for wear of the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, commonly referred to as a “combat patch”.  In pertinent part, the regulation authorizes optional wear of the U.S. Army shoulder sleeve insignia of any former wartime unit in which a soldier served during a period of eligibility.  Periods of eligibility are announced by Department of the Army and only shoulder sleeve insignia approved for wear by Headquarters, Department of the Army are authorized to be worn on the right sleeve of the Army Green and field uniforms to signify wartime service.  Service in Bosnia has not been announced as meeting the criteria for wear of unit insignia on the right shoulder denoting service in a combat zone. 

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

2.  Since the Department of the Army has not seen fit to announce that service in Bosnia meets the criteria for wear of the unit insignia on the right shoulder, there has been no basis established to authorize the applicant the authority to wear his unit insignia on the right shoulder. 

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__rvo____  __eja___  __ewl___  DENY APPLICATION

						Karl F. Schneider
						Director, Army Review Boards Agency

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028386	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000308	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19990429	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	A100.01	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.