MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           12 October 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000035060

	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.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Richard H. Allen		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John D. Miller		Chairperson	
	Mr. John E. Denning		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		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, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show that he was an expert marksman. 

APPLICANT STATES:  In essence, that he shot expert on his rifle (M-16) while on active duty.  He claimed that he submitted a certificate to this effect.  However, when his application was received by the Board, the certificate was not with the application.  The applicant failed to respond to a written request for this certificate.  

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

That he enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 August 1988 for 4 years and training as an Infantryman.  He was trained in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Infantryman) and was also parachute qualified.  He served with the 75th Ranger Regiment and participated in combat operations in Panama from 20 December 1989 through 10 January 1990.  The highest rank he attained was specialist, pay grade E-4.  

Pencilled entries on his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows that he qualified as a marksman on his rifle on 12 September 1988 and as an expert on the hand grenade throw on 19 September 1988 (which would have been during basic training).  There are no other weapons qualification entries in his official military personnel file (OMPF).  

On 3 October 1991, the applicant was honorably discharged from active duty under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-40, by reason of physical disability, with severance pay.

His DD Form 214 shows that he was entitled to award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with arrowhead, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachute Badge with bronze (service) star, the Combat Infantry(man) Badge and the Marksman Qualification Badge (M-16).  

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.  Table 8-2 of that regulation provides for award of certain weapons to include the rifle and the grenade.  These entitlements are to be reflected on the DD Form 214, in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).  

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, in this case, has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy that requirement.

2.  The evidence of record fails to show that the applicant was entitled to award of the Expert Qualification Badge for the rifle. His records only show qualification at the marksman level.  Thus his record correctly shows entitlement to the Marksman Qualification Badge (Rifle).

3.  However, he did qualify at the expert level in the grenade throw, but this was not  shown on his DD Form 214.  Therefore, an administrative correction will be made to his DD Form 214 to add this weapons qualification.  

4.  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.

NOTE:  The Army Review Board Agency Support Division, St. Louis, is requested to issue to the applicant a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to show the addition of an entry in item 13 of the DD Form 214 issued to the applicant on 3 October 1991 for the award of the Expert Qualification Badge (Grenade).  

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__jdm___  __jed____  __cjs____  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000035060	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001012	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DIRECTOR	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.