PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:             3 August 2000    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000035188

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Member	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		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 his records be corrected to reflect award of the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Driver and Mechanic Badge.  He states that he served honorably for three years but never received either award.  He notes that he “drove trucks 5 ton and below” and “was [a] certified and tested truck driver” who “drove trucks for 3 years and never received [his] drivers badge.”

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 24 January 1995 after serving 4 years in the U.S. Air Force.  Upon successful completion of Army basic and advanced individual training the applicant was assigned to Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia as a water treatment specialist.  On 23 January 1998 he was honorably discharged in pay grade E-4.  There is no evidence of misconduct or disciplinary actions in the applicant’s file.

4.  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.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.  

5.  The Driver and Mechanic Badge is awarded to individuals to denote the attainment of a high degree of skill in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicle.  Eligibility requirements for drivers are:

	a.  Qualify for and possess a current government motor vehicle operator’s identification card.

	b.  Occupy a duty position with title of driver or assistant driver of Army vehicles for a minimum of 12 consecutive months or during at least 8,000 miles and have no Army motor vehicle accidents or traffic violations.

	c.  Perform satisfactorily for a minimum period of 1 year as an active qualified driver instructor or motor vehicle driver examiner.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 23 January 1998 when he was honorably discharged.  There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  As such, the Board concludes it would be appropriate, and in the interest of justice, to award him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 24 January 1995 through 23 January 1998.

2.  While the applicant may have driven Army trucks as part of his duties as a water treatment specialist, his primary duty position did not contain the title driver or assistant driver and as such he would not have been entitled to the Driver and Mechanic Badge.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 24 January 1995 through 23 January 1998.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__cmf___  ___jns__  ___esc__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000035188	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000803	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	Grant	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.