PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                17 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2000037472

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		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 award of the Good Conduct Medal.

3.  The applicant states that the Good Conduct Medal was never awarded to him due to a change of command which occurred during his discharge.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted on 3 August 1995 as a 
field artillery surveyor and continued to serve until he was honorably discharged on 2 August 1998.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Good Conduct Medal as an 
authorized award.

6.  There is no evidence in the available records that show he was awarded 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.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 3 August 1995 through 2 August 1998
based on completion of three years of qualifying service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 3 August 1995 through 2 August 1998.

BOARD VOTE:  

SVW____  MHM____  LDS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		SHERRI V. WARD____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000037472	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000817	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19980802	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  102		
2.  		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.