MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           9 November 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000041730

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch Jr. 		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz 		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:  That his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to show that he completed the Basic Airborne Course and the Special Forces (SF) Qualification Course; that he was SF qualified; that he received "American, Korean, and Republic of China Jump Wings."

APPLICANT STATES:  That he joined the Special Forces Association, but now is being forced out because his DD Form 214 does not show that he served in the 1st SF Group or that he was SF qualified.

In support of his application, he provides an undated, 1-page, typewritten letter; a copy of his DD Form 214; a copy of Letter Orders Number 05-1197779 honorably discharging him from the US Army Reserve Control Group; 8 photgraphs; and an undated, 3-page letter to the Army Reserve Personnel Center.

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

He enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 10 June 1966 for training in Army Career Group 72, Communications Center Operations, and airborne training.  He took his Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  After completing AIT and being awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 72B20, Communications Center Specialist, he was sent to the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.  He completed the Basic Airborne Course and was awarded the Parachutist Badge and the Special Qualification Identifier (SQI) "P" for parachutist; his MOS thus became 72B2P.

The applicant was sent to his first permanent duty assignment following Airborne School.  On 18 February 1967, he reported to the Signal Company, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces on Okinawa.  He served with this unit until he was transferred to Vietnam in December 1968 and further assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 101st Airborne Division Artillery.  He departed Vietnam on 31 May 1969 and was honorably discharged at the US Army Personnel Center, Oakland, California on 2 June 1969.  He had 2 years, 11 months, and 23 days of creditable service.

The applicant's DD Form 214 shows that he was discharged as a sergeant (E-5); that his last assignment was with HHB, 101st Airborne Division Artillery; that he was a Communications Center Specialist, MOS 72B4P; that his military schooling consisted of the Communications Center Specialist Course at Fort Gordon; and that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, prescribes the separation documents that are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty.  It states, in pertinent part, that only those inservice training courses which assist a soldier after separation in job placement, will be entered in DD Form 214.  Training courses for combat skills will not be listed.

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 this requirement.

2.  Although he did serve in the Signal Company, 1st SF Group, 1st SF from February 1967 through November 1968, the applicant's records fail to confirm his contention that he attended or completed the SF Qualification Course thereby entitling him to the SQI "S" for Special Forces.

3.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows that he was airborne qualified and that he earned and was awarded the Parachutist Badge; however, there are no orders in his records to show that he was ever awarded any foreign parachutist badges.

4.  Even if the applicant's records had shown that he attended and completed the SF Qualification Course, it would not be appropriate to enter it on his DD Form 214.

5.  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

__jlp____  __owt____  __bjl____  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041730	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001109	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DIRECTOR	
ISSUES         1.	100.0700	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.