MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            7 December 2000   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000046932

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. 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:  Correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar instead of the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.  

APPLICANT STATES:  That he qualified “expert” on all firing exercises.  He contends that he did not notice this error on his DD Form 214 until recently.  In support of his application, he submits a letter of explanation. 

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

The applicant enlisted on 31 August 1972.  He served as an infantry indirect fire crewman in Alaska and was honorably released on 19 September 1975.

The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar as an authorized award.  

Item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that he qualified “expert” in the Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle and Grenade Bars during basic training in 1972.  However, item 41 (Awards and Decorations) on the applicant’s DA Form 20 also shows that his final qualification in arms was recorded as marksman for the Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.  There are no other marksmanship qualification badges listed in this item.    

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), 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.

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.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that he qualified “expert” in all firing exercises.  However, the evidence of record shows the applicant’s final qualification in arms was marksman, not expert.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.    

2.  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.

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____  JPI____  EWL______  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000046932	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001207	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19750919	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0108	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.