PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           17 April 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000047678

	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	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John H. Kern		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson 		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 Army Commendation Medal.

3.  The applicant states that he was informed by his commander that he would receive the Army Commendation Medal.  During the time that the recommendation was being processed, his unit was notified that it was to deploy to Saudi Arabia.  He was released from active duty a few days after his unit’s deployment.  Because of the deployment, the award process was turned upside down due to the more important issue of deployment.  He states that he is planning on returning to military service.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered on active duty on           4 June 1987, completed infantry and airborne training, and in November 1987 was assigned to a ranger company at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.  In February 1988 he was assigned to an infantry company at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
He was promoted to pay grade E-4 on 1 December 1988.  The results of a skill qualification test conducted on 14 April 1989 show that the applicant had no potential training weakness in the tasks associated with his specialty.  On          28 July 1989 the applicant was awarded the Army Achievement Medal.  On         8 March 1990 the applicant completed the NCO Academy at Fort Stewart, attaining a position on the Commandant’s list and exceeding course standards.  He was promoted to Sergeant on 1 April 1990.  

5.  A copy of a first page of a 18 July 1990 recommendation for award, which the applicant submitted with his request, shows that the applicant’s platoon sergeant recommended him for an award of the Army Commendation Medal for service during the period February 1988 to September 1990.  There is no record that the recommendation was acted upon.

6.  The applicant’s NCO evaluation report ending in August 1990 shows that his rater, the same person who recommended him for award of the Army Commendation Medal, indicated that he was among the best in overall potential for promotion and/or service in positions of greater responsibility.  His senior rater stated that he was the best junior NCO in the platoon, that he had the potential to hold positions of greater responsibility, that he took charge and executed, and that he was tactically and technically proficient.  The reviewer of that report, the applicant’s company commander, concurred with those ratings.   

7.  The applicant was released from active duty on 31 August 1990 in the rank of Sergeant.  He had 3 years, 1 month, and 27 days of service.  His awards included the Parachutist Badge, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. 

8.  On 31 January 1991 the applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  He deployed to Germany in          February 1991, returned to the United States and was released from active duty on 20 March 1991.  He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve          on 2 May 1995. 

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides the Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military decorations.  Paragraph 1-14 states in pertinent part that each recommendation for an award must be entered administratively into military channels within 2 years of the act, achievement, or service to be honored.  Paragraph 1-15 concerns lost recommendations, and states that if the Secretary of the Army determines that a statement setting forth the service and a recommendation for official recognition was made and supported by sufficient evidence within 2 years after the distinguished service, and that no award was made because the statement was lost, or thorough inadvertence the recommendation was not acted upon he may, within 2 years after the date of the determination, award any appropriate military decoration.  

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22  provides, in pertinent part, that the Army Commendation Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was recommended for the award of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in July 1990 prior to his release from active duty.  The official recommendation was either lost or not acted upon, perhaps as the applicant has stated, because of the unit’s urgency in preparing for deployment.

2.  The applicant has a commendable service record.  His rating officials considered his duty performance outstanding.  His company commander concurred.  His platoon sergeant in making the recommendation stated that the applicant’s squad excelled in its mission during the unit’s rotation to Fort Pickett, Virginia - a result of the applicant’s untiring efforts.

3.  It is highly probable that the recommendation for the Army Commendation Medal would have been approved had it been processed to its conclusion.  The Board believes that the applicant warrants the award for his meritorious service while assigned as a squad leader in Company B, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry. 

4.  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 Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the period February 1988 to August 1990 while assigned as a squad leader with Company B, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry.

BOARD VOTE:  

___mhm_  ___jhk___  ___mvt__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047678	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010417	
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.  46	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.