MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           27 February 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000050304

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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 he be awarded the Expert Infantryman Badge.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he completed the infantry training course to include village fighting, night problems, overhead fire, etc.  After completing training, he could not pass the physical for overseas service.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.

The applicant was inducted into the Army and entered active service on 24 July 1944.  He separated on 28 June 1946.  His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55, shows that his military occupational specialty was 055 (Mail Clerk) and he was assigned to the 9206th Technical Service Unit, Camp Stoneman, CA.

War Department Circular 186 dated 11 May 1944 established the Expert Infantryman and Combat Infantryman badges for infantry personnel as a means of attaining the high standards desired and to foster esprit de corps in infantry units.  Award of these badges was restricted to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men assigned to infantry regiments or lower infantry units.

All soldiers are provided basic combat skills training after they enter the Army.  This is provided to insure that all soldiers have the survival skills to perform basic infantry missions when the need arises.  
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 appreciates the service the applicant performed while in the Army; however, the available evidence shows that he was not qualified for award of the Expert Infantryman Badge.  He was a mail clerk, not an infantryman, and he was assigned to a technical service unit, not an infantry unit.

2.  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

__jns___  __mhm___  __rwa___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000050304	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010227	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0112	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.