PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            24 July 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001055445

	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. Deyon D. Battle		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		Member	
	Mr. William D. Powers		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 that he be awarded the Good Conduct Medal (GCM).

3.  The applicant states that he was not awarded the GCM after he completed 3 years of trouble free service.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 11 October 1994, he enlisted in the Army for 4 years in the pay grade of E-1.  He successfully completed his training as an infantryman.

5.  His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge.

6.  A review of the records show that on 23 September 1997, the applicant was awarded the GCM in Permanent Orders Number 266-969 for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity in active federal military service for the period covering 11 October 1994 through 10 October 1997.

7.  Further review of his records show that on 17 October 1997, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal (AAM) in Permanent Orders Number 022-04 for exceptional meritorious service for the period covering 15 October 1996 through 14 October 1997.

8.  He was honorably released from active duty to attend school on 18 August 1998 and he was transferred to the United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement).  However, the Certificate of Release or Discharge (DD Form 214) that he was furnished at the time of his separation fails to show that he was awarded the GCM and the AAM.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the primary requirement for award of a decoration is that a formal recommendation be prepared and introduced into official military channels within 2 years of the act, achievement, or service to be recognized.  The sole exception to the 2-year time limit occurs when there is conclusive evidence that a formal recommendation was submitted but was lost, or through inadvertence was never acted on by proper authority.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  An administrative error was made during the preparation of the applicant’s DD Form 214, which resulted in the GCM and the AAM being omitted.

2.  The evidence of record shows that he was awarded the GCM on 23 September 1997, in Permanent Orders Number 266-969 and the AAM on 17 October 1997, in Permanent Orders Number 022-04.

3.  He is clearly entitled to both the GCM and the AAM and his DD Form 214 should be amended accordingly.

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 amending the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned to reflect the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Achievement Medal and by issuing him his decorations as appropriate.

BOARD VOTE:  

___mvt__  ___wdp__  __js ____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_____John N. Slone______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001055445	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/07/24	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46	107.0000.0000	
2.  71	107.0025.0000	
3.  102	107.0056.0000	
4.		
5.		
6.