PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            21 February 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060031

	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. P. A. Castle		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas A. Pagan		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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, in effect, that his report of separation (DD Form 214) in his military record be corrected to reflect award of the Army Achievement Medal (AAM). He also requests that the grade on the DD Form 214 be corrected to show his promotion to pay grade E4 prior to his separation, in lieu of pay grade E2.

3.  The applicant states he was unaware until recently that his DD Form 214 was incorrect.

4.  The applicant’s military record shows that he entered active duty on 24 May 1984, and was honorably released from active duty on 24 March 1988, under the Reduction in Strength Program and transferred to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement).  At the time of his separation he had 3 years, 10 months, and   1 day of active duty service.

5.  The DD Form 214 shows a pay grade of E2 with a date of rank as 26 March 1986.  According to his record it is the same date that he was reduced to E2 due to disciplinary action resulting in non-judicial punishment (NJP).

6.  There is no evidence in the record that shows when the applicant actually became an E3 again except for a leave request, an emergency update form, and his security clearance document in October 1986.  The applicant does submit as evidence a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action) dated 23 March 1987, where his commander approved his promotion to grade E4 effective 1 March 1987.  All of the applicant’s separation documents reflect the pay grade of E4.

7.  As proof of his entitlement to the Army Achievement Medal the applicant submits a copy of permanent orders 352-9 dated 18 December 1986.  The order announces his entitlement to the Army Achievement Medal for meritorious service.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army Achievement Medal is awarded to any member of the armed forces of the United States, who while serving in a noncombat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished themselves by meritorious service or achievement.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Army regulations and the applicant’s records support the award of or entitlement to the Army Achievement Medal.

2.  Evidence of record supports that the DD Form 214 is in error and should reflect the applicant’s pay grade as E4 in accordance with his commander’s approval of his promotion on 23 March 1987.

3.  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 to show the individual concerned was awarded the Army Achievement Medal on 18 December 1986 and that his pay grade at the time of separation was E4, with a date of rank of 1 March 1987.

BOARD VOTE:  

___gp___  ___mm__  ___tap __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

				____George D. Paxson_____
				        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060031	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2002/02/21	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  71	107.0025	
2.  189	110.0000	
3.  310	131.0000	
4.		
5.		
6.