MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           15 November 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060185

	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:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		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 his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214, be amended to add the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM).

APPLICANT STATES:  That the ARCOM was awarded to him in 1981 but was never entered on his DD Form 214.  He provides his ARCOM certificate as supporting evidence.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 17 May 1977.  He was assigned to Company B, 67th Signal Battalion, Fort Gordon from 26 July 1978 – 1 November 1979.  He was assigned to Company D, 11th Signal Battalion, Germany on 27 November 1979.  He was released from active duty on 12 May 1981.

The provided ARCOM certificate shows the applicant was awarded the ARCOM for the period December 1978 through May 1981 for his performance of duty while assigned to Company D, 11th Air Defense Signal Battalion during the period December 1978 through May 1981.  The orders awarding the ARCOM are not available.

Army Regulation 600-8-104 governs filing of documents in the Official Military Personnel File, the Military Personnel Records Jacket, the Career Management Individual File, and Army Personnel Qualification Records.  In pertinent part, it states that for U.S. military decorations the only acceptable source documentation is the order, letter, or memorandum which awards the decoration. Award certificates, citations, or separation certificates alone will not be the basis for entry of a decoration.  

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 orders awarding the applicant the ARCOM are not available.  The applicant was not assigned to Company D, 11th Signal Battalion until November 1979 yet the body of the award certificate shows the beginning of the award period as December 1978.  The award certificate alone should not be the basis for entry of a decoration in official records.  Because of the date discrepancy, the Board finds that the provided award certificate, without substantiating orders, is insufficient to show the applicant was awarded the ARCOM.

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

__inw___  __sk____  __kah___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060185	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011115	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0020	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.