PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

BOARD DATE:           12 March 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002066495

	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. G. E. Vandenberg		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Member	
	Ms. Gail J. Wire		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 item 13 (Decoration, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for service in Somalia.

3.  The applicant states that his award of the AFEM was omitted from his discharge document and he would like to have this error corrected.

4.  The applicant’s available military records are limited, however, the DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualifications Record) item 9 (awards, decorations, campaigns) lists the AFEM as one of his authorized awards and decorations.

5.  The applicant’s Personnel Qualification Record (DA Form 2-1) shows that he was assigned to the 226th Combat Support (CS) Company from 18 May 1992 until his release from active duty on 6 March 1994.

6.  A review of the historical files the applicant’s unit, the 226th, CS Company shows that it participated during the ground operations in Somalia during the period for which the AFEM is authorized and during the period that the applicant was attached to it.

7.  No orders are issued for the award of the AFEM and, in accordance with regulations; the only location for recording entitlement to this award is at section II, item 9 of the DA Form 2-1.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, and U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.  Qualifying service for this award includes the requirements to be a bona fide member in a unit and to be engaged in the operation or serve in the area of operations for 30 days, be engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided support involves entering the area of operations, be engaged in combat, participate as a member of an aircraft flying in support of the operation, or be recommended or attached to a unit recommended for award of the medal if the above criteria have not been met.  The designated military operations and dates of eligibility for this award are specified in Army Regulation 600-8-22.  As amended, the regulation shows the period of entitlement for operations in Somalia as 5 December 1992 through 31 November 1995.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The record shows that the applicant was assigned to a unit that took part in operations in Somalia during the period for which the AFEM is authorized.

2.  It is therefore appropriate to correct the applicant’s discharge document to reflect this award.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below will correct an error.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected to show award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__INW___  __RJW__  __GJW__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Irene N. Wheelwright
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002066495	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED		
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.72	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.