PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            23 July 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002072120

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry 		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 correction of his records to show award of the French Forces Commando Badge.

3.  The applicant states that he attended the French Commando School between 9 May 1977 and 27 May 1977 and successfully passed the course.  He contends that he was awarded the badge, but it was not placed on his records.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he served initially in an enlisted status and later was promoted to chief warrant officer two.  He was separated from active duty on 31 August 1993 for the purpose of retirement.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) does not show the French Forces Command Badge as an authorized award in item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).  

6.  In support of his application, the applicant submitted a copy of a diploma from the Commander in Chief of French Forces in Germany.  This certificate is authenticated by the Commandant of the Commando School and states the applicant completed the fifth stage of the course on 27 May 1977 and “has the right to wear the commando insignia.”

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-2 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that foreign qualification and special skill badges may be accepted if awarded in recognition of meeting the criteria, as established by the foreign government concerned for the specific award.  Only those badges which are awarded in recognition of military activities and by the military department of the host country are authorized for acceptance and permanent wear.  Badges which do not meet these criteria may be authorized for acceptance, but not for wear, and will not be entered in the official military records of the recipient.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-2 provides in pertinent part, that commanders (overseas and in the continental United States) serving in the rank of brigadier general or higher and colonel level commanders who exercise general court-martial authority are delegated authority to approve the acceptance, retention, and permanent wear of foreign badges listed in appendix D (Foreign Badges) of this regulation.  The French Forces Commando Badge is listed in appendix D.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant completed the requirements of the French Commando Course on 27 May 1977 and was tendered a diploma which entitled him to permanent wear of the French Forces Commando Badge.

2.  The Board noted that this foreign badge was not approved for acceptance, retention and wear by the appropriate general court-martial convening authority at the time of the applicant’s service in Germany.

3.  The Board determined that the applicant met the requirements for award of the French Forces Commando Badge and for acceptance, retention and wear of this badge.  Therefore, it is appropriate at this time to correct his records to shows award of the French Forces Commando Badge.

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the French Forces Commando Badge and is entitled to acceptance, retention and permanent wear of the French Forces Commando Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__GJW__  __HOF__  __JLP___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Ms. Jennifer L. Prater_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002072120	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2002072120	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.