PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            14 August 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003084653

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy L. Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Linda M. Barker		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 his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected to show he completed the Airborne Course and was awarded the Parachutist Badge.

3.  The applicant makes no additional statement.  As supporting evidence         he provides his DD Form 214 for the period ending 7 October 1987 and his      re-issued Airborne Course diploma as supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he initially enlisted in the Regular Army on 30 June 1971.

5.  The applicant provides a diploma from the U. S. Army Infantry School, dated  9 December 2002, showing he completed the Airborne Course, Class Number 19-71 (26 November – 17 December 1971).

6.  The applicant was released from active duty on 1 July 1974.  His DD Form 214 for this period does not show he was awarded the Parachutist Badge. It does not show he completed the Airborne Course.  It does show he was awarded the Pathfinder Badge.  

7.  The applicant reenlisted in the Regular Army on 5 August 1980.  He was separated by reason of physical disability on 7 October 1987.  His DD Form 214 for the period ending 7 October 1987 does not show he was awarded the Parachutist Badge nor that he completed the Airborne Course.  It does show that he was awarded the Pathfinder Badge and held military occupational specialty 11B3Y (skill qualification identifier "Y" is pathfinder qualified).

8.  Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents prepared for soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement or discharge.

9.  Army Regulation 635-5, effective 15 October 1973 and the version in effect at the time of the applicant's separation from active duty on 1 July 1974, provided that formal in-service training course successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 would be entered in item 27 (Remarks).

10.  Army Regulation 635-5, effective 1 October 1979 and the version in effect at the time of the applicant's separation from active duty on 7 October 1984, provided that formal in-service training courses (title, number of weeks, and year successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214) would be entered in item 14 (Military Education).
11.  Army Regulation 611-201 (Military Occupational Classification and Structure), in effect at the time, provided that SQI "Y" would be used to identify positions requiring assignment of personnel who were pathfinder-qualified.  Individuals were awarded this identifier by having successfully completing appropriate training at the U. S. Army Infantry School or other appropriate training and to be qualified as a parachutist (emphasis added).

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of the basic Parachutist Badge.  Award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board accepts the Airborne Course diploma provided by the applicant as sufficient evidence to show he completed the 3-week Airborne Course in 1971.  The fact the applicant had been awarded SQI "Y" (one of the requirements for being awarded this SQI was to be parachutist qualified) at some point and had been awarded the Pathfinder Badge is additional substantiating evidence to show he completed the Airborne Course.  

2.  The Board concludes that the applicant met the eligibility criteria for award of the basic Parachutist Badge based upon his completion of the Airborne Course.

3.  The applicant was issued two DD Forms 214.  The Airborne Course and the Parachutist Badge should be added to his DD Form 214 for the period ending     1 July 1974 as he completed the course and should have been awarded the badge during this period of service.

4.  The applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 7 October 1987 should be amended to add the Parachutist Badge.  However, since he did not complete the Airborne Course during that period of service, that course should not be added to this DD From 214.

5.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 1 July 1974 be amended to add the Parachutist Badge in item 26 and the 3-week Airborne Course, completed in 1971, in item 27.

2.  That the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 7 October 1987 be amended to add the Parachutist Badge in item 13.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo____  _jea____  _lmb____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O'Connor_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003084653	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030814	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	100.07	
2.	107.0120	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.