PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:          9 October 2003                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003086063

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. Robert J. Osborn		Member	
	Ms. Eloise C. Prendergast 		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, two bronze service stars to be affixed to the Kosovo Campaign Medal.  He also requests award of the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he is entitled to the Kosovo Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars because his unit participated in the Kosovo Air Campaign and the Kosovo Defense Campaign during his deployment in support of Operation Task Force Hawk.  In support of his application, he submits a letter, dated 18 December 2002, to a Member of Congress; MILPER Message Number 00-180; deployment orders; and a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).    

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 13 March 1996, served as a multiple launch rocket system crewmember and was released from active duty on 30 June 2001.

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Lapel Button, the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, and the Driver and Mechanic Badge as authorized awards.

6.  Detachment A (Babenhausen Squad), 55th Personnel Service Battalion Orders 120-05, dated 30 April 1999, show the applicant was deployed on or about 12 April 1999 for 179 days to Kosovo in support of Operation Task Force Hawk.

7.  There are no orders for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in the available records.  There is also no evidence in the available records which shows the applicant participated in an authorized military operation which was recognized with award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

8.  MILPER Message Number 00-180 approved establishment of the Kosovo Campaign Medal for service in support of Operations Allied Force, Joint Guardian, Allied Harbor, Sustain Hope/Shining, Noble Anvil, or service with Task Force Hawk (5 April 1999 to 24 June 1999), Task Force Saber, or Task Force Hunter during the Kosovo Air Campaign or the Kosovo Defense Campaign.  The Kosovo Air Campaign began on 24 March 1999 and ended on 10 June 1999.  The Kosovo Defense Campaign began on 11 June 1999 and will end on a date to be determined.  To be eligible for award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal an individual must be in a unit participating in or directly supporting the operation for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive and/or meet other established criteria. A bronze service star will be worn on this ribbon to denote participation in each authorized campaign.
9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995 and 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides, in pertinent part, that the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is authorized for participants in military operations within a specific geographic area during a specified time period.  An individual, who was not engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous activity, must have participated in operations or in direct support of operations for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows the Kosovo Campaign Medal as an authorized award.  The applicant provided evidence which shows that he was deployed on or about 12 April 1999 for 179 days to Kosovo in support of Operation Task Force Hawk.  Based on the foregoing, the Board determined that it is reasonable to presume that the applicant participated in the Kosovo Air Campaign (24 March 1999 to 10 June 1999) and the Kosovo Defense Campaign (11 June 1999 to a date to be determined).  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to two bronze stars to be affixed to the Kosovo Campaign Medal and correction of his DD Form 214 to show these awards.

2.  The applicant did not serve a period of qualifying service for award of the National Defense Service Medal.  Therefore, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the National Defense Service Medal in this case. 

3.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he participated in an authorized military operation which was recognized with award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  Therefore, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in this case.

 4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars.
2.  That so much of the application as pertains to award of the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO___  RJO____  ECP_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Raymond V. O'Connor___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086063	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20031009	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.