PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF 

	BOARD DATE:             22 July 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR2003086261

	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. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas D. Howard		Member	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		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 his separation document (DD Form 214) be corrected by adding the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) to the list of earned awards.

3.  The applicant states in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not include the MSM in the list of earned awards contained in Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 and a Recommendation for Award (DD Form 638). 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 5 July 2002, he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD), by reason of completion of required active service, after completing 4 years and 5 days of active military service.

5.  The DD Form 214 issued to and signed by the applicant on the date of his REFRAD confirms he held that rank and pay grade of captain/03 (CPT/03) on the date of his separation.  It also shows during his active duty tenure he earned the following awards:  Army Achievement Medal; Army Service Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; and Parachutist Badge.  The MSM is not listed as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) contains a copy of the MSM award certificate, which confirms he was awarded the MSM, for duties related to his service as the Chief, Industrial Hygiene Division, United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Fort McPherson, Georgia, from 19 November 1998 through 5 July 2000.  The DA Form 638 provided by the applicant confirms this award was approved by the proper authority.  Part D (Orders Data) of the DA Form 638 shows that Orders Number 164-018, dated 13 June 2002, issued by USA Medical Command Fort Sam Houston, Texas, were published announcing this award.   

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant’s contention that Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the MSM as an authorized award, and it finds this claim has merit. 

2.  The evidence of record confirms that the applicant was awarded the MSM and that this award was not included in the list of authorized awards contained in Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant’s 5 July 2002 DD Form 214.  Thus, the Board concludes it would appropriate to add this earned MSM to his record at this time.
3.  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 amending the 5 July 2002 DD Form 214 of the individual concerned by adding the Meritorious Service Medal to Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized); and by providing him a copy of a corrected separation document that includes this change.

BOARD VOTE:  

_TDH__  __JS__  __TL___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ____ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ____ DENY APPLICATION

		
		John N. Slone
	                                              CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086261	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED		
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 63	107.0017	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.