PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            24 July 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003086706

	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. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Ms. Yolanda Maldonado		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		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 the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and Army Achievement Medal (AAM) be added to his separation document (DD Form 214). 

3.  The applicant states, in effect that his separation document does not include the ARCOM and AAM he received in the list of authorized awards.  In support of his application, he submits two award recommendations (DA Forms 638) and a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered the Army on 
18 September 1997.  He was trained in, awarded, and served in MOS 12B (Combat Engineer).  He continuously served on active duty for 3 years until being honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) on 17 September 2000, by reason of completion of required active service.

5.  The separation document (DD Form 214) issued to the applicant on the date of his separation confirms that he held the rank and pay grade of sergeant/E-5 (SGT/E-5) at that time.  It also shows that he earned the following awards during his tenure on active duty:  Army Good Conduct Medal; Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Medal; and Army Service Ribbon.  The 
DD Form 214 does not list the ARCOM or the AAM as authorized awards.

6.   The applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) contains a copy of an award certificate that confirms he was awarded the ARCOM, for meritorious service as team leader while assigned to Company A, 5th Engineer Battalion, 
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, from 18 December 1997 to 18 September 2000.  A DA Form 638 provided by the applicant confirms this award was approved by the proper authority and Part D (Orders Data) of the award recommendation shows that the announcement of the award was made in Orders Number 271-1, dated 
27 September 2000, issued by Headquarters, 1st Brigade Engineer, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

7.  The record also shows that the applicant was awarded the AAM for outstanding achievement in support of 1st ,Squadron, 3rd Armor Calvary Regiment, for the period 31 March through 21 April 1999.  The DA Form 638 provided by the applicant confirms this award was approved by the proper authority, and Part D (Orders Data) of the award recommendation shows that the announcement of this award was made in Orders Number 109-11, dated 21 April 1999, issued by 1st ,Squadron, 3rd Armor Calvary Regimen, Fort Carson, Colorado.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant’s contention that the ARCOM and the AAM should be added to the list of awards contained in his DD Form 214, and it finds this claim has merit.

2.  The evidence of record confirms that the applicant was awarded the ARCOM and the AAM and that these awards were not included in the list of authorized awards contained in Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his 17 September 2000 DD Form 214.  Thus, the Board concludes it would appropriate to add these earned awards 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 17 September 2000 DD Form 214 of the individual concerned by adding the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement 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:  

_AO__  __YM__  __JI___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ___________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ___________  DENY APPLICATION

		Arthur A. Omartian
		 CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086706	
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.  66.	 107.0020	
2.  71.	 107.0025	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.