PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                25 September 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2003088390

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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 DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his overseas service in Grenada, West Indies and Egypt.  He also requests correction of his records to show the Airborne Course and the Recondo Course.

3.  The applicant states that he was stationed in Grenada from 12 June 1984 to 2 August 1984.  He states that he received a Certificate of Achievement, an Army Achievement Medal, a Bright Star 85 Certificate for time he spent in Egypt, a Certificate of Training for Recondo Training, and a Certificate for successful completion of the Airborne Course.  In support of his application, he submitted a copy of his DD Form 214, a Certificate of Achievement, an award certificate for the Army Achievement Medal, a Certificate of Appreciation, a Certificate of Training, and a diploma from the U.S. Army Infantry School.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 December 1983 for a period of four years.  He completed the required training and was awarded military occupational specialty 63B (Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic).

5.  The applicant provided a copy of a Certificate of Achievement dated 2 August 1984 which shows he was assigned as the Headquarters Platoon Mechanic, United States Military Support Element Grenada in Grenada, West Indies from 12 June 1984 through 2 August 1984.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of an award certificate, dated 23 October 1984 which shows he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for meritorious service during the period 12 June 1984 through 30 July 1984 while assigned to the 65th Military Police Company in Grenada, West Indies.

7.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the applicant served in Egypt.  Item 5 (Oversea Service) on the applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) does not indicate that he served in Egypt.

8.  The applicant provided a diploma from the U.S. Army Infantry School which shows he successfully completed the Airborne Course on 8 February 1985.  Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) on his DA Form 2-1 shows he completed three weeks of training at the basic Airborne Course in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1985.  

9.  The applicant provided a Department of the Army Certificate of Training which shows he successfully completed the Recondo Course during the period 29 November through 13 December 1984.  His discharge document shows he was awarded the Army Recondo Badge.

10.  The applicant was released from active duty on 16 December 1987.  His DD Form 214 does not show any foreign service in item 12f (Foreign Service) or item 18 (Remarks).  

11.  The applicant's DD Form 214 does not list the Airborne Course or the Recondo Course in item 14 (Military Education).

12.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect at the time, establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that foreign service performed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 will be entered in item 12f.  

13.  Army Regulation 635-5 also states, in pertinent part, that item 14 (Military Education) will list formal in-service training courses of 40 hours or more successfully completed during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills are not listed.

14.  Recondo, Raider and Jungle Warfare Training Courses are training courses in combat skills.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant served in Grenada, West Indies from June 1984 to August 1984.  There is no evidence available to the Board which shows he served in Egypt.  

2.  The evidence of record provided by the applicant shows he served in Grenada, West Indies during the period 12 June 1984 through 2 August 1984.  Therefore, item 18 on the applicant's DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the entry:  "SERVICE IN GRENADA:  12 JUN 84 - 2 AUG 84."  Item 12f on the applicant's DD Form 214 should also be corrected to show he completed 1 month and 20 days of foreign service.

3.  The applicant successfully completed three weeks of training at the basic Airborne Course in 1985.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the entry:  "BASIC AIRBORNE COURSE, 3 WEEKS, FEBRUARY 1985."

4.  The Board notes that the applicant completed the Recondo Course in December 1984.  However, in accordance with Army Regulation 635-5, Recondo Courses are not entered under education and training of the DD Form 214 because training course for combat skills are not listed on the DD Form 214.
Therefore, there is insufficient basis for correcting his DD Form 214 to show this course.
5.  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:

a.  by amending item 14 on the applicant's DD Form 214 to show the entry:  "BASIC AIRBORNE COURSE, 3 WEEKS, FEBRUARY 1985;" 

b.  by amending item 12f on his DD Form 214 to show he completed 1 month and 20 days of foreign service; and

c.  by amending item 18 on his DD Form 214 to show the entry:  "SERVICE IN GRENADA:  12 JUN 84 - 2 AUG 84."  

2.  That so much of the application as it relates to correction of his DD Form 214 to show overseas service in Egypt and to show the Recondo Course be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

JNS____  RKS_____  LDS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		John N. Slone______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003088390	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030925	
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	
2.	100.0000	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.