MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

		IN THE CASE OF:      

		BOARD DATE:           13 November 2003
		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003089434

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Ms. Eloise C. Prendergast		Member	
	Mr. Ronald E. Blakely		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
            records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, that his discharge dated April 2000, be corrected to show he was promoted to the pay grade of E-5, that he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), a Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) and a Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (NCOPDR).

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he completed the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) in February 1999 and should have been promoted to the pay grade of E-5 in August 1999.  He also states that he should have been awarded the ARCOM for his completion of the PLDC as well as an AGCM and an NCOPDR.  He further states that he would still be serving; however, he was diagnosed as having Narcolepsy and was medically disqualified as he was applying for a United States Army Reserve (USAR) commission.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He initially enlisted in the Regular Army on 21 July 1991 for a period of 3 years and 14 weeks, training as an infantryman, assignment to Fort Ord, California, and participation in the Army College Fund.  He completed his training and was assigned to Fort Ord, where he remained until he was honorably released from active duty on 16 February 1993, under the provisions of Army Regulation     635-200, chapter 6, due to dependency.  He had served 6 months and 26 days of total active service and was transferred to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement).

On 1 February 1999, he was advanced to the pay grade of E-4 in the USAR.

The applicant attended the USAR PLDC at Fort Lewis, Washington during the period of 5 February 1999 to 20 February 1999 and was selected as the Distinguished Leadership Graduate.

On 30 April 2000, he was honorably discharged from the USAR.

A review of the available records fails to show that he was ever promoted above the pay grade of E-4 or that he was ever recommended for award of the ARCOM.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides the authority for the award of decorations and awards.  It provides, in pertinent part, that each recommendation for an award of a military decoration must be administratively entered into military channels within 2 years of the act, achievement or service to be honored.

That regulation also provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity in active Federal military service.  There is no right or entitlement to the medal until such time as the immediate commander has approved the award and it has been announced in permanent orders.  The AGCM may be awarded for a period of less than 3 years, but at least 1 year of active Federal Service.  The NCOPDR does not require orders and the basic ribbon is authorized for USAR soldiers in an active status who complete the PLDC. 

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

2.  The applicant was promoted to the pay grade of E-4 just 4 days prior to attending the PLDC and he has failed to show that he is entitled to be promoted to the pay grade of E-5.  Accordingly, there is no basis to do so at this time.

3.  The applicant has also failed to show that he was recommended for award of the ARCOM and that the award was not properly processed to completion.  Therefore, absence evidence to the contrary, there is no basis to award him the ARCOM.

4.  The applicant's contention that he is entitled to award of the AGCM is without merit.  The AGCM is awarded for active service only.  Accordingly, the applicant is not entitled to award of the AGCM.

5.  The NCOPDR does not require orders awarding the ribbon or the numerals that denote the level attained.  While the applicant is authorized to wear the NCOPDR, no action by the Board is required to authorize it.

6.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___reb __  __ecp___  ___ao___  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003089434	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2003/11/13	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  66	107.0020/ARCOM	
2.  102	107.0056/AGCM	
3.  123	107.0077/NCOPDR	
4.  310	131.0000/PROM	
5.		
6.