IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080010643 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) that was issued at the time of his release from active duty on 15 May 2008, which will simply be referred to as his DD Form 214 throughout the remainder of these proceedings, be corrected to show the award of the Meritorious Service Medal. 2. The applicant essentially states that he did not receive his award of the Meritorious Service Medal until he was already on transition leave and, as a result, it was not added to his military records in time for him to have it included on his DD Form 214 during his out-processing. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214 and a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) and certificate showing that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in support of this application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's military records show that he was commissioned a second lieutenant in United States Army on 2 June 2001 after graduating from the United States Military Academy. After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and the Combat Lifesaver Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, he departed for an overseas tour in Hawaii. His DD Form 214 shows that he served in Iraq from 20 March 2003 to 1 June 2003, where he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, and in Afghanistan from 25 March 2004 to 24 March 2005, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. On 15 May 2008, he was honorably released from active duty. His DD form 214 essentially shows that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, the basic Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. 2. The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. However, the applicant provided a properly constituted DA Form 638 and a certificate showing that the was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division Permanent Orders Number 011-005G, dated 11 January 2008, for exceptionally meritorious served while serving as a Rear Detachment Commander from 1 August 2006 to 17 October 2007. 3. During a review of the applicant’s DD Form 214, it was determined that he is entitled to service stars to be affixed to his already awarded Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. MILPER Message Number 08-123, dated 30 April 2008, provided guidance on the criteria, applicability, and standards on awarding service stars on the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. One bronze service star shall be awarded for one or more days of participation in each designated campaign phase. Based upon the applicant's DD Form 214 showing his service in Iraq from 20 March 2003 to 1 June 2003, the applicant participated in the Liberation of Iraq campaign (19 March 2003 to 1 May 2003) and the Transition of Iraq campaign (2 May 2003 to 28 June 2004). Additionally, based upon the applicant's DD Form 214 showing his service in Afghanistan from 25 March 2004 to 24 March 2005, he participated in the Consolidation I campaign (1 December 2001 to 30 September 2006). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the award of the Meritorious Service Medal. 2. Permanent orders awarded the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal for the period 1 August 2006 to 17 October 2007, and this period of service was covered by his DD Form 214. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show the award of the Meritorious Service Medal. 3. The applicant participated in two campaigns during his service in Iraq and one campaign during his service in Afghanistan. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show two bronze service stars to be affixed to his already awarded Iraq Campaign Medal and one bronze service star to be affixed to his already awarded Afghanistan Campaign Medal. BOARD VOTE: __XXX __ __XXX__ __XXX__ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. showing the award of the Meritorious Service Medal; and b. showing two bronze service stars to be affixed to his already awarded Iraq Campaign Medal and one bronze service star to be affixed to his already awarded Afghanistan Campaign Medal. 2. The Board wants to thank the applicant for the sacrifices he made in service to the United States during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his honorable service in arms. ___ XXX ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080010643 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080010643 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1