IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 October 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080012053 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, correction of her Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to show her combat tour in Panama. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that she was assigned for duty in Panama and it was never added to her DD form 214 when she retired. 3. The applicant provides, in support of her application, a copy of her Personnel Qualification Record, Part II (DA Form 2-1). She also indicates in her application that she submitted a copy of her Personnel Qualification Record, Part I (DA Form 2a), but it was not attached. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. On 14 November 1985, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. She completed her initial training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 73C (Finance Specialist). She served through a series of assignments and attained the rank of sergeant first class, pay grade E-7 in MOS 44C (Financial Management Technician). 2. The applicant’s personnel records show that she was placed on individual assignment orders four times for duty overseas totaling 5 years, 11 months, and 5 days, as follows: a. Republic of Korea with the Finance and Accounting Office – Korea (FAO-K), from 1 April 1986 to 19 March 1987 (11 months and 19 days); b. Panama with the 180th Finance Support Unit from 8 March 1989 to 4 May 1990 (1 year, 1 month, and 27 days); c. Republic of Korea with the 176th Finance Battalion from 15 January 1994 to 13 January 1995 (11 months and 29 days; and d. Hawaii with the 125th Finance, Schofield Barracks from 14 January 1998 to 3 January 2000 (2 years, 9 months, and 20 days). 3. For personnel management purposes, Hawaii is normally considered to be an overseas assignment for Soldiers. 4. Item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns) of the applicant’s DA Form 2-1 shows she was awarded an Overseas Service Ribbon for each of her four overseas tours of duty. 5. Item 27 (Remarks) of the applicant’s DA Form 2-1 shows the entry “Duty in Imminent Danger Pay [IDP] Area (Panama), 20 Dec[ember] [19]89 – 31 Jan[uary] [19]90.” 6. On 30 November 2005, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Retired). She had completed 20 years and 17 days of creditable active duty. 7. Item 12 (Record of Service) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that she served overseas for a total of 5 years, 11 months, and 5 days during this period of active duty service. 8. Item 18 (Remarks) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show that she served on a unit deployment. 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) provides detailed instructions for completing separation documents, including the DD Form 214.  It provides, in pertinent part, for an entry in Item 18 (Remarks) showing an active duty Soldier’s unit deployments. The entry is to read: “SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD – YYYYMMDD).” DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant served overseas in accordance with individual assignment orders and completed four tours of duty. However, these assignments did not constitute service during a unit deployment and therefore are not to be listed in Item 18 (Remarks) of her DD Form 214. 2. Although the applicant’s DA Form 2-1 shows she performed duties in an IDP area in Panama, there is no provision for recording IDP areas served on the DD Form 214. 3. Item 12f (Record of Service – Foreign Service) of her DD Form 214 correctly credits her with having completed 5 years, 11 months, and 5 days of overseas service. 4. 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 the aforementioned requirement. 5. In view of the above, the applicant’s request should be denied. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____X___ ____X___ ____X___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _________X______________ 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) AR20070015723 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080012053 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1