IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 April 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090000222 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 the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) be added to Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). 2. The applicant states, in effect, that she did not receive the MSM in question until after her discharge from the Army. 3. The applicant provides her DD Form 214, a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), and an MSM certificate in support of her application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant’s military records shows she enlisted in the Regular Army and entered active duty on 22 September 1998, and was trained in and awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 31B (Military Police). 2. On 10 August 2008, the applicant was honorably discharged, in the rank of SSG, by reason of pregnancy or childbirth. The DD Form 214 she was issued at the time confirms she completed total of 9 years, 10 months, and 19 days of active military service and that she held the rank of staff sergeant (SSG) at the time of her separation. 3. Item 13 of the applicant's DD Form 214 shows she earned the following awards during his active duty tenure: Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic Bar, and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge. 4. The applicant provides a DA Form 638, dated 3 September 2008, which shows she was recommended for the MSM for her exceptionally meritorious service during the period 1 December 2005 through 1 August 2008. It also shows the appropriate award approval authority, a major general, approved award of the MSM on 27 September 2008, and that this award was authorized and announced in United States Army Maneuver Support Center and Fort Leonard Wood (USAMANSCEN & FLW) Permanent Orders Number 274-08, dated 30 September 2008. She also provides a copy of her MSM certificate, which lists the Permanent Order that announced the award. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The regulation stipulates that all awards and decorations for all periods of service will be entered on the DD Form 214. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of record confirms the applicant was awarded the MSM by the appropriate authority, as evidenced by DA Form 638 and the MSM certificate, which both list the official permanent orders that authorized and announced this award. Therefore, it would be appropriate to add the MSM to the list of awards in Item 13 of her DD Form 214 at this time. BOARD VOTE: ___x____ __x ____ ____x ___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 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 amending Item 13 of her DD Form 214 by adding the Meritorious Service Medal; and by providing her a correction to her separation document that includes this award. _______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) AR20090000222 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090000222 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1