IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 27 July 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100006949 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 that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected to show his dates of service in Afghanistan. 2. The applicant states: * he served in Afghanistan from 5 August 2003 to 15 October 2003 * it was an administrative error 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 January 2000, he served as a heavy construction equipment operator, and he was released from active duty on 13 January 2004. 3. Item 12f (Foreign Service) of the applicant's DD Form 214 shows the entry "0000  00  00." Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar, and the Army Lapel Button as authorized awards. Item 18 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 shows he served in Afghanistan from 5 August 2003 to 15 October 2003 (a total of 2 months and 11 days). 4. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. The regulation states for item 12f, enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered in item 12c (Net Active Service This Period) from the Soldier's records. 5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Afghanistan Campaign Medal is awarded to members who have served in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The area of eligibility encompasses all the land area of the country of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the land area. The period of eligibility is on or after 24 October 2001 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of Operation Enduring Freedom. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign. Approved designated Afghanistan campaigns are the Liberation of Afghanistan (11 September 2001-30 November 2001), Consolidation I (1 December 2001-30 September 2006), and Consolidation II (1 October 2006-date to be determined. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have participated in Global War on Terrorism operations outside of the areas of eligibility designated for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or Iraq Campaign Medal. All Soldiers on active duty, including Army Reserve Soldiers mobilized or National Guard Soldiers activated, on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant served in Afghanistan from 5 August 2003 to 15 October 2003. Therefore, item 12f of the applicant's DD Form 214 should be corrected to show he served 2 months and 11 days of foreign service. 2. As a related issue based on his service in Afghanistan, the applicant is eligible for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star. 3. In addition, he served a period of qualifying service for award of the GWOTSM. 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: a. deleting the entry from item 12f of his DD Form 214, b. adding the entry "0000  02  11" to item 12f of his DD Form 214, and c. adding the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star and GWOTSM to his DD Form 214. ____________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) AR20100006949 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100006949 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1