BOARD DATE: 30 August 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120001549 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 two separate applications, that she be awarded the Good Conduct Medal and correction of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show she was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. 2. The applicant states: * the Army Achievement Medal is not shown on her DD Form 214 * the Army Achievement Medal was mailed to her after the expiration of her term of service (ETS) date * she did not have the Army Achievement Medal when she out-processed from the Army * she never received Good Conduct Medal orders and it is not shown on her DD Form 214 * she earned the Good Conduct Medal and would like to see it properly documented in her record 3. The applicant provides: * two copies of a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), dated 7 December 2009 * two copies of Permanent Order 344-04 * two copies of her DD Form 214, dated 14 December 2009 * Self-authored statement (undated) * Undated, self-authored statement * DA Form 2166-8 (NCO Evaluation Report) * Email to her former first sergeant, dated 11 March 2010 * Email to her battalion noncommissioned officer-in-charge (NCOIC), dated 15 November 2010 * Email to her battalion command sergeant major, dated 19 November 2010 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 24 October 2006, in pay grade E-1. She completed training as a Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer. She was promoted through the ranks to pay grade E-5. 2. On 10 December 2009, Permanent Order Number 344-04 was published awarding the applicant the Army Achievement Medal for meritorious service while serving as a first platoon sergeant and orderly room NCOIC from 11 May 2007 to 23 October 2009. 3. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 14 December 2009, upon completion of her required active service, in pay grade E-5. She completed 3 years, 1 month, and 21 days of net active service this period. Her DD Form 214 shows the following awards: * National Defense Service Medal * Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Army Service Ribbon 4. There is no evidence that the applicant was ever awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal while she was in the Army. 5. There is no evidence in her records of any court-martial convictions, personnel actions, or statements that would justify her disqualification for award of the Good Conduct Medal. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states that the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency, and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service. This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service. There is no automatic entitlement to the Army Good Conduct Medal; however, disqualification must be justified. 7. The Army Lapel Button is a gratuitous issue and the eligibility requirements are as follows: * Soldiers transitioning with an honorable characterization of service (those being transferred to another component for completion of a military service obligation and those receiving an Honorable Discharge Certificate) * Soldiers transitioning under a non-adverse separation provision * Soldiers who have served a minimum of 9 months continuous service - a break in service is 24 hours or more * Soldiers who have had active Federal service on or after 1 April 1984 or service in a Ready Reserve unit organized to serve as a unit (Army National Guard unit or Army Reserve troop program unit) on or after 1 July 1986 * No Soldier separating from the Service is to be awarded more than one Army Lapel Button DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's contentions have been noted. Her supporting evidence has been considered. 2. Permanent Order Number 344-04 was published on 10 December 2009 awarding her the Army Achievement Medal. This award should be added on her DD Form 214. 3. There is no evidence in her records of any court-martial convictions, personnel actions or statements that would justify the applicant's disqualification for award of the Good Conduct Medal. Additionally, she was promoted through the ranks from pay grade E-1 to E-5 in 3 years. Based on the available evidence, she should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal and her DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award. 4. The applicant is also authorized the Army Lapel Button, which should be added on her DD Form 214. BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ___X_____ _X____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is 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. awarding her the Army Good Conduct Medal (First Award) the exceptional conduct and efficiency for the period 24 October 2006 through 23 October 2009 and b. amending her DD Form 214, dated 14 December 2009, to add the Army Good Conduct Medal (First Award), the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Lapel Button. __________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) AR20120001549 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120001549 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1