IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 2 August 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120002893 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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). 2. The applicant states he departed on transition leave prior to the approval of his MSM. 3. The applicant provides an MSM certificate, dated 21 October 2011. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. On 31 January 2012, the applicant was retired by reason of sufficient service for retirement in the rank/grade of sergeant first class (SFC)/E-7. He completed 23 years and 7 days of creditable active service. The DD Form 214 he was issued at the time does not include the MSM. 2. The applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) contains a DD Form 2648 (Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist for Active Component Members) that shows the applicant completed out-processing for retirement and signed this form on 19 September 2011. 3. The applicant provides an MSM certificate, dated 21 October 2011, that shows he was awarded the MSM for meritorious service for the period 1 February 2002 to 31 January 2012 by Permanent Order A-294-1, issued by Headquarters, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX. 4. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. Chapter 2 contains instructions for preparing the DD Form 214. The instructions for awards states to add all awards earned during military service. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The applicant’s request to add the MSM to his DD Form 214 has been carefully considered and found to have merit. The evidence confirms the applicant departed on transition leave prior to the approval of the MSM in question, as evidenced by the DD Form 2648 in his OMPF. The certificate provided by the applicant confirms the MSM was approved and announced by permanent orders on 21 October 2011. Therefore, it would be appropriate at this time to correct his DD Form 214 to show this award. 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 adding to his DD Form 214 the Meritorious Service Medal. ____________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) AR20120002893 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120002893 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1