IN THE CASE OF: 

		BOARD DATE:	    27 May 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130017268 


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 award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM).

2.  He states his record was perfectly clean and he was honorably discharged.  Therefore, he believes he is entitled to the AGCM.

3.  He provides his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty).

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 31 July 1972.  He was honorably released from active duty on 30 July 1975 and transferred to the U.S. Army Control Group (Reinforcement).  He completed 3 years of active duty service.

3.  His DD Form 214 does not show award of the AGCM.

4.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he received all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service.  There is no record of any Article 15's, courts-martial, or any type of adverse action in his available records.  There is also no record of a commander's disqualification for award of the AGCM.

5.  Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, provided that the AGCM was awarded to individuals who completed a qualified period of active duty enlisted service.  This period was 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ended with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings and no convictions by a court-martial.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The evidence of record shows the applicant received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings and he had no adverse actions or commander's disqualification for award of the AGCM.  Therefore, he should be awarded the AGCM (1st Award) for the period 31 July 1972 to 30 July 1975 and his DD Form 214 should be corrected 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 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 him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 31 July 1972 to 30 July 1975 and

	b.  adding award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) 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)                                         AR20130017268



3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130017268



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1