IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 6 May 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130019355 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 item 14 (Military Education) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 10 March 1990 to show he completed the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC). 2. The applicant states: * PLDC was not entered on his DD Form 214 * he attended the course from 11 August to 8 September 1998 in Germany 3. The applicant provides a certificate of graduation. 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 22 May 1985 for a period of 3 years and 16 weeks. He completed his training and was awarded military occupational specialty 19K (M1 Abrams Armor Crewman). He arrived in Germany on 23 February 1987. 3. He provides a certificate of graduation which shows he successfully completed PLDC in Germany from 11 August to 8 September 1988. 4. He departed Germany on 31 January 1990. 5. On 10 March 1990, he was honorably released from active duty. 6. His DD Form 214 for the period ending 10 March 1990 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Army Service Ribbon * Army Achievement Medal * Good Conduct Medal * Overseas Service Ribbon * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar and Pistol Bar 7. Item 14 of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "NONE." 8. 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. It states that for item 14, list formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214. Include title, length in weeks, and year completed. This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, do not list training courses for combat skills. 9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (NPDR) was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981. It is awarded to Active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses. Effective 30 March 1989, a service member will be awarded the NPDR with the numeral which identifies the highest level of NCO Education System successfully completed as follows: * 1 = Bar Ribbon Device = Primary Level * 2 = Basic Level * 3 = Advanced Level * 4 = Senior Level DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The certificate of graduation provided by the applicant which shows he completed PLDC in Germany in 1988 is accepted as sufficient evidence on which to amend item 14 of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 10 March 1990. 2. As a related issue, based on completion of PLDC, he is entitled to award of the NPDR-1 and his DD Form 214 for the period ending 10 March 1990 should be corrected to show this ribbon. 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 in item 14 of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 10 March 1990 and replacing it with the entry "Primary Leadership Development Course, 4 weeks, 1988;" and b. adding the NPDR-1 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) AR20130019355 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130019355 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1