IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 April 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150010339 BOARD VOTE: ___x_____ ___x___ ___x____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 April 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150010339 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. Amending item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214, for the period ending 1 July 1999, by deleting the "Army Good Conduct Medal" and "Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon" and adding the: * Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award) * Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral "2" * Parachutist Badge b. Amending item 14 (Military Education) of his DD Form 214, for the period ending 1 July 1999, to add the entry "Airborne Course, 3 weeks, 1997." __________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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 April 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150010339 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 he completed the Airborne Course. 2. The applicant states he attended basic airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia in December 1997; however, his DD Form 214 does not show he completed this training. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214. 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 3 January 1992. He entered active duty, completed his initial entry training, and was awarded military occupational specialty 31R (Mobile Subscriber Equipment Transmission Systems Operator). 3. His official military personnel file (OMPF) contains a DA Form 1059 (Service School Academic Evaluation Report) that shows he completed the Basic Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia on 30 October 1996. 4. His OMPF contains Permanent Orders 344-301, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia on 10 December 1997, which awarded him the Parachutist Badge on 19 December 1997, upon his successful completion of airborne training. Although these orders pre-date the anticipated completion date of his airborne training, other documents located in his OMPF show he did, in fact, complete the Airborne Couse as anticipated. 5. Permanent Orders 229-156, issued by Bravo Detachment, 18th Personnel Service Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 17 August 1998, awarded him the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award) for the period 3 January 1995 through 2 January 1998. 6. He was honorably discharged from the Army on 1 July 1999. a. Item 11 (Primary Specialty) contains the entry, in part, "31R1P." The special qualification identifier "P" indicates he was qualified as a parachutist. b. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) does not show he was awarded or authorized the Parachutist Badge. However, it does show he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal and the NCO Professional Development Ribbon. c. Item 14 (Military Education) of his DD Form 214 does not show he completed the Airborne Course; however, it does show he completed the Basic NCO Course. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon. The NCO Professional Development Ribbon (NCOPDR) was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981, as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990. a. Effective 1 August 1981, all active Army, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers in an active status are eligible for award of the NCOPDR for satisfactory completion of the respective NCOES or Reserve Component –NCOES professional development courses. b. The NCOPDR consists of the basic ribbon with numeral devices 2, 3, or 4, which signify satisfactory completion of the respective levels of NCO professional development courses. c. Once a service member has initially been awarded the NCOPDR, upon graduation from the Warrior Leader Course (formerly known as the Primary Leadership Professional Development Course), subsequent appropriate numerals will be awarded to identify completion of higher level courses within the NCO Education System (NCOES). Effective 30 March 1989, a member will be awarded the NCOPDR with the numeral that identifies the highest level of NCOES successfully completed as follows: 1=Bar Ribbon Device=Primary Level; 2=Basic Level; 3=Advanced Level; and 4=Senior Level. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and provides that: a. item 13 will reflect decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized for all periods of service. Certificates of achievement, letters of appreciation, and similar documents are not recorded on the DD Form 214; and b. item 14 will reflect only formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214. The course entries will include title, length in weeks, and year completed. This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, combat skills courses will not be entered. DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant completed the Airborne Course in December 1997; however, this course is not shown on his DD Form 214. Because airborne training is not strictly a combat skills course, item 14 of his DD Form 214 should be amended to show he completed the Airborne Course. As a related issue, it would be appropriate to amend item 13 of his DD Form 214 to add the Parachutist Badge. 2. Permanent orders awarded him the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award); however, his DD Form 214 shows only a single award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. 3. His DD Form 214 and the evidence of record confirm he completed the Basic NCO Course. As such, his DD Form 214 should reflect his award of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral "2." //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150017490 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150010339 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2