IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150010547 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: 3 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150010547 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 amending his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), for the period ending 30 July 2013, as follows: * deleting from item 12f the entry "0000-00-00" and adding the entry "0000-11-17" * adding to item 13 the Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Commendation Medal * adding to item 18 the entry "SERVICE IN KUWAIT/IRAQ FROM 20080419-20090406" ___________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: 3 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150010547 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 his foreign service in Iraq from 8 May 2008 through 20 April 2009. 2. The applicant states he served in Yusupha [sic] and at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior and Camp Victory during his service in Iraq. His period of foreign service was omitted from his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214 and DA Form 4980-14 (Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) Certificate), annotated with Permanent Orders Number 052-058, issued by the Commander, Multi-National Division – Center, Baghdad, Iraq on 21 February 2009. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 August 2007. He entered active duty, completed his initial entry training, and was awarded military occupational specialty 14S (Avenger Crewmember). 2. Permanent Orders Number 052-058, issued by the Commander, Multi-National Division – Center, Baghdad, Iraq on 21 February 2009, awarded him the ARCOM for exceptional and meritorious service while assigned as a Sense and Warn [equipment] Operator during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), from 8 May 2008 through 20 April 2009. 3. The applicant was honorably discharged on 30 July 2013. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 5 years, 11 months, and 23 days of net active service this period a. Block 12f (Foreign Service) of his DD Form 214 contains the entry "0000-00-00." b. Block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation c. Block 18 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 is void of an entry that shows he served in Iraq. 4. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) records show he received hostile fire /imminent danger pay (HF/IDP) and combat zone tax exclusion (CZTE) for service in Kuwait from 19 April 2008 to 6 April 2009, a period of 11 months and 17 days. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Chapter 2 contains guidance for preparation of the DD Form 214. It states that for: a. Block 12f, the preparer should enter the total active duty performed outside the continental United States during the period covered by the DD Form 214; b. Block 13, the preparer should list all awards and decorations from the Soldier's records; and c. Block 18, for Soldiers deployed with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service, the preparer should enter the statement "SERVICE IN (name of country deployed) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)." 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The Iraq Campaign Medal is awarded to members who have served in direct support of OIF. The area of eligibility encompasses all the land area of the country of Iraq, the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles. The Iraq Campaign Medal period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 through 31 December 2011. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign. Approved campaigns are: * Liberation of Iraq (19 March 2003-1 May 2003) * Transition of Iraq (2 May 2003-28 June 2004) * Iraqi Governance (29 June 2004-15 December 2005) * National Resolution (16 December 2005-9 January 2007) * Iraqi Surge (10 January 2007-31 December 2008) * Iraqi Sovereignty (1 January 2009-31 August 2010) * New Dawn (1 September 2010-31 December 2011) b. The Overseas Service Ribbon is authorized to all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status for successful completion of overseas tours. Table 3-2 of Army Regulation 614-30 (Overseas Service) identifies tour lengths. 3. A Frequently Asked Questions Document from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command Military Awards Branch, dated 22 January 2006, contains examples to show Soldiers' eligibility for awards while deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. The document states, "Question: How long do I have to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan to be awarded the Overseas Service Ribbon? Answer: Overseas tour credit is outlined in Army Regulation 614-30 (Overseas Service). Provided is a clarification statement the proponent to Army Regulation 614-30 has provided our office: Soldiers who serve a minimum of 11 cumulative months or 9 continuous months in Iraq in a temporary change of station/tour of duty status get credit for a complete short tour. The reference is Army Regulation 614-30, table 3-2, rules 5 and 7. Iraq and Afghanistan are considered isolated areas where tour lengths have not been established by DOD; therefore, the Army gives equivalent credit for periods of change of station/tour of duty." DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's request for correction of his DD Form 214 to show his foreign service in Iraq, from 8 May 2008 through 20 April 2009, was carefully considered. 2. In support of his request, he provides an ARCOM Certificate that shows he was awarded the ARCOM for his service during OIF. The period cited on his ARCOM Certificate coincides with the period he cites in his request. 3. DFAS records also show he served in Kuwait and Iraq from 19 April 2008 through 6 April 2009, a period of 11 months and 17 days. In general, DFAS records do not reflect individual and unit movements into Iraq; therefore, service completed in Iraq must be verified by another source. In this case, the applicant's ARCOM Certificate can be used to substantiate his service in Iraq. Based on this service: a. Item 12f of his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show he completed 11 months and 17 days of foreign service. b. He served a qualifying period of service for the Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars to designate his participation in two campaigns; however, his DD Form 214 does not show this award or its corresponding bronze service stars. c. He served a qualifying period of service for the Overseas Service Ribbon, by virtue of having completed 11 months and 17 days of overseas service in Kuwait/Iraq; however, his DD Form 214 does not show this award. d. Item 18 of his DD Form 214 should show his foreign service in Kuwait and Iraq from 19 April 2008 through 6 April 2009. //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) AR20150010547 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2