BOARD DATE: 11 May 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000183 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 BOARD DATE: 11 May 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000183 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 adding award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (El Salvador) 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. BOARD DATE: 11 May 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000183 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 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for his service in El Salvador. 2. The applicant states: a. His service record should reflect award of the AFEM, which he earned for his assignment to the El Salvador Analysis Section of U.S. Southern Command from 2 September 1986 to 26 November 1986. The AFEM is awarded to those who were involved in the El Salvadoran counter-insurgency operations from 1 January 1981 to 1 February 1992. His service included hazardous duty pay. b. His service records contain a letter of commendation for his distinguished service while attached to the El Salvador Analysis Section of the U.S. Southern Command. It describes his significant contributions to the cause while he was in Panama and it mentions numerous on-site visits, both in Panama and in the region, and the tasking of collection assets to U.S. Southern Command's counterinsurgency mission. It notes his analysis from the counterinsurgency work was provided to the intelligence community worldwide and that the national intelligence officer's subsequent analysis was in agreement with his work. It also notes one of his more outstanding contributions was the conception and development of an intricate analytical working aid, which in the prosecution of an active counterinsurgency, his analytical matrix objectively defined and traced the various operational areas of the insurgent forces and qualified the extent of their control. 3. The applicant provides: * letter of commendation, dated 9 December 1986 * DA Form 67-8 (U.S. Army Officer Evaluation Report) * 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 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army on 18 May 1985. 3. He provided a DA Form 67-8 covering the period 20 November 1985 through 19 November 1986 which states, in part: "During a 90 day REDTRAIN [readiness training] he demonstrated his technical expertise and keen analytical insight supporting USSOUTHCOM's [U.S. Southern Command's] counterinsurgency effort in El Salvador." 4. He provided a letter of commendation from his commanding officer, dated 9 December 1986, for exemplary performance while attached to the El Salvador Analysis Section, U.S. Southern Command, from 2 September to 26 November 1986. 5. On 5 February 1988, he was discharged under honorable conditions for miscellaneous reasons (unqualified resignation). 6. His DD Form 214 does not show the AFEM as an authorized award. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. The AFEM is awarded for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, and U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. Qualifying service for this award includes service in El Salvador from 1 January 1981 through 1 February 1992. DISCUSSION: The evidence shows the applicant was attached to the El Salvador Analysis Section, U.S. Southern Command, supporting a counterinsurgency effort in El Salvador from 2 September to 26 November 1986. He met the eligibility criteria for award of the AFEM. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160000183 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160000183 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2