BOARD DATE: 12 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002462 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: 12 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002462 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20150005206, dated 17 December 2015. 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 with an effective date of 14 May 1971 by adding the Royal Thai Army Airborne Wings. _____________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: 12 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002462 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 reconsideration of his previous request to add the award of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) Airborne Wings in lieu of Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge.) 2. The applicant states: a. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), dated 25 June 2015, indicates that the RTA Airborne Wings are an authorized foreign badge. He submits that the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere awarded to him in 1971 is the same as the RTA Airborne Wings recognized in Table D-1 of Army Regulation 600-8-22. b. He made 10 parachute jumps with the Thai Special Forces (SF) while stationed in Thailand and he received jump pay. However, since he was on a classified team and was processed out of the Army without an opportunity to review his records, he is not sure how many of his jumps were recorded in his record. c. Regardless, his qualifications were certified and acknowledged by the RTA. Additionally, he submits as evidence pictures and information regarding other Soldiers who were authorized to wear the award. d. In the applicant's previous request to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), addressed in Docket Number AR20150005206, dated 17 December 2015, he stated he was denied his request for the Thai Parachutist Badge because the Board stated his record was void of an authorization letter allowing him to accept and wear this foreign award. He states that he had the authorization letter at some point (it has been over 45 years). He was issued the letter giving him authorization to wear and have entered into his record the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere. He concedes that Table D-1 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 does not mention the Fourragere, but the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere is now called the RTA Airborne Wings. 3. The applicant provides: * Special Warfare Center (SWC) Order Number 181/2514, subject: Special Award to Foreign Soldiers, issued by the RTA, with an effective date of 28 June 1971 * Table D-1 (Foreign Badges), Army Regulations 600-8-22, dated 25 June 2015 * ABCMR Docket Number AR20150005206, dated 17 December 2015 * Biography of Colonel (COL) R____ B____ * Biography of General (GEN) C____ H. J_____ Jr. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20150005206 on 17 December 2015. 2. The applicant provides new evidence, which merits consideration by the Board. 3. On 15 May 1968, the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States. On 20 May 1968, he was honorably discharged for the purpose of enlistment in the Regular Army (RA). 4. On 21 May 1968, the applicant enlisted in the RA. 5. A DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows the following entries: a. Item 31 (Foreign Service) – he was assigned to U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) – Thailand from 7 November 1970 through 14 May 1971. b. Item 38 (Record of Assignments) – he was assigned to: * Company A, 7th SF Group (SFG), Airborne, 1st SF, Fort Bragg, NC, from 9 January 1970 to 5 July 1970 * Company B, 7th SFG, Airborne, 1st SF, Fort Bragg, NC, from 6 July 1970 to 11 October 1970 * 46th SF Company, USARPAC, from 9 November 1970 to 12 May 1971 6. SWC Order Number 181/2514 states he was assigned to the 46th SF Company, 1st SFG, and he participated in parachute jumps with Thai SF Soldiers. The order shows he was awarded the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere (Novice), with an effective date of 28 June 1971. 7. On 14 May 1971, the applicant was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows the following information: a. Item 22a (Net Service This Period) – he completed 2 years, 11 months, and 24 days of creditable active duty service. b. Item 22c (Foreign and/or Sea Service) – he completed 6 months and 6 days of foreign service in the USARPAC. c. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Medals Awarded or Authorized) – he was authorized the following awards: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal 8. ABCMR Docket Number AR20150005206, dated 17 December 2015, shows the applicant received partial approval of his request. He was denied the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere due to not having authorization allowing him to accept and wear the foreign award. Additionally, he was approved for and was issued a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) for the following awards: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Parachutist Badge * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) 9. The applicant provides biographies of a COL and a GEN, which show they were authorized to wear the RTA Airborne Wings/Thai Parachute Badge. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. Paragraph 9-26a (Foreign badges - Eligibility requirements) states qualification and special skill badges may be accepted if awarded in recognition of meeting the criteria, as established by the foreign government concerned, for the specific award. Only those badges that are awarded in recognition of military activities and by the military department of the host country are authorized for acceptance and permanent wear. Badges that do not meet these criteria may be authorized for acceptance but not for wear, and will not be entered in the official military records of the recipient; for example, if a particular decoration is authorized for award only to enlisted personnel of host country then the decoration may be accepted and worn by U.S. Army enlisted personnel. b. Paragraph 9-26b (Awarding authority) states commanders (overseas and continental U.S.) serving in the rank of brigadier general or higher and COL level commanders who exercise general court-martial authority are delegated authority to approve the acceptance, retention, and permanent wear of foreign badges listed in Table D-1, including the RTA Airborne Wings. This authority may be further delegated to commanders charged with custody of military personnel record files. The burden of proof rests on the individual Soldier to produce valid justification, that is, orders, citations, or other original copies of the foreign elements that awarded them the badge. Any foreign badges not listed in Appendix D, will be forwarded to U.S. Army Human Resources Command for approval. c. Paragraph 9-26e ( Foreign airborne training) states Soldiers not currently assigned to airborne duty, but who have completed basic airborne training, are prohibited from attending foreign airborne training courses, participating in foreign airborne operations, or wearing of foreign parachute badges. However, exceptions are permitted under the Army’s Permissive Parachuting Program. The first General Officer in a Soldier’s chain of command can approve permissive jumps. Soldiers who complete an approved permissive jump and are awarded a foreign airborne badge under this status may wear the badge permanently. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The instructions specified for item 24, enter all decorations, service medals, campaign credits, and badges awarded or authorized from section 41 (Decorations and Awards) of the individual's DA Form 20. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant contends, in effect, that he is authorized the award of the RTA Airborne Wings, and the award should be added to his DD Form 214 because the RTA Airborne Wings are an authorized award pursuant to Table D-1 of Army Regulation 600-8-22, and the RTA Airborne Wings are the same award as the Thai Parachutist Badge. 2. The evidence shows SWC Order Number 181/2514 awarded the applicant the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere (Novice) with an effective date of 28 June 1971. 3. The applicant met the criteria as established by the foreign government of Thailand for award of the Thai Parachutist Badge and Fourragere, which is the same award as the RTA Airborne Wings. The award is authorized for acceptance and wear, and there is nothing in the available records indicating the applicant would have been denied authorization to accept and wear the RTA Airborne Wings. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002462 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002462 5 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2