BOARD DATE: 5 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002576 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: 5 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002576 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 to his DD Form 214 the: * Iraq Campaign Meal with one bronze service star * Expert Infantryman Badge * Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon ___________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: 5 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002576 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 the Expert Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states the badge was not documented on the day of his discharge. 3. The applicant provides Certificate of Achievement for attainment of the Expert Infantryman Badge. 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 30 January 1997. His enlistment contract shows he enlisted for training in an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS). 3. His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows he completed 13 weeks of one unit station training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, GA, from 10 February 1997 to 8 May 1997. 4. Following completion of OSUT, he was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, and served in duty MOS 11B, from 29 May 1997 to 30 June 2000. 5. He provides a Certificate of Achievement for attainment of the Expert Infantryman Badge, given by Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks, HI on 19 December 1997. 6. He reenlisted on 31 May 2000 for training in MOS 14E (Patriot Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer). He completed training and was awarded this MOS. He served in Kuwait/Iraq from 27 February 2003 to 28 May 2003. 7. He attended and successfully completed the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) from 24 May 2004 to 23 June 2004. 8. He was honorably discharged from active duty on 10 June 2006. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award) * National Defense Service Medal * Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon: a. Award of the Expert Infantryman Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of at least battalion size. To be eligible for testing and award of the Expert Infantryman Badge a Soldier must be in an active Army status and must have an infantry or special forces specialty. Commanders of U.S. Army training centers have the authority to test and award the badge. b. The NCO Professional Development Ribbon consists of the basic ribbon with numeral devices of 2, 3, or 4, which signify satisfactory completion of the respective levels of NCO professional development courses. Once a member has been awarded the NCO Professional Development Ribbon upon graduation from the Primary Leadership Development Course (now called Warrior Leaders Course), subsequent appropriate numerals will be awarded to identify completion of higher level NCO Education System. Devices are awarded as follows: * Primary Level = Basic Ribbon * Basic Level = Numeral 2 * Advanced Level = Numeral 3 * Senior Level = Numeral 4 c. The Iraq Campaign Medal is awarded to members who served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (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) DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant provides a Certificate of Achievement for Attainment of the Expert Infantryman Badge, given by Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks, HI on 19 December 1997. This badge is not listed on his DD Form 214. 2. The applicant completed PLDC, the first level of the NCO Education System, from 24 May 2004 to 23 June 2004. He is eligible for award of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon and correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award. 3. The evidence of record shows he served in Kuwait/Iraq from 27 February 2003 to 28 May 2003, a period qualifying for award of the Iraq Campaign Medal. He also participated in the Liberation of Iraq campaign (19 March 2003 – 1 May 2003). He is eligible for award of the Iraq Campaign Meal with one bronze service star and correction of his DD Form 214 to reflect this award. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002576 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002576 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2