BOARD DATE: 28 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160003297 BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF __x______ __x______ __x___ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 28 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160003297 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending block 13 of his DD Form 214 by deleting the "NATO Medal" and adding the "NATO Medal (2nd Award)." 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to correcting his DD Form 214 to show the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award). __________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: 28 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160003297 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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 28 January 2016 to show he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal (AAM) (2nd Award) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal (2nd Award). 2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 is missing second awards of the AAM and NATO Medal. He was awarded the AAM from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). 3. The applicant provides: * DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), page 1 of 2, dated 7 March 2011 * NATO Medal Certificate, for the period 24 May 2012 through 23 October 2012 * Enlisted Record Brief (ERB), dated 28 May 2015 * DD Form 214 and DD Form 214C (Continuation Sheet), for the period ending 28 January 2016 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. After prior enlisted service in the U.S. Navy, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 January 2002. Upon completion of his initial entry training, he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 13F (Fire Support Specialist). He later reclassified into MOS 18E (Special Forces Communications Sergeant) and subsequently into MOS 18F (Special Forces Assistant Operations/Intelligence Sergeant). 3. The applicant's record contains an AAM Certificate, annotated with Permanent Orders # 157-007 and dated 7 June 2009, which shows he was awarded the AAM by 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). 4. The applicant was honorably retired on 28 January 2016, by reason of disability, temporary (enhanced). His DD Form 214 shows he was credited with 14 years and 21 days of net active service this period, and 3 years, 11 months, and 29 days of total prior active service. His DD Form 214 further shows in: * Block 12 (Foreign Service), he was credited with completing 3 years and 15 days of foreign service * Block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), he was credited with a single award of the AAM and a single award of the NATO Medal * Block 18 (Remarks), the following entries: * "SERVICE IN IRAQ 20040929-20041029" * "SERVICE IN IRAQ 20050606-20060128" * "SERVICE IN IRAQ 20060810-20070331" * "SERVICE IN IRAQ 20090114-20090726" * "SERVICE IN IRAQ 20100219-20101101" * "SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN 20120522-20121025" 5. The applicant's record contains only one AAM and is void of any foreign award certificates that show he was awarded the NATO Medal on two occasions. 6. The applicant provides: a. DA Form 638, page 1 of 2, dated 7 March 2011, shows he was recommended for an Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) for the period 10 August 2005 through 28 February 2011. It shows in item 8 (Previous Awards) he was previously awarded the AAM (1st Award). b. A NATO Medal Certificate, signed by The Secretary General of NATO, which shows he was awarded the NATO Medal for the period 24 May 2012 through 23 October 2012. c. A computer-generated ERB, dated 28 May 2015, which shows he deployed to Iraq on five different occasions and to Afghanistan on one occasion. It also shows he was awarded or authorized a single AAM and two NATO Medals. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual, unit, and foreign military awards. a. The AAM is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or to any member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation, who distinguished himself or herself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the ARCOM . b. The NATO Medal is awarded by the Secretary-General of NATO to military and civilian members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participate in designated NATO operations. The normal period of service, which will be required as qualifying service, is 30 days, continuous or accumulated, in any single tour of duty, which is normally 180 days. The following missions and/or operations have been approved by the Secretary of Defense, are operations in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Eagle Assist, Active Endeavor, Balkans, ISAF in Afghanistan, National Training Implementation Mission-Iraq, National Training Mission-Iraq, and operations and activities in relation to Africa. 2. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214. It states the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form is complete and accurate. a. Chapter 5 contains specific guidance for preparation of the DD Form 214. It states sources documents must be present in order to accurately complete the DD Form 214, which are the Service-member's computer generated record brief, separation approval documents, separation order, and any other document authorized for filing in the member's official record. b. It states for block 13, list all Federally-recognized awards and decorations for all periods of service. Do not use abbreviations. Do not enter foreign or State level awards. c. It states for block 18, use this block as a continuation block for other entries, e.g., block 13 or for conditional entries. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 to show he was twice awarded the NATO Medal and the AAM (2nd Award). 2. The applicant provides a NATO Certificate that awarded him the NATO Medal for the period 24 May 2012 through 23 October 2012. Although he does not provide nor does his available record contain a second NATO Certificate for another authorized operation, his ERB shows he was twice authorized the NATO Medal. Per regulatory guidance, his computer generated ERB is a source document that is to be used to fill out his DD Form 214 upon separation from the service. His DD Form 214 does not show the NATO Medal (2nd Award). 3. The applicant contends he was twice awarded the AAM. He provides a DA Form 638 that shows he had a previous AAM when he was being recommended for an award of the ARCOM. However, a review of his available record is void of orders that indicate he was awarded or authorized two AAMs. Additionally, his ERB and his DD Form 214 list only one award of the AAM. The available evidence does not clearly confirm that he was twice awarded the AAM. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160003297 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160003297 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2