IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 July 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210010813 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show in: * Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – the Korean Service Medal * Item 14 (Military Education) – the Combat Lifesaver Course APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states her DD Form 214 shows the Overseas Service Ribbon; however, the form does not show the Korean Service Medal. She also completed the Combat Lifesaver Course and it is not shown on her DD Form 214. She requires proof of the Korean Service Medal to be awarded the New York State Medal for Merit. 3. The applicant provides her DD Form 214, for the period from 11 February 1998 to 18 August 1999. 4. The applicant's records contain sufficient evidence to support additional awards not shown on her DD Form 214. Her DD Form 214, ending on 18 August 1999, will be administratively corrected without Board action to show award of the Korea Defense Service Medal and Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle (M-16) and Hand Grenade Bars. 5. Review of the applicant’s service records show: a. She enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 February 1998, for 5 years. She held military occupational specialty 25M (Multimedia Illustrator). b. Her DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) shows in: * Item 5 (Oversea Service) – Korea from 5 October 1998 to 18 August 1999 * Item 9 (Awards, Decorations, and Campaigns) – Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle (M-16) and Hand Grenade Bars * Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) – Multimedia Illustrator Course, 11 Weeks, 1998 c. Orders Number 222-001, dated 10 August 1999, reassigned her for separation processing, with a release from active duty date of 18 August 1999. d. She was honorably released from active duty, in pay grade E-3, on 18 August 1999, under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), chapter 8, by reason of Pregnancy. She was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training). Her DD Form 214 shows she completed 1 year, 6 months, and 8 days of net active service this period, including 10 months and 14 days of foreign service. This form also shows in Item 13 the: * Army Good Conduct Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon * Item 14 – the Multimedia Illustrator Course, 11 Weeks, September 1998 e. Her record is void of any indication, and she provided none showing she completed the Combat Lifesaver Course during her period of active duty. f. She was honorably discharged from the USAR on 27 September 2005. 6. By regulations: a. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards): (1) The Korean Service Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the theater of operations between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. (2) The Korea Defense Service Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. b. AR 635-5 (Separation Documents): (1) Item 13 will list awards and decorations for all periods of service in the priority sequence specified in AR 600-8-22, verified by the Soldier’s records. (2) Item 14 will list all in-service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service. c. AR 350-1 (Army Training and Leader Development), the Combat Lifesaver Course is a nonmedical Soldier trained to provide lifesaving measures beyond the level of self-aid or buddy-aid. This course must be recertified every 12 months at the unit level. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined partial relief was warranted. Based upon the information reflected on the applicant’s military assignment history and the regulatory guidance in AR 600-8-22, the Board concluded the applicant did not serve during a qualifying period for the Korean Service Medal; but did serve during a qualifying service period for the Korea Defense Service Medal, and recommended that be added to her DD Form 214. However, the Board found insufficient evidence to show that the applicant completed Combat Lifesaver Training; as a result, the Board recommended denying that portion of the applicant’s requested relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF :XXX :XXX :XX GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION 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 Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 by awarding and adding the Korean Defense Service Medal. 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 adding Combat Lifesaver Course to the applicant’s DD Form 214. 3. Finally, prior to closing the case, the Board noted the administrative note below from the analyst of record and recommended making that change as well to more accurately reflect the military service of the applicant. 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): A review of the applicant's records shows she was awarded/authorized the following awards not listed on her 1999 DD Form 214: * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle (M-16) and Hand Grenade Bars REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States 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. 2. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states: a. The Korean Service Medal was established on 8 November 1950 and awarded for service between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. b. The Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The area of eligibility (1) encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles and (2) all air spaces above the land and water area. The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or for 60 nonconsecutive days or meet several criteria including: (1) be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility or (2) be wounded or injured in the line of duty and required medical evacuation from the area of eligibility. 3. AR 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge, release from active duty service, or control of the Active Army. It contained item-by-item instructions for completing the DD Form 214. It stated for: a. Item 12f (Foreign Service) – list the total foreign service/outside continental United States service performed during the period covered by the DD Form 214. b. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – list awards and decorations for all periods of service in the priority sequence specified in AR 600-8-22. Each entry will be verified by the Soldier’s records. c. Item 14 (Military Education) – list all in-service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service. 4. AR 350-1 (Army Training and Leader Development), in effect at the time, stated, the Combat Lifesaver Course was a nonmedical Soldier trained to provide lifesaving measures beyond the level of self-aid or buddy-aid. That course must be recertified every 12 months at the unit level. The evidence shows the skills attained in the Combat Lifesaver Course of instruction were not combat in nature. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210010813 5 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1