PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            9 September 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999019442

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Joseph A. Adriance		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Erin J. Olmes		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A -  Application for correction of military 
                             records
	Exhibit B -  Military Personnel Records (including
	                  advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, that a ranger tab be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), dated 29 April 1962.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he made the discovery that the ranger tab was not included on his DD Form 214 in 1998; and that he has obtained and enclosed a Ranger Certificate from United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he initially entered the Regular Army (RA) on 25 February 1947 and served honorably until his expiration of term of service on 25 January 1950.  He again enlisted in the RA on 24 April 1950 and served continuously until his retirement as a sergeant first class/E-7 on 31 May 1967. 

5.  The applicant’s enlisted qualification record (DA Form 20) documents in item 28 (Specialized Training) that the applicant completed eight (8) weeks of ranger training on 18 November 1950.  Further, item 38 (Record of Assignments) shows that he was assigned to 6th Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) at Fort Benning, Georgia from 24 November 1950 to 1 December 1951.  In addition, on 
23 January 1998, the Commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia issued the applicant a Certificate of Training attesting to his completion of ranger training in 1951.

6.  Paragraph 8-46 (Ranger Tab) of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) establishes the basic eligibility criteria for award of the ranger tab, and states that tabs are awarded to U.S. military and civilian personnel, and former military personnel who qualified as prescribed.  Subparagraph (1) states, in pertinent part, that successful completion of a ranger course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning meets the prescribed basic eligibility criteria for award of the ranger tab.  Further, the regulation designates the Commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School as an approval authority for award of the Ranger Tab.

7.  The evidence of record includes a DD Form 214 which was issued on 
29 April 1962 and a DD Form 215 (Correction to the DD Form 214) which was issued on 21 September 1967.  These forms document the applicant’s service up to that point and indicate that the applicant had completed 12 years, 0 months, and 6 days net service for this period, and that at the time he had completed a total of 14 years, 11 months, and 7 days of active service.  

Block 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized lists the following:  the Army of Occupation Medal-Germany; the National Defense Service Medal; the Parachutist Glider Badge; the 1st through 3rd award of the Good Conduct Medal;  the Expert (M-1 Rifle) Badge; the Marksman (M-1 Rifle) Badge; a Letter of Commendation; an Expert (4.2 Motor) Badge; and a Sharpshooter (M-1 Rifle) Badge.  The DD Form 214 does in fact include the applicant’ ranger training in block 29 (Other Service Training Courses Successfully Completed).

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  That the applicant had successfully completed a ranger course at the United States Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia,  Further, based on the eligibility criteria of the governing regulation and the certification by the Commandant of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, the applicant is authorized the Ranger Tab.

2.  The DD Form 214 issued the applicant on 29 April 1962 did in fact verify the applicant’s completion of ranger training in block 29; however, it did not include the Ranger Tab in block 26.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Ranger Tab.

BOARD VOTE:  

___eo___  __inw ___  __cjp ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_____Erin J. Olmes______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999019442	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	1999/09/09	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46	107.00	
2.  169	107.0123	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.