MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            29 June 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029532

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

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. John N. Slone		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, be amended to include the Flight Crew Member Wings.

APPLICANT STATES:  That on 25 February 1969 he transferred from the infantry to the Aviation section of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile).  He made daily flights to and around most firebases which were considered free fire zones.

In support of his request, he has provided a copy of his DD Form 214, a copy of orders awarding him the Air Medal for the period of 17 February to 10 March 1970 and a copy of the orders assigning him to the 101st Airborne Division.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He was inducted on 5 February 1969, was awarded MOS 11B, light weapons infantryman, served in Vietnam from 5 July 1969 to 6 July 1970 and was honorably discharged on 5 February 1971 in the grade of sergeant.  At the time of his application, he was a sergeant first class in the US Army Reserve.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with        60 Device, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Air Medal. 

The applicant’s DA Form 20, Enlisted Qualification Record, shows that his only primary MOS was 11B.  He was awarded the duty MOS of 67A1F, door gunner, on 25 February 1970.  The record contains no information indicating that he was recommended for or awarded the Aircraft Crew Member Badge (which is the current official designation of the award he is seeking).

US Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1, Aircraft Crewman Badge, the regulation then in effect, provided that permanent award of these badges will be published in special orders of the command exercising jurisdiction over the individuals’ personnel records and entered in the DA Form 20 of the individuals so entitled.  The Aircraft Crewman Badge may be authorized either for temporary or permanent wear.

An individual must be on flying status as a crewmember or as a noncrew member in the case of observers, medical aidmen or gunners.  These personnel are authorized to wear the Aircraft Crewman Badge until relieved from such duty or until such time as they fulfill the mandatory requirements for permanent award.

An individual who has performed in one of the duties specified above, for not less than 12 months (not necessarily consecutive) or is school trained for a principal duty contained above, will be authorized to wear the Aircraft Crewman Badge permanently.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The record contains no evidence and the applicant has provided no evidence to show that he was authorized to wear the Aircraft Crew Member Badge on a permanent basis.

2.  Since his assignment as a door gunner was of relatively short duration (less than the 12 months envisioned by the regulation), he was probably authorized to wear the badge on a temporary basis only while assigned to the unit.  This would explain why there are no orders awarding him the badge and no entry on his DA Form 20 authorizing the badge. 

3.  After reviewing the criteria for award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge and considering the duration of the applicant’s assignment to the 101st Airborne Division, it appears that he is not entitled to the badge.

4.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__jhl____  ___jhl ___  ___mhm_  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029532	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000629	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.01		
2.   110.04		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.