PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            7 June 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999030073

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle 		Member	
	Mr. James P. Stueve		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 award of the Good Conduct Medal. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for his service from July 1994 to July 1997.  He contends that a fellow soldier told him that he was recommended for the Good Conduct Medal and that the medal would be sent to his “ETS” [expiration term of service] address. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 20 July 1994, served as a Patriot missile crewmember and was honorably discharged on 19 July 1997.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) does not show the Good Conduct Medal as an authorized award. 

6.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records which shows he was recommended for or received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no indication in the available records that he was disqualified from receiving this award.  There is no indication of indiscipline or other adverse action in the applicant’s records.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 20 July 1994 through 19 July 1997 based on completion of 3 years of qualifying active duty enlisted service.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show this award.

2.  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 first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 20 July 1994 through 19 July 1997.

BOARD VOTE:  

MKP____  ESC____  JPS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Margaret K. Patterson___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030073	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000607	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19970719	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 Chapter 4  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Completion of required active service	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0056	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.